VoIP Hurricane Net in Amateur Radio News Section Updated

Hello to all….

The VoIP Hurricane Net in Amateur Radio News section of the web site is now updated with articles from the ARRL web site on the net’s efforts during Hurricane Felix. This includes an ARRL Audio News article on the net’s activities that was given by Dennis Dura-K2DCD, ARRL Manager of Emergency Preparedness and Response and Assistant Director of VoIP Hurricane Net Operations.

Amateur Radio Newsline also featured the VoIP Hurricane Net’s efforts during Hurricane Felix in their September 7th, 2007 edition of Newsline. That audio clip has also been added to the VoIP Hurricane Net in Amateur Radio News section of the web site.

To get to these web articles and audio clips, go to the VoIP Hurricane Net web site at http://www.voipwx.net and select VoIP Hurricane Net in Amateur Radio News link from the main menu. All the web page link and audio articles will be on that page. 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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SubTropical Storm Gabrielle Forms off the Southeast US Coast

Hello to all….

SubTropical Storm Gabrielle has formed off the Southeast US Coast of the United States. Gabrielle is expected to make the full transition to a tropical storm and potentially affect portions of the Eastern North Carolina and South Carolina coasts with tropical storm force conditions and a Tropical Storm Watch has been posted for portions of this area. At this time, Gabrielle is not expected to reach hurricane strength at this time but it will be monitored closely.

After affecting the Carolinas, the system is expected to pass south of the 40 N/70 W “benchmark” position. If this track holds, this would spare any direct impact for Southern New England but the track, speed and intensity will need to be watched closely for Southern New England and any impact for this area as track guidance out 4-5 days can be subject to large errors.

From the National Hurricane Center web site glossary, a Subtropical storm or cyclone is as follows:
A non-frontal low pressure system that has characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones. Gabrielle at this time has characteristics of both types of systems (Tropical and Subtropical) but is expected to make a transition to a fully tropical system over the next day or so.

Gabrielle Advisories and Satellite Imagery can be found on the VoIPWXNet web site by going to http://www.voipwx.net and click Atlantic Tropical Products from the Main Menu and links for the Gabrielle Advisories and Satellite imagery will appear. You can also go direct to the National Hurricane Center web site at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to closely monitor the progress of Gabrielle. 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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505 PM Update on Area of Disturbed Weather North of the Bahamas

Hello to all….

Aircraft investigating the area of disturbed weather north of the Bahamas hasn’t found enough of a circulation to classify the system but it could be classified soon and Tropical Storm Watches may be required for parts of the US East Coast later tonight. Latest Tropical Disturbance Statement is shown below:

000
WONT41 KNHC 072106
DSAAT
SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
505 PM EDT FRI SEP 07 2007

THE AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INVESTIGATING THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BETWEEN BERMUDA AND THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST HAS NOT YET IDENTIFIED A WELL-DEFINED CLOSED SURFACE CIRCULATION. THE AIRCRAFT WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM…AND IT COULD BECOME A TROPICAL OR SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE AT ANY TIME AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 10 MPH. INTERESTS ALONG THE SOUTHEAST AND MID-ATLANTIC COAST OF THE U.S. SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM…AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES COULD BE ISSUED THIS EVENING.

$$
FORECASTER KNABB

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to closely 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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Potential Tropical Depression Forming North of the Bahamas

Hello to all….

A Special Tropical Disturbance Statement has been issued on a system forming north of the Bahamas. It has the potential to become a Tropical Depression. Computer models have hinted at this system for many days and it could become a threat for somewhere along the US East Coast from the Carolinas to New England. Interests in the area should closely monitor its progress. See the statement below:

000
WONT41 KNHC 071242
DSAAT
SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
845 AM EDT FRI SEP 07 2007

SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED BETWEEN BERMUDA AND THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED OVERNIGHT. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE FOR ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT…AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM LATER TODAY. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM THIS AFTERNOON. THE LOW IS FORECAST TO MOVE GENERALLY WESTWARD OR NORTHWESTWARD DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS…AND INTERESTS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

$$
FORECASTER KNABB

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely 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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Tropical Update Wednesday 9/5/07

Hello to all….

With Felix making landfall and dissipating, the Tropics are not done yet as we continue into the heart of hurricane season. Another potential system may develop halfway between the US East Coast and Bermuda. A reconnasiance aircraft could be sent into that system today if it continues to hold its intensity or increase further during the day today per the Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook issued at 530 AM EDT Wednesday September 5th.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team will continue to closely monitor developments in the Tropics. 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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VoIP Hurricane Net: Hurricane Felix Audio Clips

Hello to all….

Hurricane Felix Audio clips of some key reports are now available on the VoIP Hurricane Net web site under the VoIP Hurricane Net in Action During Hurricanes section off of the Main Menu. In addition, Lu-KA4EPS has made available a complete recording of the Felix activation. It is about 15 Meg in size and can be found at the following link:

VoIP Hurricane Felix Net Activation Complete Recording

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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September VoIP Hurricane Net Newsletter (Graphical Version)

Hello to all….

The following is a link to the September Edition of the VoIP Huricane Net Newsletter. Special thanks to new newsletter editor, Rich Long-KF6BKA for putting this newsletter together. A text version is sent to the Yahoogroups email list with a link to the graphical PDF version. The Link to the newsletter is below:

September VoIP Hurricane Net Newsletter

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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Welcome to New VoIP Hurricane Net Newsletter Editor, Richard (Rich) Long-KF6BKA

Hello to all….

It is with great pleasure that I welcome, Richard (Rich) Long-KF6BKA, a VoIP Hurricane Net Control Operator, to the net management team as VoIP Hurricane Newsletter editor. Rich asked if he could do a newsletter monthly for our net to keep the interest level up in our net and to assist with hurricane preparedness/mitigation efforts. Rich did an excellent job with a first draft of the newsletter and after much review with the net management team, the first newsletter will be issued to the email list within the next hour.

We will send a text newsletter to the email list and a link to the graphical newsletter will be posted in the email and the graphical newsletter will reside on the VoIP Hurricane Net web site. We hope everyone who follows the activities of our net will enjoy the newsletter.

If you have suggestions on articles that you wish to see or are willing to assist with the newsletter, particularly to get a Spanish version of the Newsletter put together, please email Rich Long-KF6BKA at kf6bka@voipwx.net as he’d like the help and suggestions for articles for the newsletter and to get a Spanish version sent out for those who only speak Spanish. We appreciate your help in supporting the newsletter.

Once again, we welcome Richard Long-KF6BA to the net management team as the VoIP Hurricane Newsletter editor. Please give Rich your support and thanks to all for their continued support for the VoIP Hurricane Net.

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

Hello to all….

….Felix downgraded to a Tropical Storm in the 8 PM EDT Tuesday/0000 UTC Wednesday Advisory. VoIP Hurricane Net Activation Secured at this time….
….Web Site Graphic will reflect not_activated in the next couple of hours….

We have secured operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net at 8 PM EDT/0000 UTC today as Felix has weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 MPH. Felix should continue to degenerate to a remant low by Wednesday. Major River and Stream Flooding is now the main threat for Nicaragua and portions of Honduras.

The VoIP Hurricane Net wishes to thank all of its net controls for their support for this catastrophic system. Special thanks also goes out to NP3OD-Fransisco and the IRESC, International Radio Emergency Support Coalition for translating the local TV feed from Nicaragua and Nicaragua web sites. Special thanks also to Carlos-XE2WCG from Tampico, Mexico for his support in translating reports from Spanish to English and relaying reports from the 40 Meter Nicaragua Emergency Net to our net.

The ARRL has been following the story of the VoIP Hurricane Net and our activation. See link below for the latest article:
VoIP Hurricane Net Active as Hurricane Felix Makes Landfall in Northeastern Nicaragua

That article maybe updated once more on Wednesday with more information. Those that wish to see reports that were handled via the VoIP Hurricane Net can go to the VoIP Hurricane Net web site and click on Report Viewer from the Main Menu. You can then click the individual reports as they were submitted to the net.

Below is an announcement from Julio Ripoll-WD4R on the securing of the Hurricane Felix activation:

WX4NHC ANNOUNCEMENT – HURRICANE FELIX OPERATIONS

Released September 4, 2007, 5 PM EDT

Felix is forecast to be downgraded to a Tropical Storm about 8 PM EDT this evening.

WX4NHC will conclude its operations at that time.

The NHC Hurricane Forecasters were very happy to receive reports via Ham Radio as there are no weather stations along the landfall area called “The Miskito Coast”.

This lowland area of Nicaragua is sparsely populated by indigenous Miskito people, which do not have much infrastructure.

Felix was the second CAT-5 Atlantic Hurricane to make landfall as a CAT-5 this year.

This has never happened before in recorded history.

The Ham Radio reports will be part of this historic hurricane’s official NHC archives.

WX4NHC extends its sincere thanks to all the Ham Radio Operators from many countries and Nets for being the link between NHC and those in the path of this extremely powerful and dangerous hurricane. We hope that our continued efforts to spread the hurricane warnings will helped save lives.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those people who were affected by Hurricane Felix, and hope that they can rebuild their lives quickly.

73,

Julio, WD4R

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org

National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
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UPDATED: VoIP Hurricane Felix Net Activation Notice

Hello to all….

…VoIP Hurricane Net Activation to Commence at 4 AM EDT/0800 UTC Tuesday September 4th, 2007 for Potentially Catastrophic Hurricane Felix’s impact to Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize as we attempt to get contacts in the affected area of Felix in Honduras. Activation timeframe sped up due to the speed of motion of Felix…
….Additional Net Activations are Possibly but less likely than the previous notice. Activation may be continuous into Wednesday but the net maybe able to secure some time late Tuesday or Wednesday if the current track scenario verifies….

The VoIP Hurricane Net in coordination with WX4NHC will be activating at 4 AM EDT/0800 UTC Tuesday September 4th, 2007 to support WX4NHC with surface/meterological reports from stations in the affected area on *WX-TALK* node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219. Impact to Nicaragua and Honduras is expected Tuesday with impact to Belize later Tuesday into Wednesday. It now appears that activation past Wednesday is less likely per the current track guidance but this is subject to change and the activation notice will be updated as needed pending Felix’s track.

As of 5PM EDT Monday Evening/ 21:00 UTC, A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua Northward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border and for Honduras from Limon eastward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Honduras west of Limon, the Caribbean coast of Guatemala and the entire coast of Belize. Felix, fluctuating betweeen Category 4 and Category 5 intensity, is expected to pass near the Nicaragua/Honduras border and into Honduras on Tuesday. We are currently making contact with Amateurs and other folks in Honduras, Nicaragua and Belize or with any Amateurs who have contact with Amatuers or other people in these areas. Any stations with contacts in that area are urged to assist us by relaying reports from those contacts in the affected area wherever possible.

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

Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems:

IRLP:
Reflector 9508 Sydney Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.
Reflector 9058 Northeast Reflector channel 8.

EchoLink:
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177
*N5API* Node: 77433
*NCPENN* Node: 137634

We have the following streaming audio capability up and running for the VoIP Hurricane Net:

KA4EPS Streaming Audio Feed

WX4NHC is planning to be active as early as 600 AM EDT now based on notes with Julio Ripoll-WD4R exchanged this morning. Excerpts of their activation announcement are listed below:

WX4NHC ANNOUNCEMENT – HURRICANE FELIX OPERATIONS
Released September 2, 2007, 7 PM EDT
PLEASE RELAY TO STATIONS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.

We request all land based stations as well as ships at sea in the areas affected by Hurricane Felix 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 27 years.

We appreciate all of the volunteers who help with our efforts.

OUR MISSION: TO HELP SAVE LIVES.

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Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. 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
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