At the last meeting, I was asked to send out information on the National Hurricane Center and Hurricane Watch Net amateur radio frequencies.
The first link takes you to the Procedures page of the Hurricane Watch Net and provides frequencies for day and night. WX4NHC is the call sign for the National Hurricane Center.
the second link gives VOIP and IRLP information
Short Version ....
When activated, you will find them on 14.325 MHz (USB)
by day and 7.268 MHz (LSB) by night.
.
Ralph
KE5HDF
The Hurricane Watch Net and the operation of WX4NHC at
the National Hurricane Center in Miami are manned entirely by
volunteers. We generally activate whenever a system has achieved
hurricane status and is within 300 statute miles of populated land mass
or at the request of the forecasters at National Hurricane Center.
To achieve mission goals, the HWN relies upon its
members…experienced Net Control Operators. Some are seasoned ex-military
and/or MARS operators. Others have gained their experience through
public service roles. On average, there are 40 active members
strategically located throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Central
America, and the Caribbean. To better assist those who speak Spanish
only, HWN has a number of bilingual operators.
When activated, you will find us on 14.325 MHz (USB)
by day and 7.268 MHz (LSB) by night. If propagation dictates, daytime
operations will be conducted on both frequencies simultaneously.
Why do we state these frequencies without a plus or
minus amount? Because those who are operating using marine radios have
to program in the frequencies – marine radios do not have a VFO or RIT.
Furthermore, these two frequencies come preprogrammed into many marine
radios. Many non-hams listen in via shortwave radio and know this is
where to find us when we are activated. Before any net activation, if
either frequency is in use, we always ask permission to use them.
Additionally, it is our practice of being on the air ahead of the
amateur radio station at the National Hurricane Center – WX4NHC – for
the explicit purpose to establish our net operating frequency, to issue
advisory data, and to line up reporting stations. It helps us
tremendously to know the operator's locations, names, and weather
measuring capabilities in advance of the storm’s arrival.
NOTE: During any Net activation, operations on 7.268.00 MHz will suspend @ 7:30 AM ET to allow the “Waterway Radio and Cruising Club Net – WRCC”
(aka, the Waterway Net) to conduct their daily morning Net. If
required, due to poor daytime propagation on 14.325.00 MHz, operations
on 7.268.00 MHz may be required at the conclusion of the Water Way Net,
generally around 8:30 AM ET.
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