WEBVTT 00:00:11.179 --> 00:00:13.939 Thanks for tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:27.149 the air shortly. Please stand by. This episode 00:00:27.149 --> 00:00:30.730 of HamTalk Live is brought to you by Tower Electronics. 00:00:31.129 --> 00:00:35.409 For connectors, cables, and more, call 920 -435 00:00:35.409 --> 00:00:42.149 -2973 or visit pl -259 .com. And by ICOM, heard 00:00:42.149 --> 00:00:47.390 it, worked it, logged it. Visit www .icomamerica 00:00:47.390 --> 00:00:51.109 .com slash amateur for more information about 00:00:51.109 --> 00:01:00.250 ICOM radios. With Neorep, here we go Welcome 00:01:00.250 --> 00:01:05.430 to Amtopi Calling let's talk, Neils you're gone 00:01:24.969 --> 00:01:27.569 Good evening, everyone. It's time for another 00:01:27.569 --> 00:01:31.730 HamTalk Live. It's episode number 211, Hurricane 00:01:31.730 --> 00:01:35.989 Prep Week, recorded live on Thursday, May 7th, 00:01:35.989 --> 00:01:40.709 2020. I'm your host, Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Thanks 00:01:40.709 --> 00:01:43.290 for tuning in to this episode of HamTalk Live. 00:01:43.430 --> 00:01:46.890 Tonight, we're joined by Bobby Graves, KB5HAV. 00:01:48.170 --> 00:01:54.430 Julio Ripal, WD4R, Rob Macedo, KD1CY, and Lloyd 00:01:54.430 --> 00:01:58.290 Colston, KC5FM. And we'll take your calls live 00:01:58.290 --> 00:02:00.689 in just a few minutes. Last week, Tim Duffy, 00:02:00.730 --> 00:02:04.430 K3LR, was here to talk about Contest University 00:02:04.430 --> 00:02:08.870 Online. And also the Hamvention QSo party taking 00:02:08.870 --> 00:02:12.830 place next week So if you missed the show you 00:02:12.830 --> 00:02:15.830 can listen anytime at HamTalkLive .com or your 00:02:15.830 --> 00:02:19.349 favorite podcast app or on YouTube or you can 00:02:19.349 --> 00:02:25.129 catch the rebroadcast on WTWW 5085 a .m. Saturday 00:02:25.129 --> 00:02:30.289 evenings at about 630 p .m. Eastern Time Also, 00:02:30.289 --> 00:02:32.430 I want to give a shout out here. Congratulations 00:02:32.430 --> 00:02:38.689 to Tyler Wilbanks, N7 TMW. He graduated from 00:02:38.689 --> 00:02:43.090 Pearl River Community College, and that's in 00:02:43.090 --> 00:02:45.569 computer networking, and he was the original 00:02:45.569 --> 00:02:49.810 Hammy, the Hammy mascot at Dayton a few years 00:02:49.810 --> 00:02:52.210 ago, and we started doing that, and the son of 00:02:52.210 --> 00:02:57.430 Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. So, congratulations to Tyler. 00:02:58.540 --> 00:03:01.639 And he's going to be looking for an IT job pretty 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:06.819 soon here. So we'll get back to the Skywarn stuff 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:09.300 here. We'll get your questions ready to go. If 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:12.159 you're listening to us live on Thursday night, 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.560 you can give us a call during the interview segment. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.699 I'll go ahead and give you the number so you 00:03:17.699 --> 00:03:20.680 can have it ready to go. But we'll talk to all 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:39.000 of these guys first. The number is 859. You can 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:43.620 also tweet us at HamTalkLive on Twitter and if 00:03:43.620 --> 00:03:45.979 you're on Spreaker you can type in the comments 00:03:45.979 --> 00:03:48.919 and that'll pop up here on the screen. Looks 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:51.039 like I've got some catching up to do with that 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:53.840 already. So looks like we've got a got a crowd 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:58.569 in on Spreaker tonight. We'll be back and talk 00:03:58.569 --> 00:04:01.710 Skywarn right after this word from ICOM America 00:04:01.710 --> 00:04:06.349 right here on HamTalk Live. 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Welcome 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:50.199 back to HamTalk Live, ICOM America. Is online 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.800 at icon America comm slash amateur be sure to 00:05:53.800 --> 00:06:00.439 check them out Tonight we have some Skywarn stuff 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:03.939 to talk about and specifically hurricanes because 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:09.480 that season is is upon us here soon, so we have 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:16.009 our our usual cast of Skywarn folks and a newbie 00:06:16.009 --> 00:06:20.829 tonight. So Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, is the net 00:06:20.829 --> 00:06:23.889 manager for the Hurricane Watch Net. He's been 00:06:23.889 --> 00:06:28.329 in that position since 2013 and he's in Brandon, 00:06:28.329 --> 00:06:33.089 Mississippi. Our new guest is Julio Reiphal, 00:06:33.310 --> 00:06:39.019 WD4R, the assistant coordinator for WX4NHC. That's 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:42.160 the National Hurricane Center amateur radio station. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:47.160 And he is in Miami, Florida. Rob Macedo, KD1CY, 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:49.860 is the Director of Operations for the Voice over 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:54.819 IP, or VoIP, Hurricane Net. Since 2004, he's 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:58.360 also been involved with the VoIP SkyWarn and 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:01.360 Hurricane Net that supports the National Hurricane 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:06.839 Center station, WX4NHC. And Rob is in New Bedford, 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:10.980 Massachusetts. And finally, Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:13.699 is the public information officer for the Voip 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.819 Hurricane Net, and he's been a net control for 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:20.779 that net since 2004, and he is in Newkirk, Oklahoma. 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.259 So, gentlemen, welcome back to the show, and 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:26.560 Julio, welcome to the show for the first time. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:35.480 All right, thank you very much, Neil. Well, we've 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:39.449 got four of you here, so So, you're each going 00:07:39.449 --> 00:07:42.209 to get a little piece of this here at the beginning, 00:07:42.410 --> 00:07:45.610 and we're going to start off with Lloyd, who 00:07:45.610 --> 00:07:48.850 actually reminded me that it was Hurricane Preparedness 00:07:48.850 --> 00:07:52.670 Week and all that kind of stuff. And so, Lloyd, 00:07:52.709 --> 00:07:54.949 we want you to talk a little bit about Hurricane 00:07:54.949 --> 00:07:58.350 Preparedness Week and Weather Observer Day was 00:07:58.350 --> 00:08:03.329 on Monday, so let's talk a little bit about that 00:08:03.329 --> 00:08:07.120 and what people should do to be prepared. for 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:11.240 a hurricane. Well, first, thanks for having me 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.879 on the program tonight. It is important to be 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.779 prepared for hurricanes and all weather events, 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:21.819 be they flood, flash flood, tornadoes, winter 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.560 storm, you name it, need to be prepared for. 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:30.339 I want to thank all the volunteers. for all the 00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:34.059 Skywarn programs across the United States and 00:08:34.059 --> 00:08:40.039 Canada, the United Kingdom has Skywarn, Denmark, 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.139 Germany has Skywarn, so thanks all the weather 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:47.720 observers. Their day was Monday, Weather Observer's 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.200 Day, and Skywarn is one of the premier weather 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.879 observing programs for the National Weather Service 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:58.490 in the United States. Why is it important that 00:08:58.490 --> 00:09:04.190 we have this? Because radar doesn't see the ground 00:09:04.190 --> 00:09:07.889 level in New Kirk, Oklahoma. It's only going 00:09:07.889 --> 00:09:11.429 to see about 2 ,000 feet up in the sky. And there's 00:09:11.429 --> 00:09:14.250 a lot that can happen between 2 ,000 feet in 00:09:14.250 --> 00:09:17.649 the ground. That's why you need to have spotters 00:09:17.649 --> 00:09:21.049 on the ground, spotters on the coast. trained 00:09:21.049 --> 00:09:23.169 by the National Weather Service to give those 00:09:23.169 --> 00:09:26.590 reports to the local weather forecast office 00:09:26.590 --> 00:09:29.309 and the National Hurricane Center. So thank you 00:09:29.309 --> 00:09:31.970 ladies and gentlemen for being part of Sky 1. 00:09:34.870 --> 00:09:38.769 All right and now you know here in here in Bloomington 00:09:38.769 --> 00:09:41.990 Indiana I'm not too worried about hurricanes 00:09:41.990 --> 00:09:47.360 but Those of you who are on the coastlines, which 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:53.379 most of you are, have to worry about these coming 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:59.320 up. So Lloyd, do you have anything that we just 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:02.460 need to make sure that spotters are aware of 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:06.519 in these kinds of things, or even in just localized 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:12.539 flooding? Well, hurricanes are a major event. 00:10:13.230 --> 00:10:16.350 especially in metropolitan areas and low -lying 00:10:16.350 --> 00:10:18.730 areas because not only do hurricanes produce 00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:21.470 the winds that come with hurricanes, they also 00:10:21.470 --> 00:10:23.490 produce the flooding that comes with hurricanes. 00:10:24.049 --> 00:10:27.049 They also generate tornadoes that come with hurricanes. 00:10:28.149 --> 00:10:31.110 And so there's a plethora of weather events all 00:10:31.110 --> 00:10:34.750 going on at the same time with hurricanes. So 00:10:34.750 --> 00:10:37.289 the National Weather Service and the National 00:10:37.289 --> 00:10:40.169 Hurricane Center need ground truth intelligence 00:10:40.169 --> 00:10:44.100 supplied by train spotters. in the field that 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:48.840 will give the people that have the buttons that 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:52.299 they can push to issue the warnings for the general 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:55.960 population. They need that information. And Julio 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:59.700 will tell you that they rely on a number of communication 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:02.659 streams, including Hurricane WatchNet, including 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:09.500 the national SkyWarn VOIP WeatherNet. So there's 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:12.179 A lot of ground truth intelligence that can be 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:15.120 attracted, even automatic packet reporting system, 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:19.419 we monitor that for where's the power still on 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:25.600 in a landfalling hurricane. I never thought about 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:28.580 that, but that would definitely give you some 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:31.840 data to go from. Well, let's switch over to Julio, 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.990 actually, and this is the 40th anniversary. the 00:11:35.990 --> 00:11:38.710 amateur radio station at the National Hurricane 00:11:38.710 --> 00:11:44.149 Center and the call sign now is WX4NHC and you 00:11:44.149 --> 00:11:46.230 helped set this station up so tell us a little 00:11:46.230 --> 00:11:50.169 bit about the station and the anniversary celebration 00:11:50.169 --> 00:11:53.370 that's going on this year or lack thereof as 00:11:53.370 --> 00:11:57.250 it may be. All right thank you very much Neil 00:11:57.250 --> 00:12:00.769 and good evening evening everybody from Miami 00:12:00.769 --> 00:12:05.529 and I'm Julio a Whiskey Delta for Romeo And we 00:12:05.529 --> 00:12:09.629 started our station at the Hurricane Center WX4NHC 00:12:09.629 --> 00:12:15.230 in 1980. Welcome aboard by Dr. Neil Frank, who 00:12:15.230 --> 00:12:17.309 was the director at the time, because he wanted 00:12:17.309 --> 00:12:21.129 HAMS to be able to talk to the Caribbean. Because 00:12:21.129 --> 00:12:23.990 at that time, in 1980, every time the weather 00:12:23.990 --> 00:12:26.730 got bad, they lost all communications to all 00:12:26.730 --> 00:12:29.649 the Caribbean islands, and we were the only thing 00:12:29.649 --> 00:12:33.480 left. Standing and talking to each other and 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:36.120 our first hurricane and my first experience there 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:39.340 to summer of 1980 was Hurricane Allen which hit 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:43.679 st. Lucia And we were there for three weeks straight 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:47.360 24 hours a day as Hurricane Allen tracked through 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:50.759 st. Lucia destroyed that island and then eventually 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.559 hit Brownsville, Texas Believe it or not. That 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:57.379 was an incredible experience Luckily, I was a 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:00.960 student at UM across the street So I would just 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.340 walk across the street from my dormitory with 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:07.879 a Yezu FT -101 in a cardboard box and a wire 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:10.159 antenna. And that's how our humble beginning 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:13.860 started. Now we have a super duper station with 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:16.240 some of the latest Yezu equipment. We have a 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:21.019 Yezu FT -DX1200, another couple Yezus, and an 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:25.860 amplifier, and seven antennas on the roof. And 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:29.250 we have everything. that you can imagine as far 00:13:29.250 --> 00:13:33.809 as digital modes and APRS and VOIP and IRLP and 00:13:33.809 --> 00:13:36.570 so forth and so on. So we're very lucky about 00:13:36.570 --> 00:13:40.149 that. Right now we're currently around 16 operators 00:13:40.149 --> 00:13:43.870 that are 12 trained and vetted and security checked 00:13:43.870 --> 00:13:46.870 to work inside the Hurricane Center. We've worked 00:13:46.870 --> 00:13:51.889 over a hundred hurricanes since then. And surface 00:13:51.889 --> 00:13:55.200 reports are incredibly important. They fill in 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:59.179 all the gaps between what we get from the satellites, 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:03.379 radar, and air reconnaissance. And so many times 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:05.519 that's affected their forecast. And I'll just 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.580 give you one of the latest examples was Hurricane 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:12.080 Dorian last year when it went and sat over the 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.039 Abacos in the Bahamas. And we had one hand that 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:17.679 was able to stay on board with us until landfall. 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:23.970 That was Chris C6AID. Chris Puritt in Hope Town, 00:14:24.190 --> 00:14:29.070 Elbow Key, and the only information that we were 00:14:29.070 --> 00:14:31.789 getting was through him. Everything else was 00:14:31.789 --> 00:14:34.389 out completely. And you know that hurricane was 00:14:34.389 --> 00:14:38.129 a cat five hurricane, stayed over them for more 00:14:38.129 --> 00:14:41.250 than a day. And I remember talking with Chris 00:14:41.250 --> 00:14:44.669 and I said, what are you doing, Chris? You know, 00:14:45.730 --> 00:14:51.039 he owns some sailboat in Boat charter business 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:53.000 there and he says we've got everyone off their 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:57.559 sailboats onto the island about 300 people They're 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:00.639 all sheltering in private homes and we have several 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:03.899 in my home that and I said Chris I said, what's 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.840 what's the elevation of your house? He said about 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:09.139 15 feet above sea level. I said well storm surge 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:13.019 is 15 to 20 feet plus waves and His last report 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:15.200 was the winds were blowing over 100 miles per 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.779 hour and the trees are falling And we didn't 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:20.370 hear anything back for days from him. And we 00:15:20.370 --> 00:15:22.970 were so worried because we saw some of the pictures 00:15:22.970 --> 00:15:27.629 coming back of the island flattened. And Chris 00:15:27.629 --> 00:15:32.649 and his wife Jill survived, thank God. But one 00:15:32.649 --> 00:15:34.889 of the last reports we got was hometown is gone. 00:15:35.590 --> 00:15:37.830 And those are the reports that fill in and they 00:15:37.830 --> 00:15:41.289 give it a human aspect instead of all the technical 00:15:41.289 --> 00:15:44.649 data of the barren pressure and the winds, et 00:15:44.649 --> 00:15:46.830 cetera, et cetera. Gives it that human connection. 00:15:47.509 --> 00:15:50.450 And a lot of the forecasters love that because 00:15:50.450 --> 00:15:53.330 it acknowledges what they predicted, and then 00:15:53.330 --> 00:15:57.389 the people and the public can relate to it. You 00:15:57.389 --> 00:16:00.169 tell someone that the Barabek Depresure is 923 00:16:00.169 --> 00:16:02.049 millibars, they're not going to understand the 00:16:02.049 --> 00:16:04.450 beans about that. But when they say someone on 00:16:04.450 --> 00:16:07.129 the island saw three houses just south of him 00:16:07.129 --> 00:16:10.570 move from their foundation or lying in the middle 00:16:10.570 --> 00:16:13.590 of the street, now they can picture what's going 00:16:13.590 --> 00:16:17.610 on over there. So that that's a quickie from 00:16:17.610 --> 00:16:22.970 me Neil over now well said and You know having 00:16:22.970 --> 00:16:26.509 that the eyes on the ground is always you know 00:16:26.509 --> 00:16:30.169 kind of the forefront of Skywarn and and You've 00:16:30.169 --> 00:16:33.789 had 40 years of this, but you know I guess the 00:16:33.789 --> 00:16:39.090 anniversary celebration was was kind of cut short 00:16:39.090 --> 00:16:44.230 Yeah We had a lot of plans for the National Hurricane 00:16:44.230 --> 00:16:46.590 Conference in Orlando, and that was canceled 00:16:46.590 --> 00:16:51.389 because of the coronavirus pandemic. We're in 00:16:51.389 --> 00:16:53.970 talks right now about doing some kind of webinar, 00:16:54.450 --> 00:16:57.710 and we're trying to put together our amateur 00:16:57.710 --> 00:17:00.110 radio workshop, which we've done before for the 00:17:00.110 --> 00:17:04.789 ARRL, and try to get something going maybe by 00:17:04.789 --> 00:17:07.109 the end of this month. But the plans are still 00:17:07.109 --> 00:17:12.740 preliminary. Okay, very good. Well, we'd be listening 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:16.779 for that. Let's go over to Bobby. Now, Bobby, 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:20.160 you're the net manager for the Hurricane Watch 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:23.359 Net, and you've got a big anniversary this year. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:28.019 So, tell us a little bit about that. Well, first 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:30.839 off, Neil, thanks for having me on again this 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:34.880 year. It's always a pleasure. Yeah, Hurricane 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:37.480 WatchNet has been around for 55 years. It was 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.660 originally founded by Jerry Murphy, K -A -Y -U 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:44.119 -W, who's still with us after all these years. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:47.400 He still lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area. And, 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.940 of course, our net was founded during Hurricane 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:53.960 Betsy on Labor Day weekend back in 1965. And, 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.519 you know, who would have thought after 55 years 00:17:56.519 --> 00:18:00.440 Hurricane WatchNet would still be around? We're 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:03.180 looking at doing some type of on -air celebration 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:06.019 like we did for our 50th anniversary back in 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:08.980 2015. We haven't ironed out the details just 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:11.839 yet, but we're still looking at doing something 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.420 like that. Like Julio said, we was trying to 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.980 maybe even do something at the National Hurricane 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:19.740 Conference, but COVID -19 got in the way, so 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:23.150 we know what all happened there. But still, you 00:18:23.150 --> 00:18:26.210 think, well, you know, we're amateur radio now. 00:18:26.829 --> 00:18:30.650 Why, after 55 years, are we still relevant? I 00:18:30.650 --> 00:18:32.410 mean, when you look at all the fancy technology 00:18:32.410 --> 00:18:34.869 that's come along over the past 55 years, like 00:18:34.869 --> 00:18:37.789 the new high definition satellite imagery, which 00:18:37.789 --> 00:18:41.130 is absolutely awesome, giving us fantastic pictures. 00:18:41.769 --> 00:18:43.509 We've got the Doppler radar that's constantly 00:18:43.509 --> 00:18:45.950 improving with the satellite, with the software 00:18:45.950 --> 00:18:49.950 they keep using. But like Lloyd said, you know, 00:18:50.429 --> 00:18:52.250 It's looking up in the atmosphere. It's not telling 00:18:52.250 --> 00:18:54.230 us what's happening on the ground. Of course, 00:18:54.289 --> 00:18:56.470 we got the brave hurricane hunters that fly around 00:18:56.470 --> 00:19:01.710 and into the storm. But, you know, a lot of folks 00:19:01.710 --> 00:19:03.849 keep thinking, well, you know, like you mentioned 00:19:03.849 --> 00:19:05.769 a moment ago that, you know, hurricanes affect 00:19:05.769 --> 00:19:08.289 the coastal areas. That's true. They got to keep 00:19:08.289 --> 00:19:10.849 in mind some of these storms travel well inland. 00:19:11.670 --> 00:19:14.849 I mean, look at Hurricane Hugo back in 1989 that 00:19:14.849 --> 00:19:18.079 hit Charleston, South Carolina. It was still 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:20.339 a Cat 1 hurricane when it got to the western 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:23.019 side of North Carolina. It was still a strong 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:27.400 tropical storm when it moved into Ohio. So, these 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:29.640 things can travel a long ways, but with all the 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:32.180 technology, what role does amateur radio still 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:34.579 play with hurricanes? Just like with your local 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:37.240 Skyworm program, we need spotters. People who 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:40.500 can give ground truth data reports of what's 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:42.700 going on on the ground. These weather satellites 00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:45.200 orbit the Earth at over 22 ,000 miles trying 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.470 to give the forecasters an idea of what's going 00:19:47.470 --> 00:19:50.769 on on a ground level. The radar scans atmosphere 00:19:50.769 --> 00:19:53.049 trying to figure out what's going on at ground 00:19:53.049 --> 00:19:55.690 level. The hurricane hunters fly in and around 00:19:55.690 --> 00:19:59.609 using drop signs and other types of electronic 00:19:59.609 --> 00:20:01.869 equipment trying to figure out what's going on 00:20:01.869 --> 00:20:04.910 at ground level. So if we have people who are 00:20:04.910 --> 00:20:07.549 already at the ground, have measured weather 00:20:07.549 --> 00:20:10.329 data or even estimated, and can also give us 00:20:10.329 --> 00:20:12.950 the damage reports, storm surge, and willing 00:20:12.950 --> 00:20:14.950 to share that information with the forecasters, 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:17.980 Guess what? The forecasters want that because 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:20.000 they don't have to do any guessing. They've already 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:22.920 got the evidence right there. So nothing beats 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:25.700 the human eye that the good Lord gave us. And 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.200 Hurricane Washington will always be ready to 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:29.319 receive those ground truth reports and forward 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:31.039 them directly to the National Hurricane Center 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.859 by way of WX4NHC who is stationed right there 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:36.779 in the Hurricane Center. And of course, we've 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:40.900 also been providing over the past six years situational 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:42.779 awareness of these landfall and hurricanes to 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:46.549 FEMA. US Army and Air Force Mars who force that 00:20:46.549 --> 00:20:49.829 data to the Department of Defense and we're also 00:20:49.829 --> 00:20:52.190 providing awareness to the American Red Cross 00:20:52.190 --> 00:20:54.849 Salvation Army and of course many other government 00:20:54.849 --> 00:20:59.710 and non -government agencies. Now we're going 00:20:59.710 --> 00:21:02.509 to let Rob tell us a little bit about the Voice 00:21:02.509 --> 00:21:06.369 over IP Hurricane Net. For the Hurricane Watch 00:21:06.369 --> 00:21:12.960 Net, you're on HF. Tell everybody just a synopsis 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:19.359 of what the Hurricane WatchNet is and how you 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:23.079 would turn in data if you're a ham and you have 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:32.700 some data from a train spotter. Yes, so on the 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:37.059 VOIP... That was for Bobby, I'm sorry. Oh, okay. 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:39.680 And then we'll then then the you're gonna get 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:46.319 the same thing with VoIP, Rob Okay, I missed 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.579 part of your question there, but I believe you 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:49.940 asked more like it reaches had yeah, we operate 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:55.019 on 20 meters at all on 14 decimal three to five 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:57.339 megahertz That's what we've been since our foundation 00:21:57.339 --> 00:22:02.140 however has passed seven or eight years now Being 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:05.619 at this thing like never -ending solar minimum 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:09.099 The 20 meter band is just about most days have 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:13.079 been absolutely useless So in 2013 when I became 00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:15.259 that manager, I officially made our net a 24 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:18.759 -hour net so that during the daytime we work 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:21.480 on 20 meters at nighttime will switch over on 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:25.859 the 40 meter band of 72 68 megahertz and Operate 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:28.640 as long as we can at nighttime there. And as 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.299 we've been having to the past few years, we've 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:32.839 been operating both frequencies simultaneously. 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:37.349 So hopefully solar conditions will improve and 00:22:37.349 --> 00:22:39.029 we'll start getting some better propagation on 00:22:39.029 --> 00:22:43.349 the 20 meter band as well. And then that's a 00:22:43.349 --> 00:22:45.930 cool thing to listen to as well because you can 00:22:45.930 --> 00:22:48.309 just kind of you know sit back and listen and 00:22:48.309 --> 00:22:51.430 kind of get a feel for what's going on and then 00:22:51.430 --> 00:22:54.630 by all means if you have crane spotter information 00:22:54.630 --> 00:22:57.349 you can you can jump in there the appropriate 00:22:57.349 --> 00:23:01.210 time and and pass that along. So yeah let's go 00:23:01.210 --> 00:23:05.880 over to Rob. Now Rob you don't have a An even 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:09.319 numbered year anniversary like everybody else. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:12.119 So I feel like I'm leaving you out here But but 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:15.440 you're in charge of the VoIP net So let's talk 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.259 a little bit about that the same kind of the 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:20.980 same question How how does the VoIP hurricane 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:24.660 network and how's that information gathered and 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:33.870 provided to the National Hurricane Center? Yes, 00:23:33.870 --> 00:23:37.569 so on the VOIP hurricane net we use echo link 00:23:37.569 --> 00:23:41.029 and IRLP and link them together into one network 00:23:41.029 --> 00:23:47.009 to help communicate with a lot of amateur operators 00:23:47.009 --> 00:23:49.930 that wouldn't necessarily be able to be gotten 00:23:49.930 --> 00:23:53.170 with if they don't have HF capability or ability 00:23:53.170 --> 00:23:56.369 to get on with the general or higher class license 00:23:56.369 --> 00:23:59.690 for HF. And even though it's based through the 00:23:59.690 --> 00:24:02.089 internet and certainly, you know, with situations 00:24:02.089 --> 00:24:04.430 like Hurricane Michael and the Panhandle of Florida 00:24:04.430 --> 00:24:08.910 with the... Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, 00:24:09.210 --> 00:24:11.190 the Internet is not going to be viable. There 00:24:11.190 --> 00:24:13.509 are other cases where the Internet is up and 00:24:13.509 --> 00:24:18.029 it allows for communications and relaying of 00:24:18.029 --> 00:24:20.769 surface reporting using the typical Sky 1 criteria 00:24:20.769 --> 00:24:22.950 of the Weather Service Offices to get reports 00:24:22.950 --> 00:24:30.069 into Julio Rapol and his team at WX4NHC at the 00:24:30.069 --> 00:24:32.230 Hurricane Center, the amateur radio station there. 00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:36.680 So we have a report form that we can send reports 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:40.339 on. WX4NHC monitors us directly. A couple of 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:46.539 examples that I can use include a couple of years 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:49.240 ago during Hurricane Maria, a number of reports 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:52.079 in Dominica were relayed from an amateur operator 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:55.039 in St. Lucia who had echo link capability and 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:58.920 had VHF contact with the... Island of Dominica, 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:02.740 and that allowed vital information to come through. 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:05.619 We also, you will use modern forms of social 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:08.319 media and try to reach out to non -amateur radio 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:11.319 spotters and sources for information. There's 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:14.920 the stormcarib .com, a storm blogging site that 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:18.920 also has information. So we try to use all the 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:23.339 resources we can to gather surface reports during 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:29.579 hurricanes. That's what we do and sometimes it's 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:31.940 there when, you know, HF conditions are poor, 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:34.369 but like I said on the flip side. You know, there's 00:25:34.369 --> 00:25:36.190 times where the internet's just not going to 00:25:36.190 --> 00:25:39.529 hold up like in Hurricane Michael, then in the 00:25:39.529 --> 00:25:41.589 panhandle of Florida or Dorian with the Bahamas. 00:25:41.950 --> 00:25:45.630 So we're all complementary working together and 00:25:45.630 --> 00:25:49.309 using any and all means. Amateur radio via its 00:25:49.309 --> 00:25:52.450 ubiquitous ways to communicate. And like I said, 00:25:52.630 --> 00:25:55.349 also using social media and the modern forms 00:25:55.349 --> 00:25:57.930 of it and so forth and allow the online weather 00:25:57.930 --> 00:26:01.069 stations and such to relay information into the 00:26:01.069 --> 00:26:06.359 Hurricane Center. Very good Robin. Yeah, you 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:09.960 always want to have multiple paths because you 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:12.079 just don't know what what's going to be available 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:15.859 and it's great that you have that capability 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:21.000 and You know HF may not be possible. So We've 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.640 got both. We've got the the HF with the hurricane 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:27.960 watch net. We've got voiceover IP so we're using 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:32.349 internet and VHF and UHF to to get there and 00:26:32.349 --> 00:26:35.190 you all do a fabulous job with that and thank 00:26:35.190 --> 00:26:38.690 you for all the work that you do to to make all 00:26:38.690 --> 00:26:41.329 that happen. Well it's time for a break so what 00:26:41.329 --> 00:26:42.890 we're going to do is we're going to take a break. 00:26:43.529 --> 00:26:45.869 We're going to come back and we'll talk a little 00:26:45.869 --> 00:26:49.549 more and we'll take your calls and comments at 00:26:49.549 --> 00:26:57.160 859 -982 -7373 or tweet us at HamTalk Live. Or 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:59.240 if you're on Spreaker, you can type into the 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:02.579 comments and we'll be back after this word from 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:06.579 Tower Electronics right here on HamTalk Live. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:11.819 Jerry, what's up, man? I haven't seen you at 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:14.400 Sunbucks in a while. I used to see you every 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:17.900 morning getting coffee. What's up? Well, I can't 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:21.000 afford Sunbucks five days a week anymore. I had 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:24.740 to spend my money on PL -259s. You know, those 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:27.460 antenna projects I've been meaning to do. I had 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:30.759 to do them before my HOA finds out I have antennas. 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:34.119 That's too bad, Jerry. I miss seeing you and 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:36.519 catching up over coffee. You should get your 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:39.960 PL -259s from Tower Electronics. They have great 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:48.460 stuff. Jerry, you're back. Oh, QRM heterodyne 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:51.539 frappuccino. That's a good choice. How's it going? 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:54.019 Did you get all those antennas up before the 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:57.759 HOA police showed up? Yeah, I got them all done. 00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:00.319 Thanks for telling me about Tower Electronics. 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:03.519 Now I can have my coffee. I just saved a bunch 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:07.619 of money on my PL259s by switching to Tower Electronics. 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:11.099 Don't get caught without PL259s. Visit Tower 00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:15.819 Electronics online at PL -259 .com or at a ham 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:19.859 fest near you. or give him a call at 920 -435 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:23.400 -2973. And be sure to pick up some power poles, 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:27.440 adapters, and cables too. Nominations are now 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.900 open for the amateur radio news line Bill Pasternak, 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:33.579 WA6ITF Young Ham of the Year Award. I'm Don Wilbanks, 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:37.339 AE5DW. Since 1986, we've had the honor of celebrating 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:39.359 the accomplishments of Youth and Ham Radio when 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:41.079 we want to know about your exceptional Young 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:43.440 Ham. You'll find the rules and a nominating form 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:46.740 by clicking the Y -H -O -T -Y tab on ARNewsline 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:49.680 .org. Fill it out, send it in, and we'll see 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.819 you and an amazing young ham at the Huntsville 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:55.140 Alabama Ham Fest in August. Thanks and 73 from 00:28:55.140 --> 00:29:11.880 Amateur Radio Newsline. Or if you'd rather type 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:15.660 than talk, tweet us at HamTalk Live. Now, here's 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:20.440 Neil Rapp with more HamTalk Live. You're listening 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:44.000 to HamTalk Live. Welcome back to HamTalk Live 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:46.680 in these challenging times now more than ever. 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:50.079 We're all in this together with Scott and Jill 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:52.859 at Tower Electronics. They're sponsoring the 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:58.039 show tonight. We thank them for their efforts 00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:01.900 and we look forward to them being back out on 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:06.230 the HamFest tour soon. But in the meantime, Look 00:30:06.230 --> 00:30:13.710 them up online at PL -259 .com. HamTalk Live 00:30:13.710 --> 00:30:15.789 is on the air every Thursday night at 9 p .m. 00:30:16.009 --> 00:30:19.269 Eastern Time, right here at HamTalkLive .com. 00:30:19.829 --> 00:30:22.670 And be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, 00:30:22.890 --> 00:30:27.049 and Instagram. And now is the time for your calls. 00:30:27.089 --> 00:30:30.130 So if you have a question for our panel, give 00:30:30.130 --> 00:30:39.329 us a call at 859 -9 -8... If you're listening 00:30:39.329 --> 00:30:44.849 to us on the podcast edition or on WTWW, we're 00:30:44.849 --> 00:30:48.849 not live. We're Memrex, so you won't be able 00:30:48.849 --> 00:30:53.269 to chime in online here. We do have some comments 00:30:53.269 --> 00:30:56.089 online. We'll get to here in a minute, and I 00:30:56.089 --> 00:30:58.890 believe something came in on Twitter, so let 00:30:58.890 --> 00:31:03.819 me check that here in a moment. Lloyd, you mentioned 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:07.799 something during the break about Wind Link, so 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:10.819 why don't you mention Wind Link here before we 00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:16.539 get into that. Well, my mention is in remembering 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:22.359 over the decades of Skywarn and service to National 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:24.900 Weather Service offices and especially National 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:28.000 Hurricanes that our technology has certainly 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:33.750 changed a lot and We mentioned in my first segment, 00:31:34.490 --> 00:31:39.009 automatic packet reporting system was not so 00:31:39.009 --> 00:31:45.269 much going back in the late 70s, early 80s. Windlink 00:31:45.269 --> 00:31:49.329 certainly was a dream, but not reality. And I 00:31:49.329 --> 00:31:53.730 don't know when Julio had installed Windlink 00:31:53.730 --> 00:31:58.480 in the EOC there, but now it's... pretty much 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:01.440 an annual test. I'll send them a Windlink message 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:04.000 just to make sure they got it. And they reply 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:06.799 that they did. So Windlink has come aboard and 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:09.819 WSChat lets us get directly into the Weather 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:14.420 Service offices. So there's plenty of opportunity 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:19.980 for communication. And again, if you're not a 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:23.480 part of the local SCOT -1 program, and if you 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:27.380 want to be involved and Hurricane Watch Net or 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:31.559 the Hurricane Skywarn Net. Please reach out to 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:36.140 the leadership from both of those nets. Join 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:39.019 your local Skywarn program. Get the training. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:41.980 There is training available. You may not get 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:44.500 a spot or card, but you certainly can get training 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:49.539 in Skywarn programs and beef up your communication 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:51.319 skills because you never know when you're going 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:58.200 to need them. Well said. 859 -982 -7373 is the 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:00.700 phone number. We do have a couple of things that 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:04.640 have come in online. First of all, this one's 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:12.059 going to Bobby. Chris Stinson, KC8YTK in Charleston, 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:14.680 South Carolina says, got to say I was inspired 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:18.759 at age five by a Hurricane WatchNet operator 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:24.069 featured on Featured for a hot second on an episode 00:33:24.069 --> 00:33:28.789 of Nova on PBS about hurricanes and that aired 00:33:28.789 --> 00:33:39.269 in 1989 and now he's a ham Do you remember that 00:33:39.269 --> 00:33:44.069 episode by chance Actually, I don't remember 00:33:44.069 --> 00:33:52.799 seeing that but uh in 1988 I had not long gotten 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:56.559 my license and I was just a technician license 00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:01.160 at the time and I was traveling through the middle 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:03.460 part of Tennessee working on medical equipment 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:07.640 and I had a Kenwood TS -440 that I was taking 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:10.019 with me and about the day I'd been working a 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:12.219 little bit at 10 meters and then I got to thinking, 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:14.860 you know, what is in store for me when I get 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:16.900 upgraded to general class license or higher? 00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:19.900 So I started dialing around the 20 meter handband 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:24.920 and came across 14 325 and heard a gentleman 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:27.960 down in Panama City Beach, Florida really on 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:31.699 who I'm talking about Don K Colonel Don K K K 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:36.320 0 IND and He was working some stations in on 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:38.500 the island of Jamaica. This was when Hurricane 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:41.579 Gilbert was coming across Very strong category 00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:45.159 for almost cat 5 at the time and just devastated 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:47.820 the island of Jamaica and I was listening I said, 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:52.500 you know I would one day love to be a part of 00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:56.219 that organization and maybe be able to be a good 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:58.679 net control operator like that guy. And then 00:34:58.679 --> 00:35:01.760 later on that day, the weather was bad than where 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:04.360 I was at in Arkansas and turned around on two 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:08.800 meters and came across a SkyWarnnet. And learned 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:11.300 a little bit about that and that pretty much 00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:14.280 sold me on getting into the weather part. Lo 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:16.900 and behold, I didn't know that a few years later. 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:19.300 that I would be joining the Hurricane Watch, 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:22.500 Ned, and never even dreamed of being where I'm 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:26.179 at now, but the way I look at it, and I think 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:28.780 all the guys here on the program here tonight, 00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:32.980 we don't do it because this is part of the hobby. 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:35.800 Anybody says, well, emergency services is a hobby, 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:39.519 if that's your idea, I think you need to refine 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:42.159 your definition of things. To me, I think what 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:43.880 we're doing is more of a ministry. We're trying 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:46.269 to help people. in their time of need before, 00:35:46.309 --> 00:35:48.750 during, and even after these hurricane disasters. 00:35:51.150 --> 00:35:55.590 Well said. And Chris says, thanks for acknowledging 00:35:55.590 --> 00:35:58.469 the comment and he's going to see if he can find 00:35:58.469 --> 00:36:01.650 a clip of that show, but it was from Hurricane 00:36:01.650 --> 00:36:06.000 Gilbert. That was the hurricane that was profiled 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:10.539 in that show. So thanks Chris for the comments 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:14.300 there. And we've got a question here and let 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:21.019 me throw this over to Rob. This is from Endoff 00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:28.599 in 6UTC or MW1BQO, whichever place he happens 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:32.579 to be at the time. And end off wants to know 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:34.960 does the National Hurricane Center have digital 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:38.239 voice and the capability to connect to wires 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:44.940 X D star reflectors and Is the VoIP weathernet 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:50.579 available on? Fusion or D star that kind of thing 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:56.119 So you so I think We'll go around the horn a 00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:59.699 little bit with Julio and Lloyd on this as well. 00:37:00.970 --> 00:37:04.610 We have been trying to do some more work to interface 00:37:04.610 --> 00:37:07.710 some of the digital modes such as D -Star and 00:37:07.710 --> 00:37:12.429 DMR into our network. We've actually had a network 00:37:12.429 --> 00:37:15.250 through QuadNet, but we have not been able to 00:37:15.250 --> 00:37:17.949 kind of link the two together. And it's not a 00:37:17.949 --> 00:37:20.929 technical reason, it's just a lot of angst around 00:37:20.929 --> 00:37:24.510 digital voice versus analog voice capabilities 00:37:24.510 --> 00:37:28.650 and actually linking those together. We have 00:37:28.650 --> 00:37:31.690 done a little bit of work. with DMR and having 00:37:31.690 --> 00:37:34.469 it connected. We actually had it at times connected 00:37:34.469 --> 00:37:42.449 during the 2018 hurricane season, but last year 00:37:42.449 --> 00:37:45.829 we had to basically monitor them to them both 00:37:45.829 --> 00:37:49.269 independently. From a D -STAR perspective, I'll 00:37:49.269 --> 00:37:53.650 let Julio talk a little bit about DRATs and some 00:37:53.650 --> 00:37:57.070 work and how they've managed to get information 00:37:57.070 --> 00:37:59.429 from D -STAR that way. And then we can finish 00:37:59.429 --> 00:38:01.429 up with Lloyd, who could talk a little bit more 00:38:01.429 --> 00:38:03.929 about some of the capabilities of QuadNet and 00:38:03.929 --> 00:38:06.389 some of the other linking that he's done with 00:38:06.389 --> 00:38:13.500 Yres and with... With Y res and with all -star 00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:15.719 has some more capability there, but I'll let 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:28.280 Julio go with on DRATs Okay, I guess I'm on yep, 00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:32.000 go ahead Julio All right. I wasn't sure anyway 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:36.500 real quickly Yes, we do monitor wind link. In 00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:41.360 fact our first wind link The surface report activity 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:46.400 was 2005 Hurricane Adrian, and we were monitoring 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:51.280 a sailboat near El Salvador, and we had no surface 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:55.960 reports, there were no weather radars. The satellite, 00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:59.579 the eye had clouded over, they had no visibility 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:03.920 of the eye location, and Dr. Rick Nabb was the 00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.880 head forecaster at the time, this was before 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:09.460 he was director. Said where are you getting this 00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:12.559 data from you're getting weather data from? Weather 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:15.340 equipment and it was a sailboat a group of sailboats 00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:17.340 that were anchored somewhere near El Salvador 00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:21.320 Well those ham radio reports came through wind 00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:24.119 link HF wind link and it got to me and got to 00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:27.559 the hurricane center and it changed the track 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:30.860 of the hurricane and the hurricane after they 00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:34.260 had Forecasted landing in a certain location 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:37.440 actually landed in a different country. I mean, 00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:40.539 that was a major, major difference there. So 00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:44.920 that's Windlink. We do monitor that. If you have 00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:48.800 any surface reports, wx4nhc at windlink .org. 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:53.179 And anyway, so that's that. And I just want to 00:39:53.179 --> 00:39:56.000 emphasize, this is all teamwork. There's no one 00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:58.900 individual group or person or anything. It's 00:39:58.900 --> 00:40:01.719 a bunch of teams, Hurricane Watchneck, the VOIP, 00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:05.059 Hurricane Net, and of course, the most valuable, 00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:07.559 the stations on the ground being affected by 00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:10.519 the hurricane. And then the relay stations all 00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:14.360 over the country, all over the Caribbean, Central 00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:17.289 America, and even South America. They're very 00:40:17.289 --> 00:40:19.849 important to relay those reports back to us. 00:40:20.010 --> 00:40:22.849 Sometimes we don't have, like Bobby said, HF 00:40:22.849 --> 00:40:27.889 has not been very good recently. So we rely on 00:40:27.889 --> 00:40:31.389 that. Digital modes, we do a bunch, but we can't 00:40:31.389 --> 00:40:34.250 do them all. We don't have enough operators, 00:40:34.670 --> 00:40:37.969 equipment, and space to do everything. So we 00:40:37.969 --> 00:40:41.309 love the VYP net that kind of consolidates. all 00:40:41.309 --> 00:40:43.789 these different digital modes and then brings 00:40:43.789 --> 00:40:46.690 us the reports. So they have all these net controls 00:40:46.690 --> 00:40:49.349 and operators putting this all together and then 00:40:49.349 --> 00:40:51.949 we have one or two operators at the hurricane 00:40:51.949 --> 00:40:55.909 center and we just can't handle you know 12 different 00:40:55.909 --> 00:40:59.510 modes and frequencies at one time. So that's 00:40:59.510 --> 00:41:03.969 the basic synopsis there. Go ahead Neil. Okay 00:41:03.969 --> 00:41:06.550 and let's throw it over to Lloyd. Lloyd you want 00:41:06.550 --> 00:41:09.269 to talk a little more about Some of those other 00:41:09.269 --> 00:41:12.670 modes, I know Rob mentioned All -Star and some 00:41:12.670 --> 00:41:14.469 other things, so you want to finish that up? 00:41:16.150 --> 00:41:21.909 I'd like to just mention the EchoLink 7203 is 00:41:21.909 --> 00:41:28.030 our primary conference. IRLP 9219 is our primary 00:41:28.030 --> 00:41:31.849 IRLP. There are others. There's some listen -only 00:41:31.849 --> 00:41:34.489 nodes, and we appreciate people to go to the 00:41:34.489 --> 00:41:37.150 listen -only nodes if they're not actively involved. 00:41:37.550 --> 00:41:44.949 AllStar 28848 on AllStar is my node in the cloud 00:41:44.949 --> 00:41:52.730 which ties to KC5FM -R and during VoIP activations 00:41:52.730 --> 00:41:57.670 we will put that node into the mix with EchoLink 00:41:57.670 --> 00:42:04.030 and IROP. QuadNet that Rob mentioned, QuadNet 00:42:04.030 --> 00:42:10.389 has a Two calls signed for D -Star, just WXNET 00:42:10.389 --> 00:42:15.769 and people on QuadNet can monitor that. I don't 00:42:15.769 --> 00:42:19.269 have equipment to monitor everything just like 00:42:19.269 --> 00:42:21.989 National Hurricane Center doesn't. I am on D 00:42:21.989 --> 00:42:27.739 -Star and I do monitor QuadNet when I can. This 00:42:27.739 --> 00:42:30.300 is a commercial now for, if you're interested 00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:34.739 in volunteering on VOIP, talk to Rod, talk to 00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:38.300 Bobby for Hurricane WatchNet, talk to your local 00:42:38.300 --> 00:42:41.360 emergency manager or the local weather forecast 00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:44.079 office for Scott Warren opportunities in your 00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:50.380 area. All right, very good. We've got a few more 00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:54.179 coming in here online. And I know we were talking 00:42:54.179 --> 00:42:57.000 about this actually before the show and I'm not 00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:00.920 sure who we want to throw this to. So I'll just 00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:06.159 throw it out there. John W4USF says, is this 00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:09.260 next hurricane season expected to be very active? 00:43:09.900 --> 00:43:13.099 And what supplies should you have for hurricane 00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:18.840 season? And toilet paper and hand sanitizer too, 00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:30.889 right? If you can find it Maybe I'll just jump 00:43:30.889 --> 00:43:34.130 in on the the I'll let Bobby speak to preparedness 00:43:34.130 --> 00:43:37.250 And preparedness shouldn't be when the hurricane 00:43:37.250 --> 00:43:40.190 watch gets issued It should be you know far in 00:43:40.190 --> 00:43:43.250 advance of that and yes hand sanitizer and toilet 00:43:43.250 --> 00:43:46.869 paper as well given the pandemic but Both Penn 00:43:46.869 --> 00:43:50.929 State and Colorado State universities are predicting 00:43:50.929 --> 00:43:54.369 an above -normal season, and I've seen some other 00:43:54.369 --> 00:43:57.929 forecasters and outlets doing the same, and the 00:43:57.929 --> 00:44:00.070 NOAA outlook should be out within the next couple 00:44:00.070 --> 00:44:02.829 of weeks as well. And I imagine they will also 00:44:02.829 --> 00:44:05.909 be forecasting an above -normal season. And Bobby, 00:44:05.929 --> 00:44:08.929 I'll let you speak more on the preparedness side 00:44:08.929 --> 00:44:11.730 and anything you want to add on the seasonal 00:44:11.730 --> 00:44:17.760 forecasts. Yeah, funny you mentioned the different 00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:21.559 forecast on April 2nd. Dr. Glocks back from Colorado 00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:25.599 State On April 2nd. He said these these forecasts 00:44:25.599 --> 00:44:28.300 and 16 named storms eight to become hurricanes 00:44:28.300 --> 00:44:31.460 For those to become major hurricanes, which is 00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:34.300 a category three or higher Tropical storm risk 00:44:34.300 --> 00:44:37.179 on April 7th. They should basically the same 00:44:37.179 --> 00:44:41.619 forecast Arizona The University of Arizona, April 00:44:41.619 --> 00:44:45.300 13th, they're forecasting 19 named storms, 10 00:44:45.300 --> 00:44:47.940 become hurricanes, five of those become major 00:44:47.940 --> 00:44:52.719 hurricanes. And North Carolina State, April 17th, 00:44:52.760 --> 00:44:55.219 they're forecasting anywhere between 18 to 22 00:44:55.219 --> 00:44:57.860 named storms, eight to 11 becoming hurricanes, 00:44:57.920 --> 00:45:00.579 and three to five becoming major hurricanes. 00:45:01.840 --> 00:45:04.659 For preparedness, I'd like to invite you to visit 00:45:04.659 --> 00:45:08.760 our website, hwn .org. And down at the bottom 00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:11.280 of the screen, we'll have a link that says preparedness. 00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:13.739 And I think there's even one on the left side 00:45:13.739 --> 00:45:16.739 navigation bar. And from there, we have some 00:45:16.739 --> 00:45:20.079 downloadable PDF files that actually come from 00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:22.039 FEMA. They're just sort of a quick link to get 00:45:22.039 --> 00:45:24.300 them where you can have a emergency family plan, 00:45:24.539 --> 00:45:28.400 emergency supply checklist, even some other things 00:45:28.400 --> 00:45:31.719 where you can dive in deeper as to certain things 00:45:31.719 --> 00:45:33.380 you need to check on, like insurance coverage, 00:45:33.480 --> 00:45:35.360 make sure you have enough insurance for your 00:45:35.360 --> 00:45:39.250 home. things to possibly do to make your home 00:45:39.250 --> 00:45:43.710 stronger, safe rooms, things of that nature. 00:45:44.590 --> 00:45:46.969 And if you have some friends that speak Spanish 00:45:46.969 --> 00:45:51.329 only, some of those files are in Spanish as well. 00:45:51.590 --> 00:45:57.010 So check that out, hwn .org. Very good. And Chris 00:45:57.010 --> 00:46:00.469 A, 4CB says, light bulbs in case you lose power. 00:46:01.369 --> 00:46:04.989 Go ahead, whoever was chiming in there. Going 00:46:04.989 --> 00:46:07.869 to chime in with FEMA, Federal Emergency Management 00:46:07.869 --> 00:46:11.889 Agency, fema .gov slash ready, uh, has a website 00:46:11.889 --> 00:46:16.590 for preparedness. Redcross .org has a website 00:46:16.590 --> 00:46:18.809 for preparedness. I'd like to mention both of 00:46:18.809 --> 00:46:22.710 those and encourage your listeners prepare now 00:46:22.710 --> 00:46:27.420 for what will happen. Don't wait until, uh, You 00:46:27.420 --> 00:46:31.760 are asked to evacuate. Have your evacuation route 00:46:31.760 --> 00:46:34.460 planned out ahead of time. Have your extra gas 00:46:34.460 --> 00:46:37.460 available to take with you. If you have pets, 00:46:37.659 --> 00:46:40.420 have a plan for pets. If you're going to evacuate 00:46:40.420 --> 00:46:43.940 with your pets, check out the pet friendly hotels 00:46:43.940 --> 00:46:47.119 that you're going to be able to go to along the 00:46:47.119 --> 00:46:49.599 route. Plan now what you're going to do rather 00:46:49.599 --> 00:46:52.099 than wait for it to happen. And then you have 00:46:52.099 --> 00:46:59.500 to do it. Please. Okay, and John says, I'm moving 00:46:59.500 --> 00:47:03.519 back to Indiana, so John will welcome you back. 00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:10.079 Okay, a couple more here. Chris again, and I 00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:13.099 think we hit some of this, but let's do it again, 00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:16.619 Rob. How can we follow, find, and submit reports 00:47:16.619 --> 00:47:28.059 on the Voice over IP net? Rob? Yes, so the the 00:47:28.059 --> 00:47:31.659 like Lloyd pointed out we have IRLP reflector 00:47:31.659 --> 00:47:35.940 nine two one nine and the star wx underscore 00:47:35.940 --> 00:47:39.420 talk star Echolink conference note seven two 00:47:39.420 --> 00:47:42.000 zero three if you're in the affected area in 00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:45.239 a coastal area in hurricanes, that's where you 00:47:45.239 --> 00:47:50.820 go to and Give us your reports on air and We 00:47:50.820 --> 00:47:56.219 can get the reports into WX4NHC. If you can access 00:47:56.219 --> 00:47:59.519 the net, we do have our Facebook and Twitter 00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:04.980 feeds and their VOIP WX net. You can send and 00:48:04.980 --> 00:48:08.559 post information there for us as well. If for 00:48:08.559 --> 00:48:14.039 some reason you can't reach our system. So there 00:48:14.039 --> 00:48:18.260 are some of the examples to reach us on the VOIP 00:48:18.260 --> 00:48:22.710 Hurricane Net side. We also have a number of 00:48:22.710 --> 00:48:25.110 listen -only nodes that Lloyd mentions, though, 00:48:25.170 --> 00:48:27.769 again, they are listen -only. So from a voice 00:48:27.769 --> 00:48:31.230 perspective, you would not be able to reach us, 00:48:31.289 --> 00:48:33.030 though you would be able to listen to our net 00:48:33.030 --> 00:48:39.690 in that path. So that's some of the ways to connect 00:48:39.690 --> 00:48:43.860 to us on the Hurricane Net. And I would mention 00:48:43.860 --> 00:48:49.460 the VoIPwx .net website. VoIPwx .net website 00:48:49.460 --> 00:48:52.219 listens our primary nodes and it listens our 00:48:52.219 --> 00:48:54.480 listen -only nodes, especially during activation. 00:48:55.179 --> 00:48:57.500 So look to the website for that information, 00:48:57.500 --> 00:49:04.260 please. Okay, there you go, Chris. I'm thinking 00:49:04.260 --> 00:49:11.000 maybe Julio on this one. Dennis. I need to scroll 00:49:11.000 --> 00:49:17.380 up and find Dennis's call here. Dennis is K8DLH 00:49:17.380 --> 00:49:22.679 over in Port Richey, Florida. Says, what connections 00:49:22.679 --> 00:49:27.980 do you have with us on the Gulf side? They go 00:49:27.980 --> 00:49:32.079 through Ruskin, the National Weather Service 00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:34.579 there. I actually know where that is. I've been 00:49:34.579 --> 00:49:38.820 there. He's a net control operator for Pasco 00:49:38.820 --> 00:49:45.139 County. Okay, very good. Well, on the golf course 00:49:45.139 --> 00:49:48.780 here again, you can, depending on what equipment 00:49:48.780 --> 00:49:52.079 you have, what modes you run, you can actually 00:49:52.079 --> 00:49:56.800 check in with us on the HF Hurricane Watch net 00:49:56.800 --> 00:50:00.380 frequency. You can also do the VOIP Echolink 00:50:00.380 --> 00:50:05.159 or IRLP net, whatever digital mode. And then 00:50:05.159 --> 00:50:09.219 if... You can also participate in what they call 00:50:09.219 --> 00:50:14.420 SARNET, S -A -R -N -E -T. SARNET is basically 00:50:14.420 --> 00:50:19.519 linking, we linked about 27 repeaters, VHF and 00:50:19.519 --> 00:50:22.820 UHF, actually they're mostly UHF, all the way 00:50:22.820 --> 00:50:27.500 from Key West to Tallahassee, and it's mostly 00:50:27.500 --> 00:50:31.559 the EOCs, but anyone is welcome on there during 00:50:31.559 --> 00:50:35.849 hurricanes. It is a controlled net frequency 00:50:35.849 --> 00:50:40.530 for all of those repeaters. And we do speak directly 00:50:40.530 --> 00:50:45.869 to EOCs via the SARDET network, which is sponsored 00:50:45.869 --> 00:50:53.070 by Florida DOT. OK, go ahead. Very good. Well, 00:50:53.210 --> 00:50:56.869 I think we are caught up. Let me check here. 00:50:56.889 --> 00:51:00.110 And we're a little bit over time here. We'll 00:51:00.110 --> 00:51:02.269 finish things up. But yeah, I think we've got 00:51:02.269 --> 00:51:06.869 all the questions and comments in. So let's just 00:51:06.869 --> 00:51:10.690 go around to everybody one last time for any 00:51:10.690 --> 00:51:16.090 closing comments. And we'll go with Bobby first. 00:51:18.289 --> 00:51:19.909 Well, first of all, it's good to be here tonight, 00:51:20.150 --> 00:51:23.909 Neil. And I hope everyone stays safe. This COVID 00:51:23.909 --> 00:51:27.489 is going around. But at the same time now is 00:51:27.489 --> 00:51:30.010 the time to start preparing. Don't wait for the 00:51:30.010 --> 00:51:34.130 last minute. Like Lloyd said, if you're in a 00:51:34.130 --> 00:51:38.130 hurricane -prone area, learn where your evacuation 00:51:38.130 --> 00:51:41.809 routes are. If you're not able to evacuate, especially 00:51:41.809 --> 00:51:44.690 for those down the lower part of Florida, learn 00:51:44.690 --> 00:51:48.090 where your storm shelters are and learn what 00:51:48.090 --> 00:51:53.070 their capabilities are. Make sure you have something 00:51:53.070 --> 00:51:55.800 to keep your meds refrigerated with. should you 00:51:55.800 --> 00:51:58.400 have to evacuate and copies of your insurance 00:51:58.400 --> 00:52:00.480 forms things of that nature and there's a bunch 00:52:00.480 --> 00:52:02.480 of other things I could go into but for a limited 00:52:02.480 --> 00:52:06.760 time. The main thing is just stay aware and don't 00:52:06.760 --> 00:52:09.199 wait to the last minute to make a decision on 00:52:09.199 --> 00:52:12.760 what you need to do. All right, thank you Bobby. 00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:18.260 Julio? Well, being that I've lived in Miami, 00:52:18.739 --> 00:52:23.760 I've got 55 years now, something like that and 00:52:24.940 --> 00:52:29.440 been through Probably a dozen hurricanes including 00:52:29.440 --> 00:52:32.800 Hurricane Andrew which blew off half the roof 00:52:32.800 --> 00:52:36.960 of my house I can tell you you can't prepare 00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:41.599 enough or soon enough If you live in a hurricane 00:52:41.599 --> 00:52:46.239 affected area definitely plan ahead Make sure 00:52:46.239 --> 00:52:50.079 you fill up your cars with gasoline be not the 00:52:50.079 --> 00:52:52.679 day before hurricanes gonna make landfall and 00:52:52.679 --> 00:52:57.059 that's what happens in Miami Very often you see 00:52:57.059 --> 00:53:00.280 the very long lines of cars waiting to get gas 00:53:00.280 --> 00:53:04.380 and then the water is out of supply We haven't 00:53:04.380 --> 00:53:06.460 had a problem with toilet paper with hurricanes 00:53:06.460 --> 00:53:10.400 before but I don't know You know the mindset 00:53:10.400 --> 00:53:13.300 now But this hurricane season is going to be 00:53:13.300 --> 00:53:15.239 a very serious one. They're predicting about 00:53:15.239 --> 00:53:19.099 a hundred and forty percent above average Uh, 00:53:19.139 --> 00:53:22.119 here again, it only takes one hurricane to ruin 00:53:22.119 --> 00:53:25.559 your year. It depends where it hits. So prepare 00:53:25.559 --> 00:53:28.280 early, prepare well. There's plenty of information 00:53:28.280 --> 00:53:31.699 online and to compound everything. We have this 00:53:31.699 --> 00:53:35.099 coronavirus pandemic, which may coincide with 00:53:35.099 --> 00:53:38.559 hurricane season. And that is the nightmare scenario 00:53:38.559 --> 00:53:41.239 that we're hoping does not happen. Go ahead, 00:53:41.340 --> 00:53:45.159 Neil. All right. Yeah, that's, that's not a good 00:53:45.159 --> 00:53:50.059 combination. So. We will hope for the best. All 00:53:50.059 --> 00:53:56.199 right, your turn, Rob. Well, first off, it's 00:53:56.199 --> 00:53:59.719 great to be on a panel such as this with Bobby 00:53:59.719 --> 00:54:03.519 and Julio. We definitely missed meeting up at 00:54:03.519 --> 00:54:07.179 the Hurricane Conference this year, but we'll 00:54:07.179 --> 00:54:12.739 see what happens for next year. Also, just want 00:54:12.739 --> 00:54:17.010 to comment, now is the time to prepare. Don't 00:54:17.010 --> 00:54:19.110 wait for the hurricane watch or the tropical 00:54:19.110 --> 00:54:20.829 storm watches because even the tropical storms 00:54:20.829 --> 00:54:24.789 can be pretty serious. Try to get some preparation 00:54:24.789 --> 00:54:27.829 done while you can. Also keeping in mind the 00:54:27.829 --> 00:54:30.289 pandemic and what that could do to preparations 00:54:30.289 --> 00:54:34.369 and maintaining preparation for that while you're 00:54:34.369 --> 00:54:37.670 going through the hurricane season. And then 00:54:37.670 --> 00:54:40.989 I got to tell you that a lot of the public service 00:54:40.989 --> 00:54:45.090 folks in police, fire, et cetera, are all stressed 00:54:45.090 --> 00:54:49.769 to the max with the pandemic. And that means 00:54:49.769 --> 00:54:51.650 they're going to be stretched even more if a 00:54:51.650 --> 00:54:54.449 major hurricane is bearing down on a given area. 00:54:54.969 --> 00:54:57.309 So this is really where amateur radio can shine 00:54:57.309 --> 00:55:00.829 through with the surface reporting that is critical 00:55:00.829 --> 00:55:02.789 for the National Weather Service, critical in 00:55:02.789 --> 00:55:05.929 the warning process, really an opportunity for 00:55:05.929 --> 00:55:08.610 us to make a difference and make a difference 00:55:08.610 --> 00:55:11.500 even if the communications are still up. by allowing 00:55:11.500 --> 00:55:15.599 and providing all those additional sets of eyes 00:55:15.599 --> 00:55:19.360 and ears and weather stations and other observations 00:55:19.360 --> 00:55:24.480 that can best be obtained through our networks 00:55:24.480 --> 00:55:27.980 and dealing with, again, the modern social media 00:55:27.980 --> 00:55:31.320 networks as well. Former Director Greg Fugate 00:55:31.320 --> 00:55:34.119 used to say Amateur Radio is the inventors of 00:55:34.119 --> 00:55:36.260 social media, because Amateur Radio is a form 00:55:36.260 --> 00:55:38.360 of that. And now you have Twitter and Facebook. 00:55:38.639 --> 00:55:41.239 as well on Instagram and all the other social 00:55:41.239 --> 00:55:44.159 media outlets that we can help manage and also 00:55:44.159 --> 00:55:47.539 create our own activity within our networks that's 00:55:47.539 --> 00:55:50.469 so important. So just want to mention that. And 00:55:50.469 --> 00:55:53.050 then I just want to congratulate Julio and team 00:55:53.050 --> 00:55:57.610 and Bobby and team on WX4NHC and the Hurricane 00:55:57.610 --> 00:56:01.510 WatchNet on their tremendous anniversaries and 00:56:01.510 --> 00:56:04.309 public service. They are amazing. And hopefully 00:56:04.309 --> 00:56:06.949 the VOIP HurricaneNet will get there as well 00:56:06.949 --> 00:56:11.960 someday. It's amazing public service from these 00:56:11.960 --> 00:56:16.059 great teams of folks looking to save lives and 00:56:16.059 --> 00:56:18.400 property. So just wanted to give them a shout 00:56:18.400 --> 00:56:21.340 out on their historic anniversaries in amateur 00:56:21.340 --> 00:56:27.340 radio public service. Well, well said. And Lloyd, 00:56:27.340 --> 00:56:30.960 you're going to get the last word tonight. And 00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:34.260 I appreciate you having us on. This is an important 00:56:34.260 --> 00:56:37.050 topic. given hurricane preparedness week. And 00:56:37.050 --> 00:56:38.670 thank you for doing that. Thank you for Bobby, 00:56:38.750 --> 00:56:43.250 for your hard work on HF and thanks for all, 00:56:43.409 --> 00:56:47.170 again, the Skywarren volunteers that really make 00:56:47.170 --> 00:56:49.929 a difference for the ground truth intelligence 00:56:49.929 --> 00:56:53.349 to the weather forecast office. And I would like 00:56:53.349 --> 00:56:55.909 to give a war story on preparedness. Charlie, 00:56:56.110 --> 00:56:59.849 I think it was, was impacting Key West and there 00:56:59.849 --> 00:57:03.050 was a ham radio operator with a walkie talkie. 00:57:03.199 --> 00:57:07.079 talking on the VIP net during Charlie and everything 00:57:07.079 --> 00:57:09.480 was doing good. He was giving us reports and 00:57:09.480 --> 00:57:12.579 doing fine. The node was up on battery backup. 00:57:12.880 --> 00:57:16.880 Everything was fine. And suddenly the guy quit 00:57:16.880 --> 00:57:21.000 and mid sentence and his battery apparently on 00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:26.300 his walkie talkie failed. So prepare your communications. 00:57:26.420 --> 00:57:29.420 You're not going to talk if you cannot communicate. 00:57:29.460 --> 00:57:33.590 So have a backup. Get some clam -baked battery 00:57:33.590 --> 00:57:37.590 cases for your walkie -talkies. Have a means 00:57:37.590 --> 00:57:41.909 of sending something. I can send a message on 00:57:41.909 --> 00:57:44.949 APRS. I can send a Twitter message that comes 00:57:44.949 --> 00:57:49.809 out on APRS. So figure out what you're going 00:57:49.809 --> 00:57:53.090 to do, make a plan, build a kit to support the 00:57:53.090 --> 00:57:56.210 plan, practice the plan, and then and only then 00:57:56.210 --> 00:57:58.769 are you able to help others. Again, thanks for 00:57:58.769 --> 00:58:03.320 having us on this panel. Alright, thank you Lloyd 00:58:03.320 --> 00:58:08.019 and thank you all for being here tonight. That's 00:58:08.019 --> 00:58:12.239 some great information and it's Hurricane Preparedness 00:58:12.239 --> 00:58:14.559 Week and we've got to be aware of those things, 00:58:14.579 --> 00:58:18.500 but also other weather emergencies, you know, 00:58:19.159 --> 00:58:23.900 that don't affect us here, you know, way deep 00:58:23.900 --> 00:58:28.869 into the continental U .S. We still see some 00:58:28.869 --> 00:58:31.849 remnants of those things and get some flooding 00:58:31.849 --> 00:58:33.789 and that kind of thing. And so it's good that 00:58:33.789 --> 00:58:38.530 we're all aware of some of those things and being 00:58:38.530 --> 00:58:42.909 prepared. Now, if we had just only known to be 00:58:42.909 --> 00:58:47.369 prepared for toilet paper for a pandemic, I don't 00:58:47.369 --> 00:58:50.469 know where that came from, but whatever. That's 00:58:50.469 --> 00:58:53.909 where we are. Which is getting better, by the 00:58:53.909 --> 00:58:57.099 way, at least around here. Well, we're going 00:58:57.099 --> 00:59:01.420 to call it a night. That is a wrap for this week's 00:59:01.420 --> 00:59:05.900 HamTalk Live. Thanks to Bobby, KB5HAV, Julio, 00:59:05.980 --> 00:59:11.880 WD4R, Rob, KD1CY, and Lloyd, KC5FM, and everybody 00:59:11.880 --> 00:59:15.300 out there in cyberspace for listening and typing 00:59:15.300 --> 00:59:18.980 in tonight. And I invite you all back next Thursday 00:59:18.980 --> 00:59:21.940 night at 9 p .m. Eastern time. And we're going 00:59:21.940 --> 00:59:24.300 to have open lines next week. We're going to 00:59:24.300 --> 00:59:29.750 be commiserating, missing Hamvention. We're also 00:59:29.750 --> 00:59:32.650 going to hear a little bit about what we would 00:59:32.650 --> 00:59:36.849 have seen and what we would have had had we been 00:59:36.849 --> 00:59:40.530 able to go to Hamvention. So we will be doing 00:59:40.530 --> 00:59:44.710 that next week, next Thursday night. So be sure 00:59:44.710 --> 00:59:48.539 to tune in live at 9 p .m. Eastern Time. And 00:59:48.539 --> 00:59:52.460 we're going to take your calls the entire 45 00:59:52.460 --> 00:59:56.300 minutes, so make sure you've got your dialing 00:59:56.300 --> 00:59:59.360 fingers ready and call in and we're just going 00:59:59.360 --> 01:00:02.039 to kind of... kind of console ourselves a little 01:00:02.039 --> 01:00:05.000 bit about missing Hamvention. And for a list 01:00:05.000 --> 01:00:08.679 of all of our upcoming guests, visit HamTalkLive 01:00:08.679 --> 01:00:10.760 .com. And if you like the show, please leave 01:00:10.760 --> 01:00:13.539 us a review. That helps other people find us 01:00:13.539 --> 01:00:17.219 faster. So for now, this is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, 01:00:17.300 --> 01:00:22.739 saying 7 -3, 7 -5, and may the good DX be yours.