Tri-State Amateur Radio Association

06/11/2026

We will be teaching an Advanced Weather Spotter Class at the Joint Response Operations Center in Coal Grove, OH (Lawrence Co) on Monday June 15th. After a review of the basic class materials, this advanced class will dive a little deeper into complex thunderstorm dynamics, advanced storm structure, and how to interpret radar data.

Check out https://www.weather.gov/charlestonwv/weather-spotter for more information on our weather spotter program.

06/04/2026

Our friends over at SOARA are hosting a weather spotter training class coming up on Monday June 15th at 6pm. If you have never attended a weather spotter class they provide great information to have during the summer storm season. Or if you just need a refresher. The location is easy to get into with plenty of parking available.

06/04/2026

05/19/2026

Its Winlink Wednesday Again!

Sorry to say due to unforeseeable circumstances I am unable to operate my home station as a P2P station this week but I will make that happen soon. Since I am somewhat indisposed at the moment and much of this week let's just use the normal Winlink form for this check in. If you went to Hamvention let me know if you bought anything cool or even if you didn't and decided to buy something you wanted on the sales let me know that as well. As normal, send the check-ins to my call AB8K.

73 for now.

Nathan Thompson - AB8K

05/16/2026

Winlink Wednesday Check-Ins for May 13th 2026

2026-05-13 01:51:25 - K8FER - Vara HF
2026-05-13 10:31:56 - KD4UKW - Telnet
2026-05-13 09:44:09 - KE8QZ - Telnet
2026-05-13 14:17:18 - AB8WW - Vara HF
2026-05-13 21:46:00 - KE8TCY - Telnet
2026-05-13 19:18:45 - KB8TGK - Packet
2026-05-13 20:11:23 - KC8PFF - Vara HF
2026-05-13 21:28:03 - KB8PSY - Vara HF

We had a great round of check ins this past Winlink Wednesday net. I decided to throw the mode used on these to call out one that is unique. That would be John who used the DAREN network to check in via packet. He has provided information to me that I will be sharing should you want to try to leverage that connection method and network as well. I also sent a short reply to all the messages since I had a few extra minutes this morning all though I have a new radio issues to deal with today so these were sent via Telnet to get them out. If you posed a question or other statement above the regular check-on that is how I am going to respond going forward so we have two way traffic for these check ins. Now to fix whatever has happened to my antenna today.

73 for now,

Nathan Thompson - AB8K

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05/13/2026

Winlink Wednesday for May 13th 2026

Lets keep this week simple and just use the regular winlink check in form. Submit the check in via whatever protocol or method you are able. Send the message to my call AB8K. If the bands come back around next week I hope to have my radio listening for P2P connections should anyone want to try to send their check in over a P2P connection next week. I will send out directions on how to do this if you have never done so early if I am able to make that happen and it looks like the bands would allow it to work well.

73 for now.

Nathan Thompson - AB8K

05/08/2026

Winlink Wednesday Check ins for May 6th 2026. This week due to a storm coming in on Wednesday we were looking for a brief weather report from everyone.

Here are the weeks check-ins -

2026-05-05 20:13:21 - KC8PFF - 71 degrees, cloudy, light rain

2026-05-06 09:39:35 - KB8TGK - not raining and have had .34 inches of rain

2026-05-06 12:21:47 - KE8TCY - The weather here in east Huntington is overcast with very light intermittent rain.

2026-05-06 14:48:26 - K8FER - Weather here is 60 Deg F. Light misty rain. Very overcast Bar is 29.82 and rising. Time is 2:51 local.

2026-05-06 15:20:06 - AB8WW - The weather is cloudy and 60 degrees.

2026-05-06 17:11:28 - KF8BAT - LIGHT RAIN

2026-05-06 20:24:47 - KB8PSY - At 8:20 PM temperature 59F relative humidity 47% under cloudy sky's

2026-05-06 22:09:59 - AB8AS - MOSTLY CLOUDY ... DRIZZLE

Great round of check ins. I am glad we got some rain it was much needed for the area.

73

Nathan Thompson - AB8K

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05/05/2026

It's time again for Winlink Wednesday Net Check-Ins. This week with the looming weather headed our way let's use the normal Winlink check in form and report the weather at your QTH at the time of your check in. Depending on when you check in that could be dry to very wet. If you do track the rain and you check in after the storm overnight, send along how much rain your QTH received. As usual, send the check-in to my callsign AB8K.