[Skywarn] HF at NWS

[Kevin Heyboer]

I cannot speak for what we have at the Morristown, TN WX4MRX station, but I
personally own an ICOM IC-718 which has a built in DSP, Noise Reducer,
Speech Compressor, Automatic Noise Filter, and pre-amp.  This unit is
located next to two VHF/UHF transceivers, two public service scanners, one
laptop computer, and one desktop computer with HiRes LCD monitor, along with
about 6 plug-in transformers, and two power supplies.  I never have any
problems with noise.  The system is well-grounded, and this is an absolute
must when operating in a high EFI/RFI environment.

There are additional narrow band filters that can be purchased separately,
including an 1800 KHz filter specifically for sideband use.

Additionally, the IC-718 has a small footprint and it is extremely easy to
use because it is not the high end expensive super-duper model.  At
approximately $850.00 brand new, it is well worth the money and likely fits
your budget.

On the same subject but with a different take, I presume you do not have a
region wide linked repeater system or echo link system?  If you want to talk
about hills and mountains, I definitely live in them as I am on the lee side
of the Great Smoky Mountains at 2200 feet ASL but our repeater is at 4900
feet and it has a 100 mile effective radius.  It is about 75 miles as the
crow flies and 150 miles to drive from Murphy, NC to Morristown, TN and we
can communicate directly on the VHF repeater at 4900 feet (K4AIH), and we
can go around the mountains on UHF (which we use as a side channel for
direct comms with WX4MRX for coordination).



Kevin Heyboer KD4UYR
AEC Cherokee County NCARES
Southwest Carolina SKYWARN Net Manager
 

-----Original Message-----
From: skywarn-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:skywarn-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of wa3afs at nycap.rr.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 4:16 PM
To: Skywarn at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Skywarn] HF at NWS

It is time to replace our Ten-Tec HF rig at the Albany NY NWS office.  The
Ten-Tec is 
unusable due to the RF hash generated within the building/area (Plasma TVs,
computers, 
nearby Nanotech facilities(?)).

What HF rigs are being used (successfully) at NWS offices?  Which are easy
to use by 
operators who may not be familiar with that brand of HF rig?  Which have
real good DSP to 
get through the 'local' hash?

We have lots of mountains/hills so VHF/UHF contact with many of the counites
covered by 
NWS Albany (4 states!) is not possible.

Thanks and 73
   -- Bruce, WA3AFS
      SKYWARN Regional Coordinator, NWS Albany, NY
      ASEC Eastern NY
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