Emergency-Communications

Maine Mesh Network Communication Update #4

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Maine iconMaine ASM Cory Golob, KU1U, writes:

Mesh Network Communication Update 4
Monday June 5, 2023

Bill NG1P went to Blackstrap Mountain in Falmouth on Thursday June 1, 2023 to get the site online. The Switch and Point-to-Point dish were installed. The dish is pointing at Brunswick, however, they are not optimized at the moment. The connection will be improved when the smaller
lightweight dish for Brunswick comes in.

The key task is making sure we do not have to visit sites more than once (to keep costs down). We do not have permission to install panel antennas at the moment, only an agreement in place is to install one antenna. Waiting for approval on panel antennas.

The Falmouth Site is operational and shows up on the Mesh dashboard, however, signal strength will be low until equipment comes in for Brunswick.

Lightweight Dishes are expected to arrive at the end of June. The Rocket Radios are not due to arrive until September.

The next step will be to start making a path from Brunswick to either Litchfield or Wales, depending on which site makes it easier to approve getting equipment installed. Talks are being held to use the Litchfield site.

The green light has been given to build the connection between Dixmont to Dedham.

Bill NG1P has submitted an invoice for the tower work done on Blackstrap in Falmouth and is pending payment from MARF. There is a major concern about the tower costs. When quotes were obtained it was $100 per hour once the climber arrived on scene plus travel costs, but the travel cost on the initial bill showed the $100 per hour as part of travel time. The grant will not be sustainable for the project at this rate. If anyone knows of insured climbers that can keep the costs more in line with what was quoted, please contact me.

We are also seeking assistance from people who can help out going to tower sites and assist with installation and also those who are interested in helping with the programming of equipment. Please let me know if you are interested, or know somebody, who may be interested in these duties. This should not be a one person job and it would be nice to see the community pitch in to offer technical assistance.

Respectfully Submitted,
Cory Golob

SKYWARN Training 2023 Schedule Update for June 2023

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SKYWARN logoRob Macedo, KD1CY, writes:

The following is updated SKYWARN Training information with a couple additional classes for the month of June in Acushnet and Walpole MA.

Additional SKYWARN Training classes are in planning. This includes the following locations:

Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, Mass (Late August 2023)
Gardner MA
Tolland CT

The following is the latest 2023 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule for the early Summer season. Please distribute widely to anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter and we will update as additional classes are confirmed!

Saturday June 10th, 2023 – 1000 AM-1230 PM:
Acushnet Council on Aging
59 1/2 South Main Street
Acushnet, MA 02743
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Co-sponsored by: Acushnet Office of Emergency Management
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-618421905567

Tuesday June 13th, 2023 – 630 PM-830 PM:
Walpole Town Hall – Select Board Meeting Room
135 School Street
Walpole, MA 02081
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Co-sponsored by: Walpole Emergency Management Agency
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-645313117907

Again, we will provide updates when new SKYWARN training classes are added to the schedule.  Also, if specific groups are interested in a live or virtual class, the Amateur Radio Coordinator team would be able to support those groups as needed. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org 
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WX4NHC, National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station Annual Communications Test, May 27, 2023

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SKYWARN logoAnnouncement from WX4NHC
Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Miami Florida
WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Communications Test
Saturday May 27th, 2023 from 9AM – 5 PM EDT (1300z-2100z)

The amateur radio station of the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC (NHC), located on the campus of Florida International University in Miami, will conduct their on-the-air Annual Communications Test on Saturday, May 27, 2023, from 9 AM – 5 PM EDT (1300z- 2100z).

This is the NHC’s 43rd year of public service. NHC Amateur Radio Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R/WX4NHC, reports that the purpose of this event is to test amateur radio equipment and antennas at the NHC as well as operators’ home equipment, antennas, and computers prior to this year’s hurricane season. The 2023 hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30.

This event is good practice for amateur radio operators worldwide to practice amateur radio communications during times of severe weather.

Ripoll said WX4NHC will be on HF, VHF, UHF, 2- and 30-meter APRS, and Winlink, To contact the NHC’s amateur radio station send an email to wx4nhc@winlink.org. The subject of the email must contain //WL2K.

The Hurricane Watch Net will try to stay on 14.325 MHz for most of the time, as well as 7.268 MHz depending on propagation. They may also change frequencies due to potential QRM.

You may be able to find WX4NHC on HF by using one of the DX spotting networks, such as the DX Summit website at http://www.dxsummit.fi.

The VoIP Hurricane Net will also be active from 4 PM – 5 PM EDT (2000-2100z), IRLP node 9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203. Visit their website for more information.

WX4NHC will also make a few contacts on local VHF and UHF repeaters, as well as the Florida Statewide Amateur Radio Network (SARnet) system to test station equipment.

QSL cards are available via WD4R with a self-addressed stamped envelope. More information about the NHC is available at their website.

Thank you for your participation in the WX4NHC Annual Station Test event.

73, Julio – WX4NHC/WD4R

SKYWARN Training, Wallingford CT, May 17, 2023

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SKYWARN logoDouglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes:

JUST A FEW SEATS LEFT @ The Wallingford Public Library.
Last chance to reserve you place for this 1 evening class.

Train to Be a SKYWARN Storm Spotter
ALL ARES Members are encouraged to take The National Weather Service SKYWARN Spotter Training Program, and get their SKYWARN Spotter Number and Card.

SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Program 2023 (in person only) is being offered in MID-MAY for the folks in the following Counties of Connecticut:
Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, New London

What is SKYWARN™?
SKYWARN™ is a nationwide network of volunteer weather spotters who report hazardous weather to local National Weather Service (NWS) offices. Amateur radio operators and weather observers, generally operating through local organizations, are ideally equipped to contribute to the SKYWARN™ program.

Volunteers are trained by NWS personnel to recognize features associated with rapidly developing, mature, and dissipating thunderstorms which cause hazardous weather. SKYWARN™ spotters also provide reports of heavy snow, heavy rain and flooding.

Spotters provide ground truth on the atmosphere that we observe from radar, satellites and various reporting stations. They are our eyes and ears, helping to provide better forecasts and warnings to the Tri-State Region.

WALLINGFORD CLASS MOVED!!!
*** NEW LOCATION *** BIGGER LOCATION *** NEW LOCATION ***
FROM: Wallingford OEM / FireHouse on Hope Hill Road.
TO: Wallingford Library (See: “WHERE”)

DATE: Wednesday – May 17, 2023.

TIME: 7pm – 10pm (Eastern)

WHERE: NEW LOCATION!!!
Wallingford Public Library – (Community Room)
200 N. Main Street,
Wallingford, CT 06492

COST: FREE
BUT… Registration IS Required

To Register, go to: https://www.weather.gov/okx/SkywarnTraining

NOTE
This is the ONLY in-person SKYWRN training program for the 4 CT Counties served by NWS NY (Brookhaven) in 2023.
DON’T MISS IT!

If you have questions, please contact:
Ed Snyder: SKYWARN EC – New Haven & Middlesex Counties

Sponsored by the Meriden Amateur Radio Club (MARC)
www.w1nrg.com/
—
73, Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
ARES District Emergency Coordinator (DEC)
Region 2 – Connecticut Section
email: wa1sfh “at” arrl “dit” net
AND…
ARRL Section Youth Coordinator – Connecticut Section
email: connecticutSYC “at” gmail “dit” com

NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training in New England

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SKYWARN logoRob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SKYWARN_Announce list:

For the first time since the COVID19 pandemic started in March 2020, NWS Boston/Norton is now offering live/in-person classes for 2023. In addition, one virtual SKYWARN Class will be offered as well.

Additional SKYWARN Training classes are in planning. This includes the following locations:

New Bedford/Acushnet Mass area
Gardner MA
Walpole MA
Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, Mass (Late August 2023)

The following is the current 2023 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Training Class Schedule for the spring season. Please distribute widely to anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter and we will update as additional classes are confirmed! We also noted that 1 class is full and waitlisted and we may consider additional classes near those areas later this year. Links to the schedule showing the full class list and the full class list appears below:

SKYWARN Training Schedule – 2023 – WX1BOX Link: https://wx1box.org/skywarn-training-schedule-2023/

SKYWARN Training Schedule – 2023 – NWS Boston/Norton Link: https://www.weather.gov/box/skywarn#fragment-2a

Full SKYWARN class list below:

Tuesday April 18th, 2023 – 630-830 PM:
Sandwich Police Department
255 Cotuit Road
Sandwich MA 02563
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581484685347

Wednesday April 19th, 2023 – 630-830 PM:
Spencer Town Hall – Great Hall
157 Main Street
Spencer, MA 01562
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581490302147

Thursday April 20th, 2023 – 600 PM-800 PM:
UMASS – Lowell Mark & Elisia Sabb
Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center
40 University Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581490673257

***This class is geared toward the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community***
Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 – 630-830 PM:
The Learning Center for the Deaf
848 Central Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581492599017

***This class is geared toward the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community***

Thursday May 4th, 2023 – 500-700 PM:
Providence Emergency Management Agency
591 Charles Street
Providence, RI 02904
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581492087487

Saturday May 6th, 2023 – 930-1130 AM:
Whitman Police Department
20 Essex Street
Whitman, MA 02382
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-597779242807

**Class Full – Join Wait List**
Tuesday May 9th, 2023 – 600-800 PM:
Springfield Public Safety Complex
1212 Carew Street
Springfield, MA 01104
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581494203817

**Class Full – Join Wait List**

Saturday May 13th, 2023 – 930-1130 AM:
Virtual SKYWARN Training Webinar via GoTo Webinar
Registration is required through the GoTo Webinar process at the
following link:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4366456872229693022

Tuesday May 16th, 2023 – 500-600 PM (Note: This class is limited to one
hour due to facility time constraints):
Oak Bluffs Public Library
56R School Street
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-581495517747

Tuesday May 30th, 2023 – 600-800 PM:
Elmwood Community Center
1106 New Britain Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06110
Registration is required via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/west-hartford-skywarn-weather-spotter-training-tickets-597918258607

Again, we will provide updates when new SKYWARN training classes are added to the schedule. Also, if specific groups are interested in a live or virtual class, the Amateur Radio Coordinator team would be able to support those groups as needed. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Hybrid Workshop, April 3, 2023

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VoIP Weather Net logoRob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on SKYWARN announce:

Amateur Radio will again be represented at the 2023 National Hurricane Conference which will be held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana (http://www.hurricanemeeting.com). This year, the workshop will be done both live at the conference and over YouTube livestream so this will be a “hybrid workshop”. The conference theme is to improve hurricane preparedness as it has been in past years.

[Full story]

ARRL Year of the Volunteer: Ray Irwin, WA1FFT

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Ray, WA1FFTDouglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes:

Greetings:

2023 is the ARRL Year of the Volunteer.

It is my pleasure to introduce Ray Irwin, WA1FFT.

Ray recently stepped forward and volunteered to be the Emergency Coordinator (EC) for the town of North Haven (CT ARES – Region 2).

Ray is a person who gets things done. As a way to kickstart this new ARES team, and get some publicity, he contacted the local multi-town weekly newspaper. That paid off with an interview was published this week.
LINK:
https://www.zip06.com/person-of-the-week/20230221/raymond-irwin-ready-for-when-all-else-fails/

CT ARES NEEDS YOU!
We have several towns currently without an appointed EC, and need people to fill those roles.

“BE LIKE RAY”
Reach out to volunteer . . . just like Ray did.

Here is who to contact:
Regions 1, 4, 5: Phil – K1XFC (Section Emergency Coordinator) k1xfc@arrl.net
Region 2: Douglas – WA1SFH (District Emergency Coordinator) – wa1sfh@optonline.net
Region 3: Bill – AB1LZ (District Emergency Coordinator) – ab1lz@arrl.net
—
73, Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
ARES District Emergency Coordinator (DEC)
Region 2 – Connecticut Section

Rescue by Ham Radio in New Hampshire

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Pete Stohrer, W1FEA, writes on the NH ARRL Members list:

Hello NH ARRL Members,

Perhaps by now you have heard of the NH Chronicle piece “Rescue by Ham Radio” that aired January 31st on WMUR’s NH Chronicle. If you would like to see the program in its entirety, click on one of these two links:

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-chronicle-roadside-rescue-by-ham-radio/42675125

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwKfqExDz4

NH Chronicle has given us permission to share the links and post them on our Amateur Radio Club websites.

Over the years, NH Chronicle has produced many programs on Amateur Radio. One, “Field Day,” followed the activities of the Contoocook Valley Radio Club during the 2011 June event.  From that video, Jennifer Crompton of WMUR TV Channel 9 and her videographer were the recipients of the Bill Leonard National Media award from the American Radio Relay League for 2011 and can be viewed at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCeGqfuwvKo

The relevance of Amateur Radio in today’s communication infrastructure is clearly seen in these professionally produced programs for TV. The privilege of using your well-earned FCC license for emergency communications is the reason why we have Amateur Radio. Part 97.1(a) states the Basis and Purpose for the Amateur Radio Service:

“Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.”

If you are new to Amateur Radio, I encourage you to consider joining your local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group. A geographical listing of groups can be found at www.nhradio.org or email the NH Section Emergency Coordinator, Al Shuman, K1AKS – k1aks@arrl.net for more information.

73, Pete, W1FEA

Tower Collapse, Concord NH

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Chuck Cunningham, K1MIZ, writes on the NEDECN list:
 
 
From: Chuck Cunningham <c.cunningholst@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Subject: [NEDECN] Tower Collapse
To: <nedecn@googlegroups.com>
 

This morning the 190’ free standing red and white tower owned by ATC located on Plausawa Hill over looking Concord NH collapsed. The tower itself was ripped right out of the ground. Foundation and all. This tower had AT&T cellular and First Net on it. It appears when it collapsed it missed the public safety, National Weather and some Ham Radio towers.  It pulled on a 900 MHZ feed line and ripped a cabinet right across the room. I would love to know what the wind speeds were at the time of collapse.
—
http://www.nedecn.org/
—

Sincerely
Charles Cunningham
K1MIZ