Hello to all….
…VoIP Hurricane Net to Activate at 5 PM EDT/2100 UTC Wednesday for Omar and its impact on Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands and the Northern Leeward Islands…
…WX4NHC Operations to activate at around 5 PM EDT/2100 UTC Wednesday…
Tropical Depression 16 rapidly intensified into Tropical Storm Omar on Tuesday and is near hurricane strength and is expected to become a hurricane late tonight or Wednesday Morning. After coordination with WX4NHC National Hurricane Center Amateur Raido Coordinator, John McHugh-K4AG, activation of the VoIP Hurricane Net and WX4NHC will occur at the times listed in the headlines.
We can use the assistance of any Ham Operators in the affected area or with contacts in Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands and the Northern Leeward Islands of Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts, Saba, St. Eustatious, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat. Any other Caribbean island stations that have relays into the affected area or any US stations that know other Hams or contacts in this affected area would also be quite helpful.
For the latest advisory information including watches and warnings, you can go to the VoIPWXNet web site and click Atlantic Tropical Products and click on the advisory information for Omar under the Atlantic Tropical Products section. You can also gather the advisory information from the National Hurricane Center web site at the following link:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net (Note issue with web site as stated in the first paragraph. Please utilize the typical SKYWARN Reporting Criteria)
Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems:
IRLP:
Reflector 9508 Sydney Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.
EchoLink:
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177
*N5API* Node: 77433
*IRESC* Node: 278173
*N1TAI* Node: 269929
A streaming audio feed has been setup thanks to the assistance of David McAnally-WD5M. The links are listed below:
WD5M Streaming Audio Feed Main page
WD5M Direct link to Streaming Audio using OGG Format
WD5M Direct Link to Streaming Audio using MP3 Format
Bob Carter-KC4QLP has also setup an online stream for up to 32 listeners at the following link:
KC4QLP Streaming Audio Feed
An EQSO listen-only feed is also available via KC4QLP-R.
Lu Vencl-KA4EPS has also set up streaming audio capability. See links below:
KA4EPS Streaming Audio Feed
KA4EPS Streaming Audio Feed
Links to the WD5M streaming audio feeds have also been provided in the Main Menu of the VoIPWXNet web site.
Below is the typical activation announcement from WX4NHC Coordinator, John McHugh-K4AG:
WX4NHC ANNOUNCEMENT – OMAR OPERATIONS
Released October 14th, 2008
PLEASE RELAY TO STATIONS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.
WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, will be activating it’s HF and EchoLink/IRLP station on Wednesday October 15th, 2008 at around 5 PM EDT (2100z) in anticipation of Omar reaching hurricane strength and its impact on Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands and the Northern Leeward Islands.
We request all land based stations as well as ships at sea in the areas affected to send us weather data (measured or estimated) and damage reports.
If you are in the affected area and normally monitor on a local Net on VHF, 40 or 80 meters, we would appreciate your checking into the HWN NET or EchoLink/IRLP Net once per Hour to receive the latest Hurricane Advisories and to report your local conditions.
Please do not venture outside during the hurricane to gather weather data.
Your safety is the first priority.
There are many constantly changing atmospheric variables that affect the storm’s track and strength.
Please refer to the National Hurricane Center Advisories for official information. www.nhc.noaa.gov
WX4NHC will be monitoring the Hurricane Watch Net www.hwn.org on 14.325 MHz.
Secondary HF frequencies will be 7.268 MHz and 3.950 MHz +/- QRM, should we loose propagation on 20 meters.
EchoLink “WX-Talk” Conference Room and IRLP node 9219 will also be monitored. www.voipwx.net
WX4NHC will also monitor CWOP, APRS and MADIS/MESONET Automated weather stations in the affected area.
Surface Reports using our On-line Hurricane Report form will be monitored.
Amateur Weather Enthusiasts and ON-NHC Volunteers may report directly to WX4NHC on-line.
http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html
ON-NHC Volunteers are both Ham Radio Operators and Non-Ham weather observers that use their own weather instruments to submit “Surface Reports” directly to NHC over the Internet via the WX4NHC on-line report form. These “Surface Reports” are very important as they give Hurricane Specialists at NHC a better idea of what is actually happening on the ground level during the storm.
The WX4NHC Group continues to expand its efforts to increase the quantity and quality of surface reports to include many different modes of reception and groups of people; including HF, VHF/UHF IRLP & EchoLink, VHF & HF APRS, CWOP NOAA Program and ON-NHC Weather Observers Network.
(see our web site for more information on these programs): www.wx4nhc.org
WX4NHC is very proud to have maintained an active Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center for the past 28 years.
We appreciate all of the volunteers who help with our efforts.
OUR MISSION: TO HELP SAVE LIVES.
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John McHugh K4AG
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
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73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net 1 1 1
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