WX5OKC Repeater Audio
Note: On 2010-01-19 - the audio was moved to
RadioReference.com. I'll be updating the links and hopefully
providing an embedded link soon. A big plus of this transition
is mobile devices can monitor the feed, look here for more
information:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Live_Audio_Mobile_Device_Support
This page provides
access to repeater audio from the WX5OKC amateur radio repeater in
Oklahoma City. This repeater is owned by the State of Oklahoma
Department of Emergency Management. The Trustee is Putnam
Reiter, whose call sign is WX5OKC. He is also a member and
partner of HookEcho Enterprises.
The WX5OKC Repeater
operates on an output (transmit) frequency of 145.410 MHz and an
input (receive) frequency of 144.810 MHz. A PL tone of 141.3
is used to limit interference.
The primary purpose
of this repeater is to facilitate communication during disasters and
hazardous events. The reason is that this system is not
dependent on phone lines or the Internet to operate. Back-up
power systems allow the repeater to continue operating if the power
should fail. This was a lesson learned from May 8, 2003.
In Oklahoma,
hazardous events typically relate to weather: flooding, hail,
damaging winds, and tornadoes. As such, the
National
Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma broadcasts weather
information during severe weather events. This repeater is
part of their
SKYWARN Net. This Net uses multiple amateur radio
repeaters across Oklahoma and allows the NWS to link them together
for severe weather operations. Currently the NWS uses the
KB5LLI repeater system,
Southwest Oklahoma Independent Repeater
Association (SWIRA) to access west, southwest Oklahoma
and northwest Texas. The WX5OKC repeater is used to for
central and north-central (using a repeater in Perry, Oklahoma)
Oklahoma. In south-central Oklahoma is online through a repeater on the Arbuckle Mountains.
Northwest Oklahoma is covered by links in Edmond to Watonga and then
on to Woodward. These links are vital as it a) allows the NWS
to separate the nets during widespread events and b) keeps the
number of radios in their office to three.
During pre-event
stages or as the situation warrants, it is possible for the SWIRA
system to link to the WX5OKC repeater. In this configuration
about 70% of the Norman NWS county warning area (CWA) is accessible
with one amateur radio. Additionally, all repeaters on the
link have back-up power sources.
This entire system
is made possible by cooperation between many people. People
involved with SWIRA started their system in the early 90s, doing
something that hadn't been done before. Now, the SWIRA system
will allow amateur radio operators to talk from near El Reno,
Oklahoma to Wichita Falls, Texas, past Childress, Texas and almost
to McClean, Texas.
Meanwhile, when the repeaters are linked, the WX5OKC system will
allow people to talk from Blackwell, Oklahoma to Childress,
Texas.
The audio provided
here is from a scanner that receives the transmit signal off the
WX5OKC repeater system. On non-severe days there is very
little traffic. However, if there is a threat of severe
weather or activity is ongoing, you'll hear what is occurring in
central Oklahoma. Depending on the link status you may hear
what is going on in southwest Oklahoma. The WX5OKC repeater
has two primary operating modes: 1) normal and 2) severe weather.
You can tell the mode by the courtesy tone, the tone you hear after
an operator stops talking (unkeys their mic). If the tone is
two beeps, then the repeater is in normal mode. However, if
the tone is three beeps (CW for W) then the repeater is in severe
mode. The CW for W means morse code for the letter W,
indicative of weather. This same technique is used on the
SWIRA link and copied by central Oklahoma.
During the spring
storm months (March 15 to June 15) the Norman NWS Office will
broadcast their Hazardous Weather Outlook product at 7:30am central
time (CDT/CST) and 12:30pm central time (CDT/CST). During the
remainder of the calendar year, this product will be broadcast if
conditions warrant.
One final thing to
be mindful of when listening. When the repeater is in normal
mode and a watch or warning is issued the NOAA Weather Radio will
broadcast the information. In severe mode the NWR is disabled. Each Wednesday at noon (unless there is
threatening weather) the NOAA Weather Radio is tested by the NWS.
If you connect a little before 12:00pm central time (CDT/CST), you
should hear this test.
While we don't
anticipate a whole bunch of people listening at once, you should
know that only 50 people can be connected at once. The audio
is set for low bit rate, 13kps, as it is only voice. So, even
people with dial-up connections should be able to listen.
WX5OKC
Repeater Audio -
thru RadioReference.com
Link to Oklahoma County Feeds
