*SKYWARN Newsletter #223

Hello to all...

 

Thank You for Tremendous Support in the 2004-2005 Winter...

SKYWARN Email List Converted to a Secure Email Listserver....

First SKYWARN Strategy Meeting Held on March 5th, 2005 at NWS Taunton, Minutes to Follow...

Blizzard Presentation and Net Dialogue from the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net Archived....

SKYWARN Training Update....

Boston Marathon Needs Amateur Radio Support....

Emergency Communications Workshop in Ipswich, Massachusetts Saturday April 2nd, 2005...

 

***Newsletter Issued: 3/14/05.

 

Thank You for Tremendous Support in the 2004-2005 Winter...

 

While the Winter of 2004-2005 is not yet over and is on pace to be a Top 5 Winter across

much of Southern New England, particularly in central and eastern parts of

New England, the National Weather Service wishes to thank all those who have

supported the program with their timely reports of snowfall, snow/wind damage,

wind measurements, precipitation changeover type and coastal flooding reports. It

has been a winter with significant snowfall but has also had damage associated

with it which has prompted more formal activations this winter then any winter

over the past 10 years. The efforts of all SKYWARN Spotters and Coordinators

are very much appreciated.

 

While Winter is not over yet and there still could be a few more winter

storms this season, it is hoped that all Spotters/Coordinators will

continue their high level of reporting of criteria information into

NWS via Amateur Radio, the web form and spotter line. It is also

hoped that this will continue during the summer time Severe

Weather season where spotter information is even more valuable

and critical.

 

SKYWARN Email List Converted to a Secure Email Listserver....

 

The SKYWARN email list was converted to a secure email listserver in

mid-February. The reason for this is because Internet Service Provider's

are limiting the total number of email addresses that a personal email

address can send to in many cases. Having 2 Internet Providers, one service

limits it to 100 per email and a second provider, which was unlimited, limits

the email distribution to 400 per address per hour. The reason for these limits

is to disrupt spammers from sending so much email. If the old list (done

by my personal address book) functioned as it did before the email list,

it would take 10 times as long to send out a timely email to the email list.

 

Through the tremendous efforts of Phil McNamara-N1XTB, we now have the email

list moved off on to a secure email list. This list allows for only myself or

a designee when I'm away or cannot be reached to post to the email list. The

list is also mobile in that I am now able to send notes to the entire distribution

list whether I am at work, home, NWS or another location.

 

There was one issue that arose when Verizon blocked the email list to all Verizon

subscribers but that was resolved. Those with Verizon email accounts may have

noticed delays in seeing coordination emails because of the issue that occurred

last week. Beyond that problem, the list as functioning as if it was still being

done by the old way of processing.

 

Hats off to Phil for creating this list and we hope it will only enhance our

capabilities going forward. Please contact me at rmacedo@rcn.com or kd1cy@comcast.net

with any questions on functionality of the list.

 

First SKYWARN Strategy Meeting Held on March 5th, 2005 at NWS Taunton, Minutes to Follow...

 

The First SKYWARN Strategy Meeting of 2005 was held on Saturday March 5th at NWS Taunton.

There were 21 people in attendance and a great time was had by all at the meeting. Many

important matters were discussed and some surprise topics and items were completed. Full

details on the meeting will follow in a later newsletter.

 

Blizzard Presentation and Net Dialogue from the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net Archived....

 

A few weeks ago, it was requested by several members of the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net

that a presentation on the Blizzard that affected the NWS Taunton County Warning

Area be given over the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) IRLP (Internet Radio

Linking Project)/Echolink weekly net. The purpose of doing a presentation such as

one done on the blizzard is to educate Amateurs on other SKYWARN Networks and the

impact of other forms of weather on other parts of the country. That weekly net

meets every Saturday at 0000z (7 PM EST/8 PM EDT) to practice net control

skills and the use of VoIP for wide coverage nets. It utilizes IRLP reflector 9219

and the WX-TALK Echolink Conference node number 7123. For information on how

to check into this weekly net, please contact the following:

 

1.) A Local Echolink/IRLP node owner or someone familiar with Echolink/IRLP.

2.) Rob-KD1CY at rmacedo@rcn.com

 

For more information on the VoIP Net, go to the following web-site:

http://www.voipwx.net

 

On Saturday February 19th, 2005, that Blizzard Presentation was given over the VoIP

system and it was very well received. The Net had a record 51 check-ins from

Amateurs across the USA and 4 different countries. A link to a recording of what

was done over the Amateur Radio Net along with the Power Point presentation is listed

at the following link:

 

http://www.kf7fly.net/blizzard/

 

The VoIP Hurricane Prep Net is a support net for the National Hurricane Center in

Miami Florida. Over the course of 2004, Amateurs from the NWS Taunton County Warning

Area who are familiar with SKYWARN procedures and net control work assisted this net

during the hurricanes that affected North Carolina, Florida, and the Caribbean. This

work will better enable us to make contact with the National Hurricane Center when

a hurricane strikes Southern New England.

 

SKYWARN Training Update....

 

The following is the SKYWARN training update for 2005. 5 out of 10 sessions have

been scheduled. At the SKYWARN Strategy Meeting, 5 other locations were picked

and they were as follows:

 

1.) Hillsborough County NH

2.) Brockton, Mass.

3.) Pomfret, CT

4.) North Shore or Eastern Middlesex County of Massachusetts

5.) Central Hampden County Massachusetts

 

Below is a link to the SKYWARN Training Schedule:

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo/trsched.htm

 

Below is the actual SKYWARN Training Schedule. Further updates will be posted

in later newsletters:

 

The following is an update on SKYWARN training for year 2005. Further

updates will be posted on the web site as needed.

 

04/30/2005  Noon-3PM    Hartford Fire Department Training Academy

Sat.                    1 Fischer Road

                        Hartford, CT

 

05/2/2005   7-10PM            Quabbin Regional Junior/Senior High School

Mon.                    800 South Street

                        Barre, MA

 

05/3/2005   6:30-9:30PM American Red Cross New Hampshire West Chapter

Tues.                   Keene, NH

 

05/3/2005   7-10PM            Hawlemont Regional School

Tues.                   10 School Street

                        Charlemont, MA

 

05/14/2005  Noon-3 PM   Kent County Hospital

Sat.                    455 Toll Gate Road

                        Warwick, RI

 

Boston Marathon Needs Amateur Radio Support....

 

The following note, while not weather related, is for recruitment of Amateurs to

assist in the Boston Marathon. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Operators offer a unique

skill set for a major Public Service Event such as the Boston Marathon.

Please see the press release below and volunteer if you are able to do so.

 

Amateur Radio Operators are needed to participate in the communications

effort for the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2005. Amateurs should have

their own two meter portable with extra batteries. Some locations

require extended-range antennas. 440 MHz portables, dual banders,

mobile rigs and remote bases are a plus.

 

To volunteer, or for more information, please visit the Boston Marathon

Amateur Radio Communications website, http://www.bmarc.info.

 

If you have questions, you may contact one of the following individuals:

 

Start Line/Hopkinton

Steve Tolf, K1ST

k1st@bmarc.info

(508) 435-5178

 

Route/First Aid & Water Stations

Steve Schwarm, W3EVE

w3eve@bmarc.info

(508) 384-7697

 

Finish Line/Boston

Paul Topolski, W1SEX

w1sex@bmarc.info

(978) 632-9432

 

Emergency Communications Workshop in Ipswich, Massachusetts Saturday April 2nd, 2005...

 

The following is for ARES members in Eastern Massachusetts who are interested in

learning more about Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. Amateur Radio Operators,

who are SKYWARN Spotters, benefit from this workshop as SKYWARN Net Operation

procedures and general ARES and Public Service Event Net Procedures are covered.

Below is the press release on the workshop.

 

Emergency Communications Workshop in Ipswich Massachusetts...

 

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday April 2nd, 2005:

 

There will be an Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday

April 2nd, 2005 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at the Ipswich High and Middle School

in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

 

This session is being put on by the ARES Section Staff through the

efforts of Charlie Cooper-K1CHC, town of Ipswich Emergency Management Director

and police detective. This Emergency Communications Workshop will provide

the background and information to serve Amateur Radio Operators when

they need to respond to a communications emergency. It will feature an

Introduction and Conclusion to Emergency Communications, and five

1-hour training sessions on topics including:

 

Overview of Eastern Massachusetts ARES-RACES-SKYWARN Programs

Net Operations

NTS Traffic Message Handling

Basic Overview of ICS

Go Kits

Interactive Exercises on Field Operations

 

This training will also feature a 1-hour lunch that will be provided at

no coerced cost to any Amateur who attends the session.

 

The presentations will be given by other Amateur Operators well versed

in the topics listed above. The training will be a worthwhile endeavor

not just for emergency communicators but for anyone who is an Amateur

Radio Operator, and wants to learn more about the hobby.

 

Preregistration is requested but is not required in case anyone would

like to attend at the last minute. Please try to preregister by

Monday March 28th, 2005 to assure the meeting place is setup properly and

we have enough refreshments for breaks between lectures and for the lunch

break. We will, however, accept any last minute preregistrations after that

day or any walk-ins as long as space permits.

 

Directions to the Ipswich High and Middle School:

 

The location of the Ipswich High and Middle School is 136

High Street which is also Route 1A/133, which is north of the center of

town.

 

From the South-

Take route 93 North to Route 128 (95) North. Then take

Route 95 North off of Route 128. Take Route 133 East exit

(Rowley). Stay on Route 133 and it will join Route

1A. Take a right onto Route 1A/133 South (East). Travel

several miles and you will see the High/ Middle School on your

right. The Performing Arts Center is on the right

as you face the building.

 

From the North-

Take Route 95 or Route 1 South. Then take Route 133 east

as described above.

 

From the West-

Take Route 128 North to Route 95 and follow above

directions.

 

Alternate from the West-

Take Route 495 to either Route 128 North or to Route

133.

 

You can also obtain good directions from Mapquest by entering

your destination address as 136 High Street in Ipswich, Mass.

 

There will be talk-in on the 145.49-Ipswich Repeater PL: 131.8.

 

For any additional information and to preregister for the workshop,

please contact:

 

K1CHC-Charlie Cooper    coopsail@rcn.com

KD1CY-Rob Macedo  rmacedo@rcn.com

 

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in

learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in

general.

 

That's all for this edition of the SKYWARN Newsletter!

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Pager #: (508) 354-3142

Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)

Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)

Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)

Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

 
 
 





 
 

Back to the SKYWARN Newsletter Archive