[Ham-Computers] Fw: [RACES] VoIP Weather Net
wxfreqrs
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Wed May 31 21:31:30 EDT 2006
Don
Peace Through Superior Firepower
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----- Original Message -----
From: "k2dcd" <k2dcd at aol.com>
To: <RACES at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 7:34 PM
Subject: [RACES] VoIP Weather Net
> VoIP Hurricane Net Seeks Emergency Communication Groups in Hurricane
> Areas to Pass Traffic and Reports
>
>
> The VoIP Hurricane Net is seeking ARES, RACES, SKYWARN and other
> emergency communication groups such as REACT, MARS and SATERN to
> utilize the VoIP Hurricane Net as another means to pass weather,
> damage and other pertinent reports to WX4NHC and other national agencies.
>
> "In 2005, we've had the National American Red Cross Headquarters
> check into our net on several occasions and during Hurricane Dennis,
> we passed the status of shelters from the Mobile, Alabama EOC to the
> National Red Cross. They were also able to hear the weather and damage
> reports as Dennis made landfall from spotters reporting their
> information to WX4NHC", said Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations
> for the VoIP Hurricane Net.
>
> The VoIP Hurricane Net has a weekly preparedness net that meets
> at 0000 UTC Sunday which is Saturday Evening for most of North
> America. The net currently meets on IRLP reflector 9508 and utilizes
> the EchoLink Conferences *VKEMCOMM*, Node: 270177 and *WX-TALK* Node:
> 7203 in one integrated net. During activations, the net would meet
> using the same system. This is currently the backup system as the main
> Raleigh 9210 IRLP reflector system is undergoing an upgrade. Net
> activation connect status will be posted on the voipwx.net site.
>
> "The utilization of EchoLink and IRLP is another way for Amateurs
> to gain access to WX4NHC and other national agencies. It's another
> tool in the toolbox for the emergency communicator that does not
> replace other modes of operation", Macedo said.
>
> "It is also been utilized as alternative means to connect
> EOC�s,
> National Weather Service Forecast Offices, and other emergency
> response agencies when no other communications are available. When HF
> propagation becomes poor, this is but another path that allows even
> our technician class operators to assist with reports and utilize the
> net as a way to communicate with WX4NHC and other agencies that are on
> the system" said Danny Musten-KD4RAA, co-Net Manager of the VoIP
> Hurricane Net.
>
> "During Hurricane Rita, we had the National Weather Service
> Offices in Shreveport, Louisiana, Houston, Texas and Dallas-Fort
> Worth, Texas along with the National Hurricane Center on the net. We
> received surface reports from the Livingston Texas Memorial Hospital
> of measured winds over 100 MPH, significant roof damage to a school
> shelter along with damage to the emergency room doors of the hospital
> through the efforts of WM6V-Flo Garneau" said Kevin Anderson-KD5WX,
> co-Net Manager of the VoIP Hurricane Net.
>
> "She maintained contact with her local EOC on one frequency,
> while communicating to our net, providing critical surface reports. We
> need more efforts like what Flo did during Hurricane Rita in other
> hurricane prone areas," said Anderson.
>
> The VoIP Hurricane Net also has close ties to a program called
> StormStudy and its outreach arm, the Storm Education Team. That
> program is led by John Van Pelt-K4JVP and Danny Musten-KD4RAA is the
> team�s communications engineer. It is a program dedicated to
> teaching
> people about dangerous hurricanes and severe weather safety, but more
> importantly for us, provides surface reports directly from the
> hurricane's potential affected areas.
>
> "Joining the Storm Education Team is something I've decided to
> do as an extension of my technical VoIP support for reporting during
> hurricanes. I have been a strong supporter of John's Storm Study
> effort and in 2005 made an active decision to join him on the road and
> this year, outfit my Suburban as the SET2 vehicle. The SET2 truck also
> has Baron Mobile Threat Net radar system and Davis Instruments weather
> gathering gear, but has been equipped with a very strong emphasis on
> communications - which includes VoIP as well as HF/VHF/UHF and
> satellite modes for redundant communications at the various staging
> areas", said Musten.
>
> During this hurricane season they will be able to cover more
> targeted areas with two trucks and will deploy a portable UHF repeater
> linked to our VoIPWX net that will not only facilitate their
> reporting, but also allow locals to check in with reports. John and
> Danny are hoping to deploy additional weather stations, that either we
> or other local hams can monitor in areas where there might not be
> Skywarn or other ARES nets active. IRLP and EchoLink repeaters are
> growing plentiful, but are not currently in every remote coastal area
> that they have visited during the 2005 season.
>
> "I've worked with the VoIP Hurricane Net since 2002 and was the
> first reporting station on scene of a hurricane to utilize VoIP.
> It�s
> very convenient to be able to hit my space bar on my laptop and talk
> with WX4NHC via EchoLink. I'm really happy to have Danny as my partner
> in StormStudy and to have his VoIP and communications expertise with
> me when we deploy into hurricanes is really exciting" said John Van
> Pelt-K4JVP.
>
> The VoIP Hurricane Net is not just a US operation. Some of its
> most critical reports have also come from areas outside of the United
> States. One example last year was during Hurricane Emily as she
> affected the Caribbean islands of Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and the
> Grenadines in early July 2005.
>
> "Emily rapidly intensified into a Strong Category 1 Hurricane
> as she went through the Caribbean islands during the overnight hours.
> Our net was able to make contact with stations in Trinidad, Dominica
> and Grenada and they relayed reports from their 75 Meter HF Weather
> Net to our net via VoIP so we could send critical damage reports to
> WX4NHC. Here is a case where we would not have been successful without
> utilizing both HF and VoIP modes in coordination with one another"
> Macedo said.
>
> "In addition to more participation from US stations and
> emergency groups, we are looking for more stations in the Caribbean,
> Central America and Mexico to utilize our net as another mode to pass
> information to WX4NHC." Macedo said.
>
> Julio Ripoll, WD4R, Assistant National Hurricane Center
> Coordinator, endorses the efforts of the VoIP Hurricane Net. "Clearly,
> we have gained additional critical reports to the WX4NHC mission of
> saving lives via the efforts of the VoIP Hurricane Net and the WX4NHC
> team urges Amateurs to utilize the VoIP Hurricane Net as another way
> to reach us with critical damage and weather reports when a hurricane
> strikes. We monitor the net as much as possible when we have
> activations" Ripoll said.
>
> More information on the VoIP Hurricane Net including a link to
> their VoIP Hurricane Net email list can be found at http://www.voipwx.net.
>
>
> Dennis Dura
> K2DCD
> Assistant Director of Operations
> VoIPWxNet
>
>
>
>
>
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