Subj : SKYWARN Online Training
To : Daryl Stout
From : Black Panther
Date : Tue Nov 29 2016 12:10 pm
Re: SKYWARN Online Training
By: Daryl Stout to Black Panther on Tue Nov 29 2016 11:46:00
DS> I've never taken the online course...I've been lucky to get the "in
DS> person" ones. One of the Little Rock area ham radio clubs does a basic and
I had taken the 'in-person' class back in the early 90's, when I first got my
ham ticket. I thought the class online was pretty good. I do think if they
would have had some videos to show the rotation would have helped a bit.
DS> As long as you're a certified spotter, and the NWS office knows who you
DS> are, you shouldn't have a problem getting your report in. If I have
DS> "reportable criteria" instead of checking into a local ham radio Skywarn
DS> Net, I call the NWS in Little Rock, directly. It got to be such a madhouse
I can't believe some of these people even took the class. I wonder if they just
found the phone number online and decided to call in.
DS> As for studying for a ham radio license, I have set up a special page
DS> off of my personal homepage, just for ham radio -- and one of the links
DS> is study materials. It's at:
I'm going to check that out. I'm sure a lot of the information has changed in
the past 25 years. (Wow, that just made me sound old...)
DS> While some are free, and some have a fee, I used option #10, Ham Test
DS> Online. I went from Technician to General in 14 days, and General to
DS> Amateur Extra 13 days later. It was the best money I ever spent in ham
I can't believe you were able to upgrade that quickly. I would like to have my
ticket by spring, if there is testing in the ABQ area before then. I might have
to look into upgrading as well.
DS> radio. Plus, the FCC got rid of the Morse Code requirement nearly 10
DS> years ago, so you no longer have to worry about that.
I spent months trying to learn that. The problem I had, was the cw test
consisted of 20wpm code, with 5wpm spacing between letters. It was too fast for
me to really hear it well enough. I'm sure there are computer programs that can
translate it for people now, so they don't have to learn it.
DS> However, the funniest thing I heard about Morse Code (also known as
DS> CW), was at a restaurant in Annapolis, Maryland. Four male hams are at
DS> a table, telling each other dirty jokes in CW. This drop dead, gorgeous,
DS> buxom, curvaceous female walked up them, and admonished "You boys better
DS> watch your language. I teach CW at the Naval Academy across the street",
DS> and walked out!!
I love it. I learned that lesson many year ago, while living in Wisconsin. I
had learned a fair amount of Spanish, and figured that others wouldn't be able
to understand me. I learned that lesson the hard way.
DS> Daryl, WX1DER
Thank you Daryl for all of the great information. I'm going to check out you
website now.
73s
Dan Richter
aka Black Panther
Sysop
Castle Rock BBS
Rio Rancho, NM
I have a mind like a steel... uh... thingy.
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