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| 20 May 2009: National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC Sets On-The-Air Station Test
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SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX007
ARLX007 National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC Sets On-The-Air Station Test
ZCZC AX07
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 7 ARLX007
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT May 19, 2009
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX007
ARLX007 National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC Sets On-The-Air Station Test
The annual WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test from the National Hurricane
Center (NHC) in Miami takes place Saturday, May 30, 1300-2100 UTC. "The
purpose of this annual Station Test is to test
all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes
and frequencies as possible. This is not a contest or simulated
hurricane exercise. New equipment and software will be tested, and we
will also conduct some operator training," said WX4NHC Assistant
Amateur Radio Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R.
Ripoll said that WX4NHC also will be testing new computers and
software, as well as conducting operator training. "NHC Director Bill
Read, KB5FYA, will be at WX4NHC, making contacts," he said.
WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF and UHF, plus 2 and 30 meter APRS.
Suggested SSB frequencies are 3.950, 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and 28.525
MHz, +/-QRM; WX4NHC reports that they will mostly be on 14.325 MHz and
will make announcements when they change frequencies. WX4NHC also
will be on the VoIP Hurricane Net 1700-1900 UTC (IRLP node
9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference) and on South Florida area VHF/UHF
repeaters and simplex; APRS and e-mail will also be
monitored.
Stations working WX4NHC exchange call sign, signal report, location and
name plus a brief weather report, such as "sunny," "rain" or "cloudy."
Non-hams may submit their actual weather using the On-Line
Hurricane Report Form. QSL to WD4R and include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope. Do not send cards to the NHC. Due to security
measures, no visitors will be allowed at NHC during the test.
NNNN
/EX
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| 20 May 2009: May ARES E-Letter
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The latest ARES E-Letter
has been published. It is available on the
ARRL web site along with all back issues.
IN THIS ISSUE
* The View from Flagler County
* Amateur Radio Supports BP MS-150 "Silver Celebration"
* Meso Cyclone, Southern Illinois SKYWARN/ARES Response
* Hams Rally for Glass City Marathon
* Hurricane Conference A Success for Amateur Radio
* Letters: 6 Meter FM for ARES Ops
* Letters: "Reverse 911" TENS for ARES
* Legendary Kentucky ARES Op Retires
* Letters: Cost Value of Volunteers
* Letters: New FEMA CPG Can Help ARES Draft EOPs
* Letters: Recruitment
* K1CE For a Final
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15 April 2009: April ARES E-Letter
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The latest ARES E-Letter
has been published. It is available on the
ARRL web site along with all back issues.
IN THIS ISSUE
* The View From Flagler County
* ARES Docket
* Connecticut ARES Ops Meet with EM/Homeland Security
* Hurricane Watch Net Looking To Grow
* "EMCOMM East" Slated for October
* Dayton Amateur of the Year an EMCOMM Ham
* Young Alabama Ham Active in ARES
* New FEMA EMI IS Programs Offered
* New ARRL Advanced Emergency Communications Course In the Works
* N3KN For A Final
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8 April 2009: New ARRL Advanced Emergency Communications Course in the Works
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From The ARRL Web Site
Over the past several months, ARRL staff have been reviewing the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications online course program
and have decided to combine two of the three Emergency Communications
courses. According to ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson,
K1DMJ, the review included a critical examination of the course
content, as well as methods of course delivery and interrelationships
with government organizations. Johnson said that the decision was made
to revise the Level 3 course to become a new Advanced Emergency
Communications Course; this, she said, will replace both the current Level 2 and Level 3 courses. The new advanced course is set to be released during the last quarter of 2009.
"Our aim is to develop professional level courses which are widely
accepted by other organizations for the emergency communication
component of Amateur Radio," she said. "We are investigating
requirements that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is
currently putting in place for approved courses, as well as other
possibilities to develop emergency communications training that meets
the emerging training needs surrounding emergency communications."
Students who have previously taken the Level 2 course will need to have
the new advanced course to complete the current Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications training program, Johnson explained. "Those who have
completed the Level 1
course may progress directly to the advanced course when it is made
available; this new course contains content formerly included in the
former Level 2 and 3 courses." Johnson said that there are no current
plans to change the Basic Level 1 course and that that course will
continue to be offered in its current format.
With the combining of the Level 2 and 3 courses, Johnson said that
anyone who had signed up for the Level 2 course set to begin April 17
may apply for a refund. Any scheduled field instruction of the Level 2
content, as well as Level 2 exam sessions, will also be suspended. "We
will honor exam sessions that have been previously scheduled and award
Level 2 certificates for any exams successfully completed up to May
31," she said.
"Our training program mandate is to provide the training that ham radio
communicators need to be prepared to serve our communities in time of
communications emergencies," Johnson explained. "This consolidation of
program content will streamline the delivery of the training and apply
volunteer and administrative support resources more effectively."
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8 April 2009: Ohio Section Conference Report
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ONE HAM'S REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE
By Duane (Cork) Poling, W8DHG
Every Spring the Ohio Section holds its ARES Conference - the 2009
version was March 28 in Reynoldsburg at the Ohio Fire Academy. It was a
good get together with about 90 or more attending from all over the
state. The now famous PIZZA LUNCH was an excellent chance to meet with
ARES members all over Ohio in the social event of the year.
I attended with Ralph Shields, WB8YIH, of Van Wert, and enjoyed the
entire day. Our new, ARRL Ohio Section EC Jack Sovik KB8WPZ, was
moderator for the program. He has been on the job for eight months and
prepared an informative and active agenda for the day. Joe Phillips
K8QOE our Ohio Section Manager and Gary Johnson KI4LA the Vice-Director
of the Great Lakes Division had some opening remarks. As usual Joe is a
great cheerleader and got things started right.
Don Zickefoose, WB8SIQ, Asst. Net Manager of the Ohio Single Sideband
Net, spoke of the Nets operation and the need to have more use of the
of the Net by ARES. OSSBN meets three times a day and handles formal
traffic across the state for the local nets.
The reports of the District EC's was informative and it showed the
disparity between the population centers and the rural areas of the
state. There is a lot more activity and equipment, (digital etc.)in the
cities and the need is greater there, but we all have the need to feed information into the system in time of emergency.
An APRS demo was provided by Matt Welch KBILCS, a good presentation and
lots of enthusiasm, it should be on the web and perhaps we can get it
for local viewing at the Club. The word is there is a lot more to APRS
than trace lines on the screen. Perhaps we should be making more use of
the system.
Watching KA8ZGE move around the country is fun, but there seems to be a lot more to the system.
Digital Communications-Where are we headed? Was the last session of the
day and it was presented by John Tipka, W8UL Ohio Section Traffic
Manager. I think there is a Power Point on the web that he used and
perhaps we should get it and take a look because I know I won't get all
the points, let alone the comments.
The key word is still interoperability and also duplication to achieve dependability.
The ultimate desire is still WinLink 2000 and the use of AirMail which
is part of that program. Having said that he seemed to continue with
what sounded like reality setting in. Certainly error correction is the
first need and Pactor 1,2,and 3 seem to him to be the best answer.
However aPactor 3 unit is around $1400 or more and it may be fine if
someone or agency provides it but the reality is not many will or can
reach in our pocket and buy one.
There is a software version in Beta testing and if it works it would
sure cut costs. Also he says the use of AirMail on packet or other
ax.25 type correcting protocols could be incorporated and provide the
interoperability that is needed. RTTY and PSK 31 will not do the job, no error correction.
My final thoughts from the conference? Legacy , the word legacy, as
used by a couple of speakers, seemed to mean something from the past.
As a computer program or operating system from the past that might do
the job of some of the cutting edge stuff. It just seems to be an
adjective not a noun and
perhaps not a gift just the use of a legacy. I thought all that old
stuff was junk, or junque, or an antique, or perhaps vintage programs
or equipment. 0 well, it's a legacy and perhaps ready to work as it
always did.
(Mr. Poling, an Extra Class ham, has held every major position in the
Van Wert Amateur Radio Club and is well known throughout the Ohio
Section for his many contributions to amateur radio. An edited version
of this report appeared the April 2009 "Open Squelch" the official publication of the Van Wert Amateur Radio Club. )
From ARRL Ohio Section Section Manager: Joseph J. Phillips, K8QOE k8qoe@arrl.org
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3 March 2009: SKYWARN story on WHIO TV.
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WHIO TV did a story on Dayton SKYWARN on the 26th of February. You can view the story and read the transcript at this link. Thanks Louis, KB8TCK for the link.
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13 January 2009: Seeking a new District ARES Net Manager
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District
3 ARES is in need of a new Net Manager for the weekly District Net.
The Net Manager is responsible for developing, coordinating, and
maintaining the Net Control Operator rotation for the Wednesday night
net.
In addition, the Net Manager ensures that Net Control Operators provide
Net Reports and that those reports get to the DEC and anyone else that
requires them.
No prior experience as a Net Manager, or even as a Net Control Operator
is necessary. Several former Net Managers are available to mentor you
as learn the position.
Interested amateurs should contact John, KD8AIZ, Montgomery County EC,
who is coordinating the process. You can reach him by e-mail at jreid16@juno.com.
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26 August 2008
JACK SOVIK, KB8WPZ IS THE NEW SEC FOR OHIO
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A
Youngstown newspaper executive who has long time experience in Amateur
Radio Emergency Service (ARES) will be the new Section Emergency
Coordinator for Ohio.
The DEC for District Five, Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ, becomes SEC on September
1, Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE, has announced today. Hams and
particular members of ARES will have two opportunities by mid-September
to meet the new SEC.
Jack Sovik succeeds SEC Frank Piper, KI8GW, of Pickerington. Frank
announced his resignation a month ago because his job requires he go
back to school plus he has new duties after recently being elevated to
be Grand Knight of his Knights of Columbus unit.
The new SEC will head the ARRL forum at the Findlay Hamfest, Sunday,
September 7 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. The forum begins at 9
a.m. in the forum room designated by Hamfest officials. Then the
following Saturday, September 13, Jack will again be the featured
speaker at the SEC portion of the Ohio Section Conference held at the
State Fire Academy east of Reynoldsburg. The Section Conference begins
at 9 a.m. Jack wants all 88 ECs and 10 DECs to make an effort to join
him for one or both appearances.
SM Phillips said Jack was selected after a process in which eight
applicants applied and three were given personal interviews. "During
his tenure as DEC, Jack demonstrated great people skills he also uses
in his work for the Youngstown Vindicator," said the Section Manager,
"It was obvious in the interview that he was the strongest candidate to
continue the job of enriching the talent in our ARES administration
which SEC Frank had started."
Both Jack and current SEC Frank are now hard at work making the
changeover as smooth as possible. "Jack was my first DEC appointment,
shortly after taking over a SEC in 2006," said Frank,
"Jack has been a great supporter of the ARES program in the Ohio
Section, and was a key player in projects such as the OSERP revision,
the Ohio Section EC guidelines, and the reorganization of the ARES
Districts" In addition, Mr. Piper said Jack's drive for professionalism
in ARES, and his abilities to work with people will give him the
advantage to push the Ohio Section ARES to a greater level. "I am
extremely proud of Jack and wish him well in his new role as SEC," Mr.
Piper added.
Mr. Sovik, 58, KB8WPZ was born in Youngstown, Ohio and currently
resides in Austintown. He attended Youngstown State University,
majoring in Advertising/Public Relations. He has worked at the
Youngstown Vindicator for over 36 years, and is currently National
Advertising Manager. Professionally, Jack served as President of
The Ohio Newspaper Classified Advertising Manager's Association in 1997.
His wife Bonnie is a teacher in the Austintown School system as a
reading specialist. Sovik has 2 children, Jonathan 29, a merchandiser
for Coca-Cola, and a daughter Megan, 23 who works an account executive
for McConnell Marketing in Canfield Ohio.
Sovik was first licensed as KB8WPZ in 1995, earning his extra class in
2000 he has his WAS, WAC, and DXCC. Sovik has held various positions
including, District Emergency Coordinator for District 5, Assistant
Emergency Coordinator for Mahoning County. He also currently holds the
positions of Official Observer, Public Information Officer, Volunteer
Examiner, and Official Emergency Station. Sovik has taken the ARRL
EMCOMM classes 1-3 and FEMA classes IS100; 200; 546; 700; and 800. He
is currently Vice President of The Mahoning Valley Amateur Radio
Association.
Sovik's most rewarding Amateur Radio experience was his participation
in the Santa Claus Net. In 2002 he helped start a program that
continues today where amateur radio operators take HTs into the
children's ward of Tod Children's or Akron Children's Hospital in
Boardman. This allows the children to spend the Christmas holidays talk
to Santa.
As SEC Sovik will continue the programs that SEC Frank Piper has
implemented. "As SEC, Frank has shown his ability to communicate in a
way that has dramatically improved the efficiency of Emergency
Communications in the Ohio Section, Sovik said, "He has shown how
with compassion, leadership, and knowledge emergency communications in
the Ohio section has improved and I will try to continue that
process."
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ARRL Ohio Section
Section Manager: Joseph J. Phillips, K8QOE
k8qoe@arrl.org |
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| ARES Training Net |
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Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM on the 145.11 /224.16 MHz (67hz tone)
WCOARA repeater system.
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| District 3 EC Meeting |
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TBA
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