VoIP Hurricane Net

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.

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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??

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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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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

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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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The following stations checked into the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net on Jan. 9, 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.

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Question of the Week from KC5FM:
How is your preparedness action for 2016 changing?

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Voice Checkins:
K2DCD, Dennis, Ewing, New Jersey (Net Control)
WB8YYS, Greg, Kent, Ohio (Backup Net Control)
KD1CY, Rob, New Bedford, Massachusetts (Net Management and TPC Outlook)
KC5FM, Lloyd, Altus, Oklahoma (Net Management)
WX1DER, Daryl, Little Rock, Arkansas (SPC Advisories)
W3TDH, Tom, Takoma Park, Maryland (Skywarn Coordinator)
N2JWX, Marshall, Parlin, New Jersey (Skywarn Coordinator)
VA3WXA, Gord, Toronto, Canada (Weather Radio Listeners Net)
VE9MTB, Rick, New Brunswick, Canada (CanWarn)
WA2AQQ, Bob, East Meadow, New York
N1VXP, Rick, Chilicothe, Ohio
WA3TOY, Kurt, Pasadena, Maryland (Skywarn Coordinator)
K3NFU, Roy, Slidell, Louisiana
KC4HAY, Ron, Baytown, Texas
KC5CTG, Paul, Metarie, Louisiana
N5OZG, Joe, Metarie, Louisiana
WW4RX, Steve, Stuart, Florida
KA5EZQ, Richard, Belle Chasse, Louisiana
KF5TER, Steven, Covington, Louisiana
KC8FQV, Mark, Aurora, Ohio
WX9VOR, Debby, Aurora, Illinois
WB8REI, Jeff, Tiffin, Ohio
N7BMH, Brian, McCall, Idaho
K8ARL, Karl, Tiffin, Ohio
N5OST, Turley, Oklahoma

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Textbox Checkins:
K1NEW, Chokaloskee, Florida
W4CFH, Chuck, Edgewater, Florida
KD2GWY, Brick, New Jersey
VE1AKT, Al, New Brunswick, Canada (CanWarn)
KG5ETF, John, Denton, Texas
KG5IRQ, Guthrie, Oklahoma

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Voice Checkins:  25
Textbox Checkins: 6
Total Checkins:  31

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“Winter storms are always one of the toughest weather features to forecast. Our weather models try their best to pin point what area will be hit the hardest and which areas that could see no affect at all.

The National Weather Service in Sterling, VA is the test bed for a new Winter Storm Threat Graphic. The Storm Prediction Center issues severe weather outlooks, now winter weather is going to be treated the same way. Will these be helpful? Will they confuse people?

Warning Coordinator Meteorologist Christopher Strong from The National Weather Service in Sterling, VA will join us to talk about how his forecast office will be the first to use the new method.” http://on.fb.me/1Rg9zWk #Skywarn #WRN

Click the link for more information about the event set for 8 pm Eastern Time.  The event is hosted by the Carolina Weather Group.

—

Lloyd Colston   director
Altus Emergency Management
Altus, OK      http://www.altusok.gov
Phone:  580.481.2260
Fax:  580.482.4738

Præparate Ante malum.
http://twitter.com/altusready
http://altusem.blogspot.com
calendly.com/kc5fm

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Hello to all..

On behalf of the VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays to all. Thanks to all of you for your support of the VoIP Hurricane Net during 2015.

The 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a quiet year for the VoIP Hurricane Net. There was only one informal activation of the VoIP Hurricane Net and that was for the impacts of Hurricane Joaquin on the Bahamas and Bermuda. A number of reports were relayed from various storm blogging and weather station sources during Joaquin from these areas. It is also noted that several reports from weather station sources in Western Mexico from Hurricane Patricia in the Eastern Pacific basin were also handled this year but overall, it was a quiet year for VoIP hurricane net activations.

As occurs yearly, we did support WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center with the WX4NHC Communications Test at the start of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season. As our main client, we appreciate WX4NHC’s support of our net and thank WX4NHC Coordinators, Julio Ripoll-WD4R and John McHugh-K4AG for their support. They have been an incredible partner with the VoIP Hurricane Net dating back to the net’s inception in the 2003-2004 timeframe. We also had another successful SKYWARN Recognition Day event on the home of the VoIP Hurricane Net, Echolink conference: *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219. Many NWS offices rotated on the system making contacts with Amateur Radio Operators and SKYWARN Spotters from around the country thanking them for their support as well as making contact with different NWS offices around the country.
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Just a reminder that the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net is now on its OFF SEASON schedule; meaning that it only meets ONCE A MONTH…usually on the first Saturday of each month. However, with the first Saturday in January, 2016, being on the day after New Years Day, that net has been moved until the following Saturday, January 9.

Date wise, here are the dates for the off season, from January through May, 2016:

January 9, February 6, March 5, April 2, and May 7.

All nets will start at 8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific Time.

Effective with the April 2 net, for those in Arizona, Hawaii, and in areas that do not observe Daylight Savings Time, the net will be ONE HOUR EARLIER. In the U.S., Daylight Savings Time returns on Sunday, March 13.

In short, if you show up on the *WX_TALK* Conference Server, Echolink 7203, IRLP Node 9219, at any date besides the dates and times noted above for the Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net, you won’t find anyone there. The net will go back to a weekly schedule on Saturday, June 4, 2016.

Also, there is a possibility in the off season that Rob, KD1CY, Director of Operations for the VoIPWX Net, will do Training Presentations. On those nights, the checkin format will be different. Comments will be taken ONLY from Net Management, and Skywarn Coordinators…all other stations will checkin with their CALLSIGN ONLY (no comments taken), so that plenty of time will be available for the presentation, and for questions/comments afterwards. If a PowerPoint presentation is prepared, it likely will be posted in the Yahoo Groups beforehand, so net participants can “follow along”. Watch the Yahoo Groups for updates.

Daryl Stout, WX1DER, One Of The Net Controls

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