Hello to all..

The 2016 WX4NHC Communications Test was very successful. Many stations checked in with WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center allowing for critical testing of equipment. In addition, KK4INZ-Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator, checked into the test and contacted both WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, and VE1MBR-Bob Robichaud, who was located at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in the Halifax Nova Scotia Canada area and monitored the last approximately 45 minutes of the Communications test. The moment was captured and recorded via the Echolink audio recording feature. The approximately 5 minute and 30 second period where KK4INZ-Craig Fugate made contact with WX4NHC and the Canadian Hurricane Centre can be heard via the following link:

http://www.voipwx.net/files/KK4INZ_Craig_Fugate_on_voipwxnet_wx4nhc_comms_test.wav
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Hello to all..

Tropical Depression (TD) Two formed yesterday in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Bahamas. Slow strengthening is forecast and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today. If that occurs, TD Two will be named Bonnie. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Savannah River to Little River Inlet South Carolina. Advisories on TD Two can be seen off the Main Menu of the voipwx.net web site, via our Facebook and Twitter feeds and via the National Hurricane Center web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

Bonnie is not expected to become a hurricane so activation of the VoIP Hurricane Net is unlikely. That said, a tropical storm can bring heavy rainfall, flooding and possibly severe weather along its path. This may prompt local/regional SKYWARN Activations in the areas affected. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to monitor the progress of TD Two over the next few days. 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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Hello to all..

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team is monitoring the potential of tropical or subtropical cyclone development with an area of disturbed weather between Bermuda and the Bahamas. The system is gradually becoming better organized and has a medium chance, 60% for development in 48 hours and a high chance, 70% for development in 5 days. Given the Memorial Day Weekend, interests along the Southeast US Coast from Georgia through North Carolina should monitor the progress of this system and an air force recon plane is scheduled to investigate this low Friday Afternoon. The National Hurricane Center has been sending out updates several times a day on this system. These updates can be seen via the Tropical Weather Outlook link off the main menu of the voipwx.net web site, via the voipwxnet Facebook and Twitter feeds and via the National Hurricane Center web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team continues to monitor the progress of this system. 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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WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Station Test
Saturday, May 28th , 2016 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT ( 1300z- 2100z)
This will be our 36th 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 can not 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 EST (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;
Please, 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.

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Hello to all…

It is with deep regret and sadness that we have learned that one of our VoIP Hurricane Net – Net Control Operators has passed away. Marilyn Gardner-W9LUO passed away on April 19th, 2016. She was 73 years old. She was active not only with the VoIP Hurricane Net but also with the Evanston Illinois Amateur Radio community and Illinois ARES. The details on her services etc. can be seen via the following link:

http://www.donnellanfuneral.com/m/?p=memorial&id=1786076

We will miss Marilyn’s participation as one of our Net Control Operators. She was there for both the VoIP Hurricane Prep net and for net activations for landfalling hurricanes. I recall her running one of our VoIP Hurricane Prep Nets after SKYWARN Recognition Day and her jovial comments after the “multiple personalities of WX1BOX” checked in as part of our traditional “joke check-in” on the last VoIP Hurricane Prep Net of the year after SKYWARN Recognition Day a few years ago where each operator we had at our station checked in as WX1BOX. I also remember her sending me personal notes after my mom’s passing last year. She will be greatly missed in the Amateur Radio community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends, family and Amateur Radio Operators that knew Marilyn.

Special thanks to Debbie-WX9VOR, one of our new net controls and involved with the WX9LOT Chicago, Illinois SKYWARN Program, for passing along this information on social media. 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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The following stations checked into the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net on Apr. 2, 2016. Station locations are from the hamdata.com website, unless otherwise noted. Due to hyperlink issues with Facebook, the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net website is listed first in the links section, below the checkins.

***

Question/Comment of the Week from KC5FM: 

To whom does your Skywarn system report?  National Weather Service, Emergency Management, media, or a combination of them??

***

Voice Checkins:

WX1DER, Daryl, Little Rock, AR (Net Control, SPC Outlooks)
WB8YYS, Gregg, Kent, OH (Backup Net Control, Skywarn Coordinator)
K2DCD, Dennis, Ewing, NJ (Net Management)
KC5FM, Lloyd, Altus, OK (Net Management/Question Of The Week)
WA3TOY, Kurt, Pasadena, MD (Skywarn Coordinator)
W3TDH, Tom, Takoma Park, MD (Skywarn Coordinator)
VE9MTB, Rick, New Brunswick, CN (CANWARN)
WA2AQQ, Bob, East Meadow, NY
N1VXP, Rick, Chilicothe, OH
KB1CYO, Phil, Foxboro, MA
AF5JG, Eric, Marrero, LA
KA5EZQ, Rick, Belle Chasse, LA
KG6FIY, Endaf, Long Beach, CA (mobile)
N7BMH, Brian, McCall, ID
N5ZUA, Steve, Houston, TX
N5OZG, Joe, Metarie, LA
KC8FQV, Mark, Macedonia, OH

Textbox Checkins:

W4CFH, Chuck, Edgewater, FL
W9LUO, Marilyn, Evanston, IL
WA4MDQ, Ruth, Dallas, GA
VE1AKT, Al, New Brunswick, CN
KK6RJR, Richard, Bakersfield, CA
N4ARZ, Gary, Salem, SC

***

Voice Checkins:      17
Textbox Checkins:     6
Total Checkins:      23

***

To save space, and for further details, please go to the following websites for more information on these topics.

***

VoIP Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net:

Main page: http://www.voipwx.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voipwxnet?_rdr
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Hello to all..

The National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Workshop sessions (this year being held in Orlando Florida) will be livestreamed on Tuesday March 22nd, 2016. Links to the livestream are as follows:

http://www.voipwx.net/files/stream.htm
http://www.nsradio.org/stream.htm

Presentation Schedule: All Times (Eastern Daylight Time – EDT):
130-135 PM: Opening Remarks
135-200 PM: Importance of Amateur Radio / Spotter Surface Reports with Q & A (Dr. Rick Knabb)
200-230 PM: Canadian Hurricane Centre and Hurricane Meteorological Topics (VE1MBR-Bob R)
230-300 PM: WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center Overview (WD4R)

—> NOTE: Speakers will be on a break from around 300-315 PM EDT

315-345 PM: Hurricane Watch Net Overview, Personal Weather Stations and Backup Power and Antenna Overview (KB5HAV)
345-415 PM: VoIP Hurricane Net Overview & Best Practices in SKYWARN for Tropical Systems (KD1CY)
415-445 PM: ARRL Beginner’s Course in Ham Radio Hurricane Preparedness (K1FUG)
445-500 PM: Moderated Q & A and Door Prize Raffle (All)

We hope folks can join the livestream Tuesday 3/22/16. If people cannot make the livestream, the presentations will be archived and information will be sent out once that occurs. 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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The following stations checked into the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net on Mar. 5, 2016. Station locations are from the hamdata.com website, unless otherwise noted. Due to hyperlink issues with Facebook, the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net website is listed first in the links section, below the checkins.

***

Question/Comment of the Week from KC5FM: 
Name three ways you obtain weather warnings. One should have at least 3 ways, in case one or more ways, fail.

***

Voice Checkins:
W9LUO, Marilyn, Evanston, IL (Net Control)
WB8YYS, Gregg, Kent, OH (Backup Net Control, Skywarn Coordinator)
KC5FM, Lloyd, Altus, OK (Net Management)
WX1DER, Daryl, Little Rock, AR (Severe Weather and Heavy Rain Outlooks)
KJ4EJH, John, Swansboro, NC (Skywarn Coordinator)
KJ4JPE, Janice, Swansboro, NC (Skywarn Coordinator)
VE9MTB, Rick, New Brunswick, CN (CANWARN)
NP3OD, Francisco, San Juan, PR
WA2AQQ, Bob, East Meadow, NY
N1VXP, Rick, Chilicothe, OH
KA5EZQ, Rick, Belle Chasse, LA
AF5JG, Eric, Marrero, LA
WW4RX, Steve, Stuart, FL
WX9VOR, Debby, Aurora, IL
KC8FQV, Mark, Aurora, OH
N7BMH, Brian, McCAll, ID

Textbox Checkins:
KG5CEN, Glen, Slidell, LA
VE1AKT, Al, Nova Scotia, CN (CANWARN)
KG6FIY, Endaf, Long Beach, CA
WA4MDQ, Ruth, Dallas, GA
K8ARL, Karl, Tiffin, OH

***

Voice Checkins:      16
Textbox Checkins:     5
Total Checkins:      21

***

To save space, and for further details, please go to the following websites for more information on these topics.

***

VoIP Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net:
Main page: http://www.voipwx.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voipwxnet?_rdr
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/voipwxnet
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Hello to all..

Subtropical storm Alex has unexpectedly and remarkably intensified into Hurricane Alex. While this remains “unusual”, it is again not unprecedented. The last time a hurricane formed in January was in 1938 and the first hurricane to occur in the month of January since Hurricane Alice in 1955 per the Thursday 1/14/16 1000 AM EST/1500 UTC National Hurricane Center Forecast Discussion on Hurricane Alex.

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the Central Azore Islands and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Eastern Azore Islands. Alex now has maximum sustained winds of 85 MPH. Hurricane Alex is expected to impact the Azore Islands later tonight and Friday Morning.

A quick status check on IRLP and Echolink show no clear paths to the Azore islands. There will be no “formal” VoIP Hurricane Net Activation here, however, some of the net management team may monitor the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system later tonight and Friday Morning. It is noted that where I live in South Coastal Massachusetts that there is a large amount of Portuguese people living in the area with roots to the Azore Islands and that may allow us to get reports and other data from the Azore Islands in an informal fashion.

Advisories on Hurricane Alex can be seen off the Main Menu of the voipwx.net web site, via the voipwxnet social media Facebook and Twitter feeds or via the National Hurricane Center web site which also has the National Hurricane Center Social Media feed information at the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the progress of Alex. 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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Hello to all..

Subtropical Storm Alex has formed in the Atlantic in January. While an “unusual” event, it is not unprecedented and Alex is the fourth known system to have formed in January since hurricane historical records have been kept and that goes back to 1851. The last time this occurred was when an unnamed system formed in 1978. This information was obtained from the first National Hurricane Center Forecast Discussion issued on this system at 400 PM EST/2100 UTC Wednesday 1/13/16.

Alex has maximum sustained winds of 60 MPH and is located 665 miles south-southwest of the Azores as of the Wednesday 1/13/16 1000 PM EST Advisory. Alex could pose a potential threat to the Azores Islands as a strong tropical/sub-tropical or strong post tropical system. Alex is not expected to achieve hurricane strength at this time but still could be a powerful storm to affect the Azores islands of Portugal. No VoIP Hurricane Net Activation is planned for Alex at this time.

Advisories on Alex can be seen off the Main Menu of the voipwx.net web site, via the voipwxnet social media Facebook and Twitter feeds or via the National Hurricane Center web site which also has the National Hurricane Center Social Media feed information at the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the progress of Alex. 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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