Amateur Radio Resources

Amateur radio, often called “ham radio,” gets its name from the distinction between professional and non-commercial communication enthusiasts. The term “amateur” doesn’t imply a lack of skill or expertise; instead, it highlights the passion and voluntary nature of these operators who use radio frequencies for personal enjoyment, experimentation, and community service rather than for profit. Rooted in a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century, amateur radio is a space where individuals can explore the art and science of wireless communication, connect with others worldwide, and provide critical support during emergencies. This blend of technical curiosity, global camaraderie, and public service is what makes amateur radio unique.

Becoming an amateur radio operator has never been easier! There is no longer a requirement to learn Morse code, you just need to pass a multiple choice exam to get your license, or “ticket,” to get on the air. There are many local clubs that administer the exams throughout the year, and while there are far too many to list, here’s a short resource list for more information:

ARRL: American Radio Relay League

Dayton Amateur Radio Association

Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club

 

Dayton Skywarn's Operation Center

Here’s where we do our vital work, with your help, for the NWS Wilmington, OH Office. 

Our office is located in the Cox Media Center on Main St. in Dayton. We are literally steps away from WHIO-TV’s Breaking News Desk, and down the hall from the broadcast studio.

We have a 3 person setup; looking at either picture, at the far left, is our radio for the northern part of our area in Shelby County; the far right is the radio for the southern part of our area here in Montgomery County; the middle radio connects us with the forecast office in Wilmington, where those operators are steps away from the forecaster issuing the warnings. We have a 4th radio that gives us direct contact with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management if there is significant local or widespread damage anywhere in Montgomery County.

We use Kenwood TM-710 dual-band radios for the north and south, and an ICOM IC-2820H D-STAR radio for the Wilmington office.

Below is a map of our 15 county area of responsibility across west central Ohio and east central Indiana, with the frequencies of the 2 repeaters we use during an activation.

So, now you know all of that, what are you going to hear on the air?

*** WE ARE AWARE OF ISSUES PLAYING THE AUDIO FILE FROM YOUR COMPUTER, TABLET AND/OR PHONE, WE ARE WORKING ON CORRECTING THAT ISSUE***

Here’s a file of what happened the night of the Memorial Day Outbreak.

 

The file was recorded by an amateur radio operator in Xenia that night. You are going to hear a bunch of different  things, so let’s break it down a little bit.

You will hear transmissions from XWARN, the Greene County amateur radio spotter group, Dayton Skywarn, and noises and conversations from inside the house of the person making the recording. The recording starts shortly before the EF4 moved from Brookville into Trotwood and across Harrison Township and the interstate.