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Hello to all....

It was an honor and a privilege to serve as a Net Control for Hurricane
Alex. We are prepared and looking forward to serving again as a net control
in the future. Below is a report that I wrote for our local ARES team and
for our Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section concerning our support during
this activation. It also features a lessons learned from our first ever
participation in an actual activation. Please let me know if you have any
questions or concerns.

Per Kevin Anderson-KD5WX and Danny Musten-KD4RAA, the Echolink and IRLP Net
Managers for the Voice Over IP WX Net that supports the National Hurricane
Center, we were activated to support the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC,
with reports from the affected area of Hurricane Alex which was essentially
the Outer Banks of North Carolina along with portions of Eastern North
Carolina. I worked the mid-afternoon shift from roughly 2:30-5:00 PM EDT
accompanied by Tony Duarte, N1XRS, Arthur Irwin-W1AEI, and Mike Mc
Donald-KB1NB. Bill Miller-K1IBR was also at SEMARA but he was at the
repeater site assisting and monitoring the ongoing tower work that NETCOM is
doing.

The peak of the hurricane had passed about 2 hours before my net shift but
some interesting reports were received from the net as Hurricane Alex
departed and they were as follows:

Approximately 1500:
W8JUK-Bob Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina on the Outer Banks. Average Wind
Speed 24 MPH with gusts to 47 MPH. Barometer 29.53" and Falling.
Reports from the local EOC in the area indicated South of Oregon Inlet to
Cape Hatteras and many power outages.

Approximately 1505:
Frisco-Hatteras Island. Severe Coastal Flooding. 5-10 feet of water reported
near the fire station in Frisco.

Approximately 1515:
KD4RAA relayed report from the Hurricane Intercept Team's Ham K4JVP:
Significant Coastal Flooding in Pamlico Sound. Surge has dropped
approximately 6" since past report. Sustained winds 40 MPH. Pressure rising
to 999 Millbars.

Approximately 1540:
W8JUK-Bob reports 5.72" of rain at his location.

All reports were forwarded to WX4NHC via the online reporting form. Other
anecdotal reports were received and Hurricane Alex Advisory Numbers 13B and
14 were read over the net.

The Hurricane Watch Net was monitored on 14.325 KHz. Additional reports were
received via HF and forwarded to the National Hurricane Center through this
net. WX4NHC allowed the Hurricane Watch Net to secure at 445 PM and the
VoIP-WX Net secured at a similar timeframe.

Lessons Learned from this first ever SEMARA ARES Activation for Support of
the VoIP-WX Net Activation for Hurricane Alex:

What Worked
-Handling of traffic on the net went very well.
-Numerous compliments were given on how the net was run during the period.
-Handling of stations wishing to monitor was done correctly.
-All reports forwared to WX4NHC in a timely fashion.
-Great cooperation with all net participants.

What Needs Improvement
-Make sure we have correct spellings of locations. (Misspelled Frisco and
"Kill" Devils Hill versus "Chill" Devils Hill, NC.)
-Make sure we have detailed maps across the coastline of the Southeastern US
and other locations that hurricanes could impact for reference.
-Make sure to provide detailed descriptions of all reports per the NHC
coordinators.

Special thanks to Art, W1AEI, Tony, N1XRS and Mike, KB1NB for monitoring
with me during this first ever Voice Over IP Activation for a Hurricane done
in the Eastern Masaschusetts ARES section.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES 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@...

ITS not my fault :)


In VOIP-WXNET@..., John <K4AG@a...> wrote:

Kevin,

That's great for the first day. I was out of town for the day so couldn't participate

John

Kevin Anderson wrote:

--
John Mc Hugh, K4AG
Coordinator for Amateur Radio National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC
Home page:-

At 03:46 AM 4/08/2004, you wrote:

Not sure what's up, but Tony's Streaming Server is showing to be down
now. May have been overwhelmed with connections.

There is a scheduled 4 minutes downtime every day to reset the stream. If I don't do that, strange things happen... :)

73 de VK3JED

As of 3pm CDT we have received 5575 hits today alone on our new
website. Looks like word has gotten out.

This one is still playing fine, but correction: XMMS is the Linux program I am playing it with.
Don

Morris wrote:

Not sure what's up, but Tony's Streaming Server is showing to be down
now. May have been overwhelmed with connections.

Kevin - KD5WX

I have been listening to it on that. WMMS, a Linux application plays it fine.

Don Morris KG4JHH
Miami FL



chrishosman wrote:

At 11:06 PM 3/08/2004, you wrote:

The "bridge" link is up.

Streaming audio is up. I will run without the local Tx overnight to save
on the finals and minimise the risk of a late night loon causing havoc :-)

73 de VK3JED

Sounds good here!


Also to supplement todays activities,there is a "simulcast" on eQSO and is setup as a receive only connection so users on eQSO wont cause disruptions to the net. Look for the KC4QLP conference on eQSO and you'll be all set.

I've secured my stream, running on IP only (no RF). I'll leave it this way until the morning and then review the situation. Heading off for the night. I will monitor this group from about 2300z. I probably won't monitor Echolink except during critical system changeover times (0000z and 0300z).

For me, it would be easiest to work in UTC... :) I can handle one US time zone, but switching between 2 with little qualification is fraught with danger. :)

73 de VK3JED

At 10:42 PM 3/08/2004, you wrote:

The "bridge" link is up.

Streaming audio is up. I will run without the local Tx overnight to save on the finals and minimise the risk of a late night loon causing havoc :-)

73 de VK3JED

The "bridge" link is up.

RAA

Just announced by Julio Ripoll, W4DR, of WX4NHC.

The VoIP NET will be coming online at the same time.

ANNOUNCEMENT August 3rd, 2004

WX4NHC Activation for Hurricane Alex

WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center
in Miami will activate operations Tuesday morning, August 3rd at
10am EDT (1400z).

Alex is now a CAT-1 Hurricane with sustained winds of 75 MPH and
is forecast to strengthen before tracking just off the coast of
North Carolina this afternoon.

WX4NHC will be monitoring the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz.
Please do not transmit unless you have an emergency or are requested
to do so by Net Control.

EchoLink (WX-TALK Conference) and IRLP (Skywarn Node 9210) Nets will
be active.

Please visit www.voipwx.net for details.

Surface Reports using our Hurricane Report form will be monitored.
Amateur Weather Enthusiasts and ON-NHC Volunteers may report
directly to WX4NHC on-line.

ON-NHC Volunteers are both Ham Radio Operators and Non-Ham weather
observers that use their own weather instruments to submit "Surface
Reports" directly to NHC over the Internet via the WX4NHC on-line
report form.

These "Surface Reports" are very important as they give Hurricane
Specialists at NHC a better idea of what is actually happening on
the ground level during the storm.

The WX4NHC Group continues to expanded its efforts to increase the
quantity and quality of surface reports to include many different
modes of reception and groups of people; including HF, VHF/UHF IRLP
& ECHOlink, VHF & HF APRS, CWOP NOAA Program, CARMEN Program and ON-
NHC Weather Observers Network.

(see our web site for more information on these programs):


WX4NHC is very proud to have maintained an active Amateur Radio
Station at the National Hurricane Center for the past 24 years.

We appreciate all of the volunteers who help with our efforts.

At 10:23 PM 3/08/2004, you wrote:

There is one available IF Tony, VK3JED... has made the connection.
He's usually very good about doing it when needed.
Go to www.voipwx.net and click on the streaming audio link on the main page.

OK, looks like I'll have to throw my link up... I may drop the RF overnight here to save the finals... OK, expect the stream up in a few minutes. Is the cross link active? Or is the activity all on Echolink or IRLP only so far?

73 de VK3JED

There is one available IF Tony, VK3JED... has made the connection.
He's usually very good about doing it when needed.
Go to www.voipwx.net and click on the streaming audio link on the main page.

Thanks,
Kevin Anderson
KD5WX

At 10:16 PM 3/08/2004, you wrote:

I'm not in a location that has EchoLink installed or access to an
IRLP node and would like to monitor the progress of the net.

Is there a VOIP stream available?

If no one else is able, I can put one up, though there will be an interruption for the Lone Star net tomorrow my time (the hazards of cron jobs), unless I get to change things around.

73 de VK3JED

Go to and try the stream there.
Scott/WB2UZR

On 8/3/2004 8:16:07 AM, voip-wxnet@... wrote:

I'm not in a location that has EchoLink installed or access to an
IRLP node and would like to monitor the progress of the net.

Is there a VOIP stream available?

-Chris <><
KC4F
Spotter# VHAM042

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I'm not in a location that has EchoLink installed or access to an
IRLP node and would like to monitor the progress of the net.

Is there a VOIP stream available?

-Chris <><
KC4F
Spotter# VHAM042

The National Weather Service has just issued a Hurricane
Warning for the North Carolina Outer Banks - from Cape
Lookout to Oregon Inlet, including the Pamlico Sound.
The warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
within the warning area during the next 24 hours. Alex
has increased wind speeds, reported sustained at 70 mph.
(74 is a Hurricane) The storm currently traveling
NE/10MPH is expected to brush the coast of North
Carolina Tuesday early morning, then targeting the Outer
Banks in the afternoon. It is expected to be Hurricane
Strength by late Tuesday morning.

An email from Julio WD4R indicates that they plan to man
WX4NHC around 12 noon to begin taking formal reports at
the Hurricane Center.

I expect we will be activating the VoIP net sometime mid morning on
8/3/2004.

Kevin Anderson
KD5WX

Rain bands moving on shore.
Not much to worry here .
Local forcast states it ( may ) take a more northern turn
60 to 65 mile per hour winds predicted for this area around 12:00 and
2:00 AM Tues. Morning . 60 mph winds can do a bit of damage if the
grounds are soaked .

73 KF4VGX
N.M.B. S.C.