Hello to all..

Sunday June 1st 2014 marks the start of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season. On Saturday May 31st, 2014, Amateur Radio Operators prepared for the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season by participating in the 2014 WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Communications Test. Several hundred Amateur Radio Operators from across the country and in the Caribbean made contact with WX4NHC during this communications test used to prepare the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season and to prepare the Amateur Stations and infrastructure in the path of potential hurricanes for use during a potential hurricane strike.

The National Hurricane Center had their National Hurricane Preparedness Week from Sunday May 25th 2014-Saturday May 31st, 2014. Also, with the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, the Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook has been issued, which is utilized to update systems that could become tropical cyclones within a 5 day period. For the first outlook, it gives the Atlantic Hurricane season names and an overview of products issued by the National Hurricane Center. Those links are listed below:

National Hurricane Preparedness Week Information:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/

Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook with storm names and overview of National Hurricane Center products:
http://www.wx1box.org/local/nhc_two_2014_june_1st_2014.txt

The National Hurricane Center also now has a blog called “Inside the Eye” which contains stories and information on hurricanes as well as the National Hurricane Center social media links. A link to the blog is below:
http://noaanhc.wordpress.com/
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Hello to all..

A reminder that the WX4NHC Communications Test will be Saturday May 31st, 2014. WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, will be on Echolink/IRLP from 4 PM EDT (2000 UTC)-600 PM EDT (2200 UTC). The *WX-TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system had a server failure late last week. The reflector is being ‘rebuilt’ and originally it appeared the system may be ready for the Communications Test but that is no longer the case.

Given the outage of *WX-TALK*/IRLP 9219 system, per our procedures, we will use the *VKEMCOMM* Echolink conference node: 270177/IRLP 9508 for the WX4NHC Communications Test on Saturday May 31st. Please make a note of this change and connect to this system for the Communications Test.

Also, as we move forward to our weekly VoIP Hurricane Prep Nets, we will use the *VKECOMM*/IRLP 9508 system if the *WX-TALK*/IRLP 9219 system remains down. We expect to have the system back up and running within the next couple of weeks depending on the schedules of those that are working on the rebuild of the reflector.

We appreciate everyone’s flexibility in making this change for the WX4NHC Communications Test and if necessary for the weekly VoIP Hurricane Prep Nets. 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 NOAA P3 Orion Hurricane Aircraft will be on its yearly Hurricane Awareness Tour and it will be at Gulf Coastal locations for this year. Locations for this year include:

Public Tour Schedule:
● Mon., May 19: Corpus Christi Intl Airport, Corpus Christi, Tex., 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
● Tue., May 20: Ellington Airport, Houston, Tex., 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
● Wed., May 21: Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, La., 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
● Thur., May 22: Tallahassee Airport, Tallahassee, Fla., 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
● Fri., May 23: Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Fla., 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Complete information can be seen at the following link:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/20140515_pa_nwsHAT.pdf

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 VoIP Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net for May 3, 2014. Stations listed may not necessarily be in the order that they checked into the net. Callsign data is taken from the HamData Dot Com website.

Note that just connecting to the Weather Talk Conference Server or an IRLP node (either directly or through a repeater) does NOT qualify as a checkin to the net.

You must be acknowledged by Net Control either via voice, or textbox, to get on the log. If you are not acknowledged, your voice or textbox checkin did NOT get through, and you will have to recheck.

Note that all hyperlinks are spelled out in the message, due to display issues with Facebook.

International Checkins: (1)

WP4OTZ, Manuel, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

US Stations: (16)

WX1DER, Daryl, Little Rock, Arkansas (Net Control)
WB8YYS, Gregg, Stow, Ohio (Backup Net Control)
KC5FM, Lloyd, Altus, Oklahoma (Net Management)
K3WRY, Joe, Richmond, Virginia (Skywarn Coordinator)
VE9MTB, Rick, New Brunswick, Canada (CANWARN)
N2HLB, John, Ellenville, New York
WW4RX, Stephen, Stuart, Florida
KB6HOH, Steven, Novato, California
KJ6NKV, Janielle, Novato, California
N5OZG, Joe, Metarie, Louisiana
AF5JG, Richard, Marrero, Louisiana
KA5EZQ, Richard, Belle Chasse, Louisiana
K5UQ, Matthew, New Orleans, Louisiana
N5ZUA, Steven, Houston, Texas
K9AUC/VA3AUC, James, Saint Louis, Missouri
WA2AQQ, Bob, East Meadow, New York

***

Textbox Checkins: (6)

KJ4CHS, Tom, Richmond, Virginia
VE1AKT, Al, New Brunswick, Canada
W4CFH, Charles, Edgewater, Florida
N5WXC, Stephen, La Place, Louisiana
WX4MMM, Bob, Raleigh, North Carolina
KK4TRV, Andrea, Stuart, Florida

***

International Checkins: 1
U.S. Checkins: 16
Textbox Checkins: 6
Total Checkins: 23
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Hello to all..

The WX4NHC Annual Station Test event will be Saturday May 31st, 2014. WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, will be on the air using various modes from 9 AM-6 PM EDT (1300-2200 UTC). WX4NHC will be on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system from 4-6 PM EDT (2000-2200 UTC) for contacts and testing of their Echolink station. The complete announcement on the Annual Station Test event is listed below:

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Hello to all..

The National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Workshop sessions will be livestreamed on Tuesday April 15th, 2014. It will feature topics on the importance of surface reports from National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Richard Knabb, Amateur Radio Operations at WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, the Canadian Hurricane Centre, ARRL Hurricane Operations and Update, Hurricane Watch Net and VoIP Hurricane Net. 

Given the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings, the Boston Marathon Amateur Radio response was added to the presentation schedule as it is of historical significance nationally. It also ties into the situational awareness aspect that Amateur Radio can provide not only during weather events but also in non-weather related incidents.

Links to the livestream are as follows:

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

The session schedule is listed on the links above and is also listed below as well:

Tuesday, April 15 — 10:30-12:00 EDT*
10:30 Opening Remarks (5 Minutes – Presented by John McHugh – K4AG)
10:35 Importance of Amateur Radio / Spotter Surface Reports (25 Minutes – Presented by NHC Director Dr. Rick Knabb)
11:00 Canadian Hurricane Centre Amateur Radio Operations (20 Minutes – Presented by Bob Robichaud-VE1MBR, Canadian Hurricane Centre)
11:20 WX4NHC Group Presentation(20 Minutes – Presented by Julio Ripoll – WD4R)
11:40 Weather Initiatives by WX4NHC(20 Minutes – Presented by John McHugh – K4AG)

—> NOTE:  Speakers will be at lunch from 12:00-13:30 EDT

Tuesday, April 15 — 13:30-15:00 EDT*
13:30 ARRL Hurricane Preparedness (20 Minutes – Presented by Mike Corey – KI1U)
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The following stations checked into the VoIP Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net for Apr. 5, 2014. Stations listed may not necessarily be in the order that they checked into the net. Callsign data is taken from the HamData Dot Com and QRZ websites.

Note that just connecting to the Weather Talk Conference Server or an IRLP node (either directly or through a repeater) does NOT qualify as a checkin to the net.

You must be acknowledged by Net Control either via voice, or textbox, to get on the log. If you are not acknowledged, your voice or textbox checkin did NOT get through, and you will have to recheck.

Note that all hyperlinks are spelled out in the message, due to display issues with Facebook.

International Checkins: (2)

WH6EAO, Odell, Aiea, Hawaii
NP3OD, Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico

US Stations: (21)

WX1DER, Daryl, Little Rock, Arkansas (Net Control)
KD1CY, Rob, New Bedford, Massachusetts (Net Management)(Backup Net Control)
KC5FM, Lloyd, Altus, Oklahoma (Net Management)
WA2AQQ, Bob, East Meadow, New York
K3WRY, Joe, Richmond, Virginia
KB1CYO, Philip, Foxboro, Massachusetts
W1EZY, Paul, Acushnet, Massachusetts
KA1RSY, Ed, New Bedford, Massachusetts
KA1BZE, Margaret, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
KA1VRF, Wayne, Vero Beach, Florida
W4WMM, Alan, Mobile, Alabama
KJ4EJH, John, Swansboro, North Carolina
KJ4JPE, Janice, Swansboro, North Carolina
WW4RX, Stephen, Stuart, Florida
K8ARL, Tiffin, Ohio
KA5EZQ, Rich, Belle Chasse, Louisiana
K5LZP, Tom, Marrero, Louisiana
N1SYC, Bob, Plymouth, Massachusetts
K4GRW, Bob, Newport, North Carolina
N5OZG, Joe, Metarie, Louisiana
KK4PLI, Willis, Morehead City, North Carolina

***

Textbox Checkins: (18)

W9LUO, Marilyn, Evanston, Illinois
VE1AKT, Al, New Brunswick, Canada
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Hello to all…

The recording of the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net April 2014 Training Topic regarding an overview of presentations for the Amateur Radio Workshop at the National Hurricane Conference and other preparatory topics for the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season is now available. A link to the recording in MP3 format and the presentation in PDF format can be seen below:

http://www.voipwx.net/files/April_2014_National_hurricane_conference_overview_presentation.mp3
http://www.voipwx.net/files/VoIP_Hurricane_Net_Presentation_for_April_2014.pdf

This has also been added to the VoIP Hurricane Net web site under the Main Menu via the link – VoIP Hurricane Prep Net Presentations. Again, for best results, you likely will want to download the Audio Recording of the net (approximately 5.3 Meg in size). The presentation lasts approximately 25 minutes. 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..

For this Saturday evening’s VoIP Hurricane Prep Net, we will have a training topic giving an overview of presentations for the Amateur Radio Workshop at the National Hurricane Conference. We will also discuss various other items regarding preparation for the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

We encourage folks to participate in this month’s VoIP Hurricane Prep Net and listen and view the training that will be presented. In the interest of time, net management team members will give brief comments and then we will be checking in Amateurs with no comments and move right into the training presentation as we used to do in the past when having such training topics and as we did for the February and March 2014 nets. There will be an opportunity for Amateurs to ask questions at the end of the training presentation.

The Power Point presentation is now available and can be seen at the following link:
http://www.voipwx.net/files/VoIP_Hurricane_Net_Presentation_for_April_2014.pdf

For those that cannot make the net, the power point presentation and a recording of the net will be available and archived on the voipwx.net web site.

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 following are links to press release information for the 2014 National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Workshop for Tuesday April 15th 2014 and the various topics that will be presented at this year’s conference:

http://www.arrl.org/news/national-hurricane-conference-announces-amateur-radio-sessions-for-2014
http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2014-03-19
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2014-03-20

The VoIP Hurricane Net Overview will be presented at this year’s conference as has been done in prior years. Livestreaming of the workshop for those that cannot be at the workshop live will be done as well. Further details on the livestreaming as well as a reminder notice on the Amateur Radio Workshop at the National Hurricane Conference will be posted 2-3 days prior to the workshop. The April 2014 Monthly VoIP Hurricane Prep Net will give an overview of the presentations for the Amateur Radio Workshop at the National Hurricane Conference and also talk about the 2014 National Hurricane Center Products and Services for the upcoming 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

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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