$70,000 Upgrade Coming To Skywarn Ham Systems In The Ozarks

Almost $70,000 are on the way to expand and upgrade the Southwest Missouri Regional Skywarn Ham Radio Repeater System.

The 49-repeater group, which includes KRMS Radio and TV, serves as a system which provides ground-level eye-witness updates to the National Weather Service in Springfield stretching from Lake of the Ozarks to Branson and from Lebanon to Joplin.

Funding from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications will pass through the Southern Missouri Emergency Communications Fund to provide for the upgrades.

The project is expected to take about 10 months to complete.

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The Southwest Missouri Regional Skywarn Ham Radio Repeater System will be expanded and upgraded with funds generously granted by Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC).

The grant of $67,750 will allow the 49 Repeater Group, which manages the linked Skywarn repeater system, to replace aging equipment and add new repeaters, ensuring that trained storm spotters are able to provide accurate and timely eye-witness, ground-level updates to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield, Missouri.

The Skywarn repeater system serves an area in Southwest Missouri from Lebanon to Joplin, and from Lake of the Ozarks to Branson. Skywarn is fully endorsed by the NWS, and maintains a close working relationship with the NWS forecast office in Springfield, Missouri. Trained in connection with the grant, Michael Blake, from the 49 repeater group, will be visiting local ham radio clubs to bring them up to speed on the upgrades to the network and to invite local ham radio operators to participate in the project.

Funding from ARDC will pass through the Southern Missouri Emergency Communications Fund that has been established within the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, which serves as the fiscal sponsor for the 49 Repeater Group. The project is expected to take 10 months to complete.

Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. The mission of ARDC is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote Amateur Radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology. Learn more about ARDC at ardc.net.

If you are a member of a local amateur radio club and would like to learn more about this project or how to become a storm spotter, contact Michael Blake at n0nws@att.net.