SPARCS Ham Radio Emergency Communication

NWS Brownsville Skywarn Operations Upgraded

Shortly after noon time on September 15th KB5TMC, K5VC and W8ELV reported to the National Weather Service Office in Brownsville to assist KE5AWU Brian Miller in unpacking and installing the new Skywarn Radio, a Kenwood TS-570SG HF radio and re-route some of the cables and wires along with the other VHF radios, packet TNC and Computer.  It was discovered that over the years there have been several configurations of Skywarn Radio equipment at National Weather Service including a radar screen video system that provided weather radar images to hams in the Monterrey area of Mexico. During the week the local weather office electronic technician installed a new G5RV all-band antenna to replace the same model antenna installed in or around 2004. That preceding G5RV disintegrated due to corrosion build up and wind which tore the feed line in addition to the corrosion and needed replacement. 

 All-in-all it took every bit of an hour for the team to assemble the new Kenwood HF radio and test it out on the new antenna with great results. The automatic internal tuner along with a very nice noise reduction system in the TS-570 make it a great radio for your Rio Grande Valley ARES-Skywarn team at Brownsville weather. Thanks to Brian KE5AWU who heads up ham radio relations at NWS Brownsville for his lead in updating the Skywarn radio gear at the weather office there. And thanks to our “CHARRO” ARES team of Jerry Rogers KB5TMC, Bob Austin K5VC and Larry Steller W8ELV for making sure the weather service received priority attention on their new equipment upgrade project!