Hello to all…

From Julio Ripoll-WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator, a story on an award presented to now former Director of the National Hurricane Center, Dr Rick Knabb, by the Amateur Radio team at WX4NHC the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center. Dr Knabb is now at The Weather Channel. Photos provided by Julio-WD4R are on the VoIP Hurricane Net Facebook page.

Report on Our WX4NHC Appreciation Award to NHC Director Dr. Rick Knabb

The Amateur Radio Group at the National Hurricane Center WX4NHC presented NHC Director Dr. Rick Knabb with an award of appreciation during the Hurricane Hunters Tour. Dr. Knabb had announced his departure from NHC to join The Weather Channel.

Dr. Knabb will be greatly missed at NHC, especially by the volunteer Amateur Radio Operators at WX4NHC, who enjoyed many years of his welcome and support. Rick’s smile and enthusiasm was always contagious.

His positive communications with the public; exemplary. The “Hurricane Hams” at WX4NHC wish Dr. Knabb all the best of success.

Thanks to all for the continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all…

The Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, Annual station test report has been received from Julio Ripoll-WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator. His report is posted below. Pictures from the station event are posted on the VoIP Hurricane Net Facebook page. We appreciate everyone who checked into the Annual station test whether it be on our system via Echolink/IRLP or HF, VHF and the many other modes used in the station test. Below is the WX4NHC Annual Station Test Event Report from Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator, WD4R-Julio Ripoll:

WX4NHC Annual Station Test Event Report – Saturday May 27th, 2017

We had a very successful WX4NHC Radio Station Test yesterday (Saturday May 27th, 2017). All of our radio and computer equipment and new main HF Dipole antenna worked well. We feel that our equipment will perform well if needed during this hurricane season.

We logged a total of 196 communications contacts throughout the US, Canada, Caribbean and Europe. Total time on-the-air was about 8 hours and we used all of the communications modes available at our station; HF, VHF, UHF, several digital radio modes (EchoLink, IRLP, DMR, D-Star, D-RATS) and digital HF messaging (Winlink).

We tested the Florida Statewide SARNet network which connects more than 26 VHF/UHF Repeaters and EOC Offices. Our UHF Repeater at FIU campus is part of the SARNet system, that is sponsored by the State of Florida DOT. We contacted Several stations throughout all parts of Florida from Miami, Tampa to Tallahassee State EOC.

Some of our interesting contacts:

Canadian Hurricane Center VE1MBR (Bob Robichaud), Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it was 50F; it was 93F in Miami at that time. Bob sends many thanks for the great cooperation between the Hurricane Centers and WX4NHC during Hurricane Season. Lafayette, LA EOC, Slidell NWS, San Juan PR EOC, and as far as Germany and Tel Aviv Israel.

Rob KD1CY operated Net Control for the VoIP Hurricane Net from WA1EMA at  Acushnet, Mass Emergency Management Agency. The Asst. Director of Acushnet EMA (Ed KA1RSY) also took time to make a contact and send his cool regards (it was 64F up there and we were still hot in Miami).

Many of our contacts were with individual Amateur Radio Operators that volunteer as Skywarn Spotters for their local NWS offices and also participate in the Hurricane Watch Net on HF during hurricanes. One of them “Debbie” WX9VOR from Aurora, IL was very active relaying surface reports during Hurricane Mathew last year.

Thanks again to everyone that participated in our annual WX4NHC Pre-Hurricane Season station test.

We hope our services are not needed during this hurricane season. But if needed, we are ready to provide NHC backup communications and ready to receive those important Surface Reports from stations inside the hurricane.

Your Surface Report or your Relay can make a big difference.

73, Julio – WD4R

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Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
Celebrating 37 years at the
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
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Thanks to all for their continued support of WX4NHC and the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all…

Please see the announcement on the WX4NHC On-Air Communications Test for this Saturday May 27th, 2017. WX4NHC will be on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system between 4-5 PM EDT/2000-2100 UTC Saturday and on other frequencies and modes throughout the day.

Announcement from WX4NHC
Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Miami Florida

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Station Test
Saturday, May 27th , 2017 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT (1300z- 2100z)
This will be our 37th year of public service at NHC.

The purpose of this event is to test Amateur Radio Station equipment,
antennas and computers prior to this year’s Hurricane Season, which starts
June 1st and runs through November 30th.

This event is good practice for Ham Radio Operators world-wide as well as
NWS Staff to become familiar with Amateur Radio communications available
during times of severe weather.

We will be making brief contacts on many frequencies and modes, exchanging
signal reports and basic weather data exchange (“Sunny”, or “Rain”, etc.)
with any station in any location.

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on HF, VHF, UHF , 2 & 30 meter APRS and WinLink
wx4nhc@winlink.org subject must contain “//WL2K”.
We will try to stay on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325 MHz most of
the time.

Due to space and equipment limitations, we will have 2 operators per shift,
we cannot be everywhere and every mode at the same time.
You may be able to find us on HF by using one of the DX Spotting Networks,
Such as the DX Summit Web Site: http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspx

We will also be on VoIP Hurricane Net 4pm-5pm EDT (2000-2100z)
(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). http://www.voipwx.net/

Florida VHF & UHF Repeaters will be contacted.

QSL Cards are available via WD4R.
Please send your card with a S.A.S.E.
Please do NOT send QSLs directly to the Hurricane Center address, as it will
get delayed.

Due to security measures;
NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC without prior clearance from NHC
PIO and Security.
Only WX4NHC Operators on the pre-approved operating schedule will be allowed
entry.

For more information about WX4NHC, please visit our website
www.wx4nhc.org

Thank you for your participation in the WX4NHC Annual Station Test event.

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Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
Celebrating 37 years at the
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov

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Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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