08/26/2026
Join Rick, KC2XD, this Wednesday at 8:00 PM for the BARRA Wednesday Night Tech Net on the Mighty 444, WA2HKS. This week’s discussion is about preparing your amateur radio station for fall and winter weather.
Western New York can bring heavy rain, freezing temperatures, ice, lake-effect snow, and damaging winds. Is your station ready? We’ll talk about inspecting antennas, tightening mounting hardware, checking guy wires, sealing coax connections, and replacing cracked or weathered cable. We’ll also discuss drip loops, grounding, lightning protection, and ways to keep moisture out of outdoor connectors and enclosures.
Cold weather can expose weak batteries and unreliable backup-power systems. Now is a good time to test generators, charge power stations, inspect battery connections, and make sure radios, flashlights, and spare fuses are easy to reach. Inside the shack, check ventilation, surge protection, and cable entry points for drafts or water.
What steps do you take before winter arrives? Have you experienced an antenna failure, frozen rotor, water-damaged feed line, or power outage during a storm? Share what worked, what failed, and what you would do differently.
All amateur operators are welcome. Check in, share experience, and help everyone build a safer, dependable winter station!
