Re: Quick Question - Membership
Yes, that is a DCS code. ?We do not use CTCSS. ?The repeater is FM not digital although it uses a digital code for access. ?Most radios in the past 10 years or so have DCS capability. ?What radio do you have?
I am forwarding this to our groups.io. ?Maybe someone else can help with your radio.
Lee
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On Jan 13, 2025, at 6:58 PM, Jon Bickford <jonbickford@...> wrote:
I¡¯d like to become a member - was just on the ARES call and someone mentioned you have a net tonight at 7P - I got the frequency for the repeater - but not the CTSS tone. ?I see ¡°D631/D631¡± listed¡Is that a digital ¡°tone¡±? ?I do not have a digital radio - wondering
if that repeater works on a standard tone frequency that someone can quickly get to me?
Thanks so much -?
KE5MIA - Jon
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While another outbreak of
polar air will bring unseasonably colder temperatures to the area by the
weekend, neither the ECMWF nor GFS models are forecasting any frozen
precipitation for southeast Texas.? ECMWF, however, is colder with
next week's temperatures than is the GFS.
For guidance purposes, the latest tabular runs of
the two models are attached.? Updates will be provided as the weekend
approaches.
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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Now: WCARG Meeting - Saturday, January 11, 2025
#cal-notice
WCARG Meeting
When:
Saturday, January 11, 2025
9:00am to 10:30am
(UTC-06:00) America/Chicago
Where:
Walker County Storm Sherlter, 445 TX-75 Huntsville, TX GPS: 30.73614, -95.58279
Organizer:
WCARG
[email protected]
View Event
Description:
Monthly meeting of the Walker County Amateur Radio Group followed by amateur radio license testing
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Locally Heavy Rain Likely Later Today & Tonight
Rain chances across
southeast Texas continue to increase this morning with locally heavy rain
forecast for later today--particularly along the coast.? An extremely
limited chance also continues to exist for mixed winter precipitation for
Madison, Houston and Trinity counties.
The heaviest rain should occur along the
coast as showers and storms become widespread this afternoon and peak this
evening between 6 PM and midnight.? NWS forecasters believe most
locations in southeast Texas can expect to see 2-3 inches of rainfall
through early Friday morning but a chance remains for locally higher
amounts exceeding 4 inches--particularly along the coast.
Two forecast images produced this morning
by the? NWS Houston-Galveston forecast office are
attached.
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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NWS Update: Increasing rain chances Thu-Fri | Hazardous Marine Conditions Persist
I am
forwarding the weather update message for local governments that was sent
by NWS this morning.? It provides a comprehensive overview of the
evolving rain situation for Thursday and Friday/
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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From: NWS Houston - NOAA
Service Account <nws.houston@...>
Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 7:19 AM
Subject: NWS Update: Increasing rain chances Thu-Fri | Hazardous
Marine Conditions Persist
?
Overview
Rain chances will increase Thursday into
Thursday night as a low pressure system moves across the upper Texas coast.
There is a limited potential for wintry weather?over
the Piney Woods region?early Thursday morning.?Expect high rain chances late
Thursday as
the low moves along our coastal waters. Rain will? taper off Friday
morning as the low exits to our east. A colder
airmass will
filter across Southeast TX in the wake of the low and may result in below
freezing temperatures Saturday morning for most of the local
area.??
Upcoming Rain Chances &
Excessive Rainfall Outlook
- A
low?pressure system
is forecast to develop off the mid/south Texas coast late today and then
track across the upper Texas?coastal?waters
on Thursday.?Look for
precipitation to overspread the area Thursday morning into Friday morning
as this occurs. Rainfall can be moderate to heavy at times
and could lead to minor flooding in streets and low lying?areas. It
may also result in minor rises in creeks and bayous.
Winter Weather
- There
is still some potential for wintry weather early Thursday morning, mainly
over the Piney Woods area. However, the onset of
the rainfall may not occur until around sunrise Thursday and temperatures
by then may?be warm?enough to suppress the development of
wintry?precipitation.?
- Bottom line: Although the
chance of wintry precipitation has decreased, there is still?a
non-zero chance for portions of the Piney
Woods.
- Stay tuned for additional forecast updates.
Point-forecast information can be found by clicking on this?.?
Cold
Weather
- Sub-freezing temperatures and frigid wind
chills are expected Friday?night into Saturday
morning.??
Marine
- A Low Water Advisory for
Galveston Bay and a Small Craft Advisory for all the waters continue in
effect this morning due to moderate
to occasionally strong northeast winds and elevated seas.?Moderate
winds will prevail this afternoon through?Thursday morning.?
?
- Winds will strengthen and turn east Thursday as a low
pressure system tracks into the Upper TX Coast. Small Craft Advisories will
be
likely. Wind gusts could reach Gale strength at times. Rough bay waters
and seas of 7-11ft can be expected.? ? ? ?
?
- Strong offshore winds and elevated seas will?persist
Friday.??
- Abnormally low tides, in particular during the low tide
period, may continue for the rest of the work
week.??
?
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Resources
- NWS Houston Galveston Phone
Numbers:?(281) 337-5074 ext. 232?or ext. 234
- NWS Houston/Galveston Webpage:??
- National Hurricane Center Webpage:?
- ?(Click Your Location)
- West Gulf River Forecast Center Webpage:??
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Added Folder /Jason Hampton/WCARG Certificate Templates
#file-notice
Jason N2TXS Hampton <im.n2txs@...> added folder /Jason Hampton/WCARG Certificate Templates
Description:
Team, these are the certificate templates. They are open for the club to use.
Keep in mind, the files are "read only". After you download them to you computer, you will be prompted to "Save As" something else. Therefore keeping the original template file in tack.
If you have any questions or concerns let me know.
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Chance for frozen precip looks over for Huntsville but continues to the north
The winter weather forecast
for southeast Texas continues to evolve and while it will remain on the
chilly side for the next several days, actual lows aren't expected to reach
the hard freeze level.? The threat of frozen precipitation has also
ended for most of southeast Texas with the exception of Madison and Houston
counties where a very low chance with little or no accumulation remains
later in the week.
NWS Houston-Galveston conducted a very
informative 2 PM briefing for local government and the entire session is
available for viewing at this
link:??https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yERkAontFAg
There are still considerable model differences
between GFS and the ECMWF for rainfall and the briefing helps put our
chances in better perspective.?
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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Cold Rain Likely Wednesday night into Thursday night
Its looking more and more
like things are going to be cold and wet across southeast Texas beginning
Wednesday night into Thursday night as a low pressure disturbance moves
across the area from the Gulf.? Both GFS and ECMWF are painting
rainfall totals of 1-3 inches which much of the precip falling Thursday and
Thursday night.? While the heaviest rainfall should be closer to the
coast, both models are forecasting greater than an inch for Walker and
Madison counties.
The NWS is closely monitoring the possible track
of a freezing/frozen precipitation shield that is expected to be moving
across central Texas Wednesday night into Thursday. Current thinking is
that the area from Brazos County into Madison and Houston counties could
see some freezing rain or possible sleet/snow during that period and the
latest forecasts are advertising a possible wintery mix across that area
Wednesday night/early Thursday.? The NBM model is giving College
Station a 20-25% freezing rain chance with this increasing to a 45-50%
chance around Crocket.? The potential for wintry weather is greater in
the counties north of OSR.
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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GFS Tabular Forecast for Huntsville
To give you a weather
insight for the next 10 days I've attached the 06Z GFS tabular output for
Huntsville.? ECMWF is in general agreement as to periods of rain but
isn't forecasting any snow this week while GFS hints at a trace.? Best
guess is we won't see any but its not out of the question.
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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Front will arrive by noon
The strong cold front
will reach Walker County by noon and be near or off the coast by
sunset.?There will
be
a?chance?for?isolated?strong?to?severe??
thunderstorms?out?ahead?of?and?along?the?cold?front?capable?of?
producing?strong?wind?gusts?or?a?brief?tornado.
The
arriving polar air will result in a dramatic temperature change.? Cold
weather will be around much of this week.? In addition, a low pressure
disturbance will move through the area during midweek and bring
precipitation to southeast Texas.? While we are most likely to see
only rain from the disturbance, forecasters at the NWS Houston-Galveston
office note there is a "non-zero" chance for a wintry mix in the northern
counties including Walker.
Otherwise, low temperatures this week will fall
generally into the 20s and one or more nights with a hard freeze are
likely.? The official forecast for Walker County follows:
Today:?
Showers?and?thunderstorms,?mainly?before?1pm.?Temperature?rising?to?near?71?by?noon,?then?falling?to?around?53?during?the?remainder?of?the?day.?Breezy,?with?a?south?wind?15?to?20?mph?becoming?northwest?in?the?afternoon.?Winds?could?gust?as?high?as?25?mph.?Chance?of?precipitation?is?80%.?New?rainfall?amounts?between?a?tenth?and?quarter?of?an?inch,?except?higher?amounts?possible?in?thunderstorms.
Tonight:
Mostly?clear,?with?a?low?around?26.?Wind?chill?values?between?15?and?20.?Northwest?wind?around?15?mph,?with?gusts?as?high?as?25?mph.
Monday:
Sunny,?with?a?high?near?43.?Wind?chill?values?between?15?and?25.?North?wind?10?to?15?mph,?with?gusts?as?high?as?20?mph.
Monday?Night:
Mostly?clear,?with?a?low?around?23.?North?wind?5?to?10?mph.
Tuesday:
Sunny,?with?a?high?near?47.?North?wind?5?to?10?mph.
Tuesday?Night:
Partly?cloudy,?with?a?low?around?26.
Wednesday:
Mostly?cloudy,?with?a?high?near?40.
Wednesday?Night:
A?slight?chance?of?rain,?snow,?freezing?rain,?and?sleet?after?midnight.?Mostly?cloudy,?with?a?low?around?30.?Chance?of?precipitation?is?20%.
Thursday:
A?chance?of?rain,?snow,?freezing?rain,?and?sleet?before?noon,?then?rain?showers?likely.?Cloudy,?with?a?high?near?39.?Chance?of?precipitation?is?60%.
Thursday?Night:
Showers?likely.?Cloudy,?with?a?low?around?32.?Chance?of?precipitation?is?70%.
Friday:
A?30?percent?chance?of?showers.?Mostly?cloudy,?with?a?high?near?43.
Friday?Night:
Mostly?cloudy,?with?a?low?around?29.
Saturday:
Mostly?sunny,?with?a?high?near?51.
NWS has decided to use new
advisory language this year.? The revised definitions
follow:
-?Freeze?Warning:?Unlike?previous?years,?the?Hard?Freeze?and
??Freeze?Warnings?have?been?combined?into?one?Freeze?Warning
??product.?We?still?will?generally?only?issue?a?Freeze?Warning
??once?per?county?each?winter?for?when?temperatures?are??32F?for
??at?least?2?consecutive?hours.?We?have?already?issue?a?Freeze
??Warning?for?Montgomery?County?northwards?this?season.?However,
??we?will?issue?a?Freeze?Warning?again?for?when?Hard?Freezing
??conditions?(when?temperatures?fall?to??24F?for?at?least?2
??consecutive?hours)?are?expected.?Freeze?Warnings?for?Hard
??Freezing?conditions?will?be?issued?as?many?times?as?needed
??through?the?winter?season.
-?Cold?Weather?Advisory:?This?replaces?the?old?Wind?Chill
??Advisory,?and?will?be?issued?when?temperatures?or?wind?chills
??fall?are??25F?for?Harris?County?and?counties?southwards,?and
??20F?northwards?to?Houston?County.?(see
??www.weather.gov/hgx/WWA_criteria?for?a?visual?representation?of
??the?criteria)
-?Extreme?Cold?Watch?or?Warning:?These?replace?the?old?Wind?Chill
??Watch?or?Warning?products,?and?will?be?issued?when?temperatures
??or?wind?chills??15F?for?Harris?County?and?counties?southwards,
??and??10F?northwards?to?Houston?County.?(see
??www.weather.gov/hgx/WWA_criteria?for?a?visual?representation?of
??the?criteria)
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Weather Update: Severe Weather Possible on Sunday followed by Freezing Temperatures
Rather than
write my own analysis I am forwarding the latest outlook for local
government from the forecasters at NWS/HGX.? Updates will be provided
if the forecast picture changes.
Jim Robinson,
W5ZY
Bottom Line
A strong cold front will push into Southeast Texas on
Sunday ushering in much colder temperatures that will last well into next
week. A few?strong to severe storms are possible ahead
of and along the boundary of the cold front on Sunday.?
What Has Changed Since Previous
Email?
- There is a slight risk
of severe weather north of I-10 and east of I-45 on Sunday with a marginal
risk elsewhere.?
- Forecast remains on track for much colder temperatures
throughout next week.
Overview
As a strong cold front approaches Southeast Texas on
Sunday, scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible ahead of and
along its boundary. A few of these storms could?become
strong to severe in the morning to afternoon hours, especially north of
I-10 and east of I-45. The Storm Prediction?Center has
outlined?this area in a slight risk of severe weather (level 2 out of
5). A marginal risk of severe weather (level 1 out of 5) exists
elsewhere. The main hazards will be damaging winds and brief
tornadoes.
Behind the cold front, much colder air filters into
Southeast Texas with low temperatures at or below freezing possible as
early as Sunday night and well into next week. This includes
the potential for multiple nights of below-freezing temperatures in
portions of Southeast Texas deep into next week,?but temperatures will
rise above freezing during the daytime hours mainly into the 40s. The low
end of the low temperature range looks to fall
between the mid 20s to low 30s.?
There remains quite a bit of uncertainty on the potential
for wintry precipitation around the middle of next week as it all depends
on how far northward a coastal system in the western
Gulf moves. While the probabilities for wintry precipitation on
Wednesday/Thursday are low, they are not zero, so be sure to stay up to
date on the latest forecasts.
Below are some
probabilistic temperature outlooks that show the probabilities of
below-freezing temperatures Sunday night through Wednesday night. The
higher the probability, the higher our confidence
for seeing below-freezing temperatures. Monday night and Tuesday night
have the greatest potential for widespread sub-freezing temperatures.
A?deterministic?temperature outlook is also being included to
show what we have in our current forecast (which has
trended slightly cooler from yesterday's forecast).
The bottom line
is to prepare for an extended period of colder temperatures, some of which
will include periods of below freezing temperatures.?
Probability of
Below-Freezing Temperatures (Sunday Night)
Probability of
Below-Freezing Temperatures (Monday Night)
Probability of
Below-Freezing Temperatures (Tuesday Night)
Probability of
Below-Freezing Temperatures (Wednesday Night)
Deterministic
Temperature Outlook (Saturday-Thursday)
Down below are some tips on how to prepare for the
upcoming cold weather.
Hazardous Marine
Conditions
In the wake of
the front, moderate to strong northerly to northeasterly winds will prevail
late Sunday into Monday morning with the potential for gale-force gusts in
the Gulf waters and low waters in
the bays during low tide. Mariners can expect a period of caution to
advisory level conditions due to elevated winds and seas into next week.
Seas may build to 7-10 feet in the Gulf waters Sunday into Monday as
moderate to strong offshore flow prevails.
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Re: Want to know what DMR is and how you can get Radio Active with it!
Thanks Rick and Jason for spearheading this venture! ?I have never used that mode but am interested! ?Will be in touch!
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On Jan 1, 2025, at 9:34?PM, Rick WA2HRF Fell via groups.io <rickyf@...> wrote:
? Back in September 2024, Jason/N2TXS and I set out to understand what DMR 'digital mobile radio' was and how we could get on the air using this mode. Linked below is a compilation of our learnings to becoming radio active with DMR. For those interested in learning more or considering venturing into using this radio mode - please reach out to either Jason to myself.
?
Thanks, Rick
|
Want to know what DMR is and how you can get Radio Active with it!
Back in September 2024, Jason/N2TXS and I set out to understand what DMR 'digital mobile radio' was and how we could get on the air using this mode. Linked below is a compilation of our learnings to becoming radio active with DMR. For those interested in learning more or considering venturing into using this radio mode - please reach out to either Jason to myself.
?
Thanks, Rick
|
GFS Tabular Run for Huntsville
The CPC
today again updated its long range outlook to insist that very cold weather
is coming thanks to the expected southeasterly shift of the polar
vortex.? Their December 31 update graphic is attached and still gives
our area a moderate risk for unusually cold winter weather during the
January 8-14 period.? Its interesting that the meteorologist for ERCOT
was talking about this possibility over a month ago.
The GFS model still isn't biting hard
on extreme cold for southeast Texas but does give our area a dusting of
snow in the 14-15 January period.? For now, rather than speculate,
I've simply attached the graphical GPS run centered on Huntsville which
covers the period in question.
I will produce updates as the situation dictates but possibly
not until we see better model agreement for what really to expect in
southeast Texas.? In the meantime, the best advice is simply to
prepare for cold weather and remember the 4 Ps:? Pets, Plants, Pipes,
People.
Jim Robinson,
W5ZYX
Jim Robinson, W5ZYX
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The tower bid now stands at $1350.00
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I agree with Lee! ?Great net last night!
?
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Thank you very much for those comments Lee, it was fun to do. You never know how things are going to turn out when you try something new and y'all are the best guinea pigs ever!
On Monday, December 30, 2024 at 09:31:25 PM CST, Lee KV5M Murrah via groups.io <mlmurrah@...> wrote:
The net tonight was outstanding.? Laura with her soothing, welcoming voice and Russ with his lively and humorous patter made a great team. At times I thought I was listening to News at 10 on one of the Houston TV channels.
The review of the year was especially good, and I hope these two will agree to do the year-end net next year.? A tradition is born!
The number of activities was amazing, and that is the main reason we continue to grow with a growing regional reputation.? Keep it up everyone.
Get Radioactive!!
Lee
KV5M
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The net tonight was outstanding. Laura with her soothing, welcoming voice and Russ with his lively and humorous patter made a great team. At times I thought I was listening to News at 10 on one of the Houston TV channels.
The review of the year was especially good, and I hope these two will agree to do the year-end net next year. A tradition is born!
The number of activities was amazing, and that is the main reason we continue to grow with a growing regional reputation. Keep it up everyone.
Get Radioactive!!
Lee
KV5M
|
CPC Issues Cold Weather Outlook Which Includes Southeast Texas
While considerable variability exists this evening
among the major models, all indications point toward polar air spilling
down and bringing very cold weather to much of the central and eastern
United States.? The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is predicting that
effects will extend as far south as our area in Southeast
Texas.
It may be several
days before the models come into better agreement.? As of this
evening, only ECMWF and the Canadian GEM are forecasting snow in Southeast
Texas with CPC indicating a slight risk for the January 7-9 period.?
The ECMWF forecast currently paints up to .4 inch accumulation in parts of
Southeast Texas on the 8th and
9th.
The best current
advice is to prepare for cold weather with temperatures possibly falling
into the teens on some days (still very significant model disagreement on
how cold it will get and several models presently don't get nearly this
cold).
See the CPC
advisory message below.? Their graphic is
attached.
Jim Robinson,
W5ZYX
Key?Messages?from?the?NOAA?Climate?Prediction?Center
Issued?December?30,?2024
Significant?Arctic?Outbreak?to?Expand?Across?Much?of?the?Central?and?Eastern?US
(a)?A?significant?pattern?change?is?expected?across?much?of?the?country?as?an?Arctic?Outbreak?is?forecast?to?spread?from?the?Northern?Plains?to?the?south?and?east,?leading?to?exceptionally?high?probabilities?of?below-normal?temperatures?expected?across?much?of?the?East.
(b)?The?coldest?air?of?the?season?to?date?and?dangerous?wind?chills?are?likely?across?many?areas?of?the?Southeast.?Below?freezing?temperatures?are?possible?as?far?south?as?the?Gulf?Coast?and?much?of?the?Florida?Peninsula.?Impacts?to?highly?sensitive?citrus?crops?are?possible.
(c)?Frozen?precipitation?is?possible?across?the?parts?of?the?Southern?Plains?and?Southeast?with?the?potential?for?heavy?snow?extending?northward?to?include?much?of?Appalachians,?Ohio?Valley,?Mid-Atlantic,?Great?Lakes,?and?Northeast,?potentially?leading?to?significant?travel?disruptions.?Additionally,?heavy?Lake?Effect?snow?is?likely?to?enhance?totals?for?areas?downwind?of?the?Great?Lakes?as?the?Arctic?Air?pushes?south?across?partially?unfrozen?waters.
Please?review?the?NWS?Winter?Preparedness?Checklist?at?https://www.weather.gov/media/arx/winter/WinterPrepare.pdf
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Re: MARS Mod - FT-991a - completed
Thanks for sharing! That is a very interesting feature. I will have to look into that. The video seems pretty straight forward.?
?
--
Catch you on the air,
Jason Hampton
*Freedom Isn't Free
N2TXS, WXCT237
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Russ NR5US Cooper
Rick WA2HRF Fell
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Jason N5DRI Hampton