Chicagoland SkyWarn Frequencies

[K9RNW]

Hello everyone,

Would anyone be so kind as to lend their assistance?

I cannot for the life of me figure out what the proper frequencies are for SkyWarn in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago. It seems every website has a different frequency.

I am in the Schaumburg/Palatine/Rolling Meadows area and would like to tune in during severe weather to hear spotter sightings in real time.

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[K9DAK]

Try this link: Chicagoland Skywarn

Then click Nets/Weather Radio. Libertyville might be a stretch for you, but Northbrook should work.

 

[kevino]

Try this link: Chicagoland Skywarn

Then click Nets/Weather Radio. Libertyville might be a stretch for you, but Northbrook should work.

The copyright date at the bottom of the above website is 2010. Might mean that the information is dated or simply that nobody has updated the copyright date since then.

National Weather Service Chicago has a web page https://www.weather.gov/lot/amateur_radio that discusses their amateur radio station (WX9LOT) and the passing of SKYWARN related traffic into and out of the NWS office via primary liason repeaters (which are listed on the page).

 

[K9RNW]

Every website seems to have a different set of frequencies for SkyWarn. I wonder if there's a state or local agency one could call to confirm what the *real* frequency is once and for all.

The 2 meter frequency (147.345) for the north/northwest regions matches what K9DAK's linked site says for northern Cook Co and North Shore Radio Club's website who apparently is the actual owner of the repeater.

However, neither site makes any mention of the repeater frequency changing to 70 cm (442.725) once severe weather hits, only the weather.gov site kevino linked does. I am inclined to trust weather.gov, though it would be nice to know for sure so I can avoid missing out on spotter sightings while trying to scan between multiple frequencies.

 

[usswood]

Every website seems to have a different set of frequencies for SkyWarn. I wonder if there's a state or local agency one could call to confirm what the *real* frequency is once and for all.

The 2 meter frequency (147.345) for the north/northwest regions matches what K9DAK's linked site says for northern Cook Co and North Shore Radio Club's website who apparently is the actual owner of the repeater.

However, neither site makes any mention of the repeater frequency changing to 70 cm (442.725) once severe weather hits, only the weather.gov site kevino linked does. I am inclined to trust weather.gov, though it would be nice to know for sure so I can avoid missing out on spotter sightings while trying to scan between multiple frequencies.

Your a Ham right, why not just ask someone locally on one of the area repeaters?

 

[ipfd320]

I Find alot of Skywarn Repeaters Mis Informed or move Frequencies and Dont Update the Pages

 

[Awesomeman92]

NS9RC's 2 meter repeater on 147.345 (118.8) is a liason repeater for NWS and the home for northern Cook County Skywarn, backup is their 440 machine. Kane County is on KC9OEM 145.470 (103.5). Lake County is on K9IQP 147.180 (127.3), McHenry County is on K9ESV 146.835 (91.5). There are no other dedicated local nets as far as I know in the immediate area, us in Hoffman Estates would probably use one of the SARC repeaters - most likely N9RJV on 444.125 (114.8) - but we don't have regular spotting operations. Palatine EMA's repeater on 443.000 (114.8) is back up and running but I don't think they have regular spotting operations either. Kane, Lake, and McHenry all have excellent nets and are a great way to get an idea what's coming our way. By the time reports start coming in to the northern Cook net it's usually well past us here in the NW suburbs.

 

[kevino]

Every website seems to have a different set of frequencies for SkyWarn. I wonder if there's a state or local agency one could call to confirm what the *real* frequency is once and for all.

The 2 meter frequency (147.345) for the north/northwest regions matches what K9DAK's linked site says for northern Cook Co and North Shore Radio Club's website who apparently is the actual owner of the repeater.

However, neither site makes any mention of the repeater frequency changing to 70 cm (442.725) once severe weather hits, only the weather.gov site kevino linked does. I am inclined to trust weather.gov, though it would be nice to know for sure so I can avoid missing out on spotter sightings while trying to scan between multiple frequencies.

Even the hams at the LOT WFO need to re-evaluate the list of liaison repeaters from time to time. To quote the web page I posted the link to, "The team evaluates and revises the systems it monitors on a regular basis to ensure the needs of the WFO are met despite the changing amateur radio landscape." I take "the changing amateur radio landscape" as a nod to the fact that repeaters - and the folks/clubs that own/sponsor them - come and go. The interest level of spotters can come and go as well.

 

[K9RNW]

NS9RC's 2 meter repeater on 147.345 (118.8) is a liason repeater for NWS and the home for northern Cook County Skywarn, backup is their 440 machine. Kane County is on KC9OEM 145.470 (103.5). Lake County is on K9IQP 147.180 (127.3), McHenry County is on K9ESV 146.835 (91.5). There are no other dedicated local nets as far as I know in the immediate area, us in Hoffman Estates would probably use one of the SARC repeaters - most likely N9RJV on 444.125 (114.8) - but we don't have regular spotting operations. Palatine EMA's repeater on 443.000 (114.8) is back up and running but I don't think they have regular spotting operations either. Kane, Lake, and McHenry all have excellent nets and are a great way to get an idea what's coming our way. By the time reports start coming in to the northern Cook net it's usually well past us here in the NW suburbs.

Thank you. I appreciate your reply. Just out of curiosity, are you actively involved in local EMA agencies?

I am surprised to hear that spotters on the North Cook network don't report significant events until it's well past us in Hoffman/Palatine/Schaumburg. Is this because there is a "hole" in spotter coverage around here, or is it merely due to the speed of storm systems moving across from Kane through Cook? I am guessing Kane is probably the best to listen to since it's directly west?

I am somewhat confused by the structure of it all though. If the North Cook SkyWarn repeater is the official liaison repeater for our area, wouldn't the reports coming from "unofficial" nets like eastern Kane County and our other immediately surrounding areas be communicated through it in short order anyway?

 

[Awesomeman92]

Thank you. I appreciate your reply. Just out of curiosity, are you actively involved in local EMA agencies?

I am surprised to hear that spotters on the North Cook network don't report significant events until it's well past us in Hoffman/Palatine/Schaumburg. Is this because there is a "hole" in spotter coverage around here, or is it merely due to the speed of storm systems moving across from Kane through Cook? I am guessing Kane is probably the best to listen to since it's directly west?

I am somewhat confused by the structure of it all though. If the North Cook SkyWarn repeater is the official liaison repeater for our area, wouldn't the reports coming from "unofficial" nets like eastern Kane County and our other immediately surrounding areas be communicated through it in short order anyway?

Sent you a PM.

 

[WX9RLT]

147.195 for Winnebago County

 

[kk9h]

To correct a previous post, the North Shore Radio Club 2M repeater on 147.345+ uses a PL of 107.2, not the PL that was posted. It is the primary SkyWarn repeater for the northern half of Cook County. The repeater on 442.725+ with a PL of 114.8 is the designated backup repeater for this area.

During a recent storm, the weather service's 2M antenna was damaged and is currently unusable. It is on their tower and regulations require that only qualified people may work on their tower. There are currently no available funds in their budget to hire anyone to fix this antenna so until it is repaired they will be using the 442.725 repeater instead of 147.345.

Don KK9H

 

[Awesomeman92]

To correct a previous post, the North Shore Radio Club 2M repeater on 147.345+ uses a PL of 107.2, not the PL that was posted. It is the primary SkyWarn repeater for the northern half of Cook County. The repeater on 442.725+ with a PL of 114.8 is the designated backup repeater for this area.



During a recent storm, the weather service's 2M antenna was damaged and is currently unusable. It is on their tower and regulations require that only qualified people may work on their tower. There are currently no available funds in their budget to hire anyone to fix this antenna so until it is repaired they will be using the 442.725 repeater instead of 147.345.



Don KK9H

My mistake, I knew it was 107.2 and I apparently had a senior moment and didn’t realize it before I posted. Also worth pointing out if you program that repeater in your radio its probably a good idea to use tone squelch as it’s also a fusion repeater and a pretty active one at that.


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