FEMA and FCC Conduct Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test

Posted on August 2, 2019 by

Release date: July 24, 2019Release Number: HQ-19-077

WASHINGTON – FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019.

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First Annual Northern Florida Section Hurricane Exercise

Posted on July 28, 2019 by

Beginning 0800 on Saturday, 3 August 2019, all Florida county Emergency Operating Centers (EOC’s) will take part in an exercise.

The exercise will involve communicating between each county to the State EOC in Tallahassee. Only personnel operating from their respective county EOC’s may participate.

Digital messages will be sent to the state EOC by voice and digital modes. HF SSB messages will be sent as follows:

80 Meters: 3.950 MHz @0900 on the morning NFL ARES net.

60 meters: 5.3715 MHz 0800-0830

40 meters: 7.242 MHz 0830-0900

A special message will be sent requesting a 50-amp power supply on 3.955 MHz sometime between 0800-1000.

SARNet check-ins will be taken starting 0900.

Special voice and digital tests will take place at 1400 and 1700 hours on 3.950 MHz. Digital stations will use WinLink/Winmor.

All ARES members are encouraged to listen in on the nets and provide signal strength reports to K4AWG by e-mail or at the next ARES meeting on 6 August 2019.

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NOAA predicts near-normal 2019 Atlantic hurricane season

Posted on June 2, 2019 by

El Nino and warmer-than-average Atlantic help shape this season’s intensity

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting that a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is most likely this year. This outlook forecasts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance of a below-normal season. The hurricane season officially extends from June 1 to November 30.

For 2019, NOAA predicts a likely range of 9 to 15 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.

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How to Clean Up after a Battery Leak

Posted on March 15, 2019 by
Many hams have had the unfortunate experience of old batteries leaking in a piece of gear or a flashlight, creating a mess. Business technology news site ZDNet recently offered its procedure (Click here for full article) for cleaning it up. The brief online presentation recommends taking some precautions about coming in contact with the white discharge — specifically potassium hydroxide in the case of alkaline cells, a caustic irritant. An old toothbrush or something similar can start the project, along with a small scraper, and cotton swabs dipped in water. Start by removing and properly disposing of the bad cells and then brushing out the worst of the material — preferably outdoors or over a container to catch the remnants.

The article advises against using any sort of acid such as vinegar or lemon juice, lest it cause corrosion problems of its own. It suggests a fiberglass scratch brush for scrubbing the battery compartment contacts clean, although other tools may work as well. Deoxit D5 or similar contact cleaner also comes in handy, with a tiny dab of dielectric grease or silicone paste as a finishing touch to inhibit future corrosion if a leak occurs. Other tips to head off problems down the road include using only name-brand batteries, avoiding mixing old and new batteries, removing batteries from devices not in use, avoiding exposing batteries to extreme heat or cold, and minding battery expiration dates.

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2019 Emcomm Symposium

Posted on January 29, 2019 by

Saturday, February 2 & Sunday February 3 at Santa Fe College in Gainesville

Program Schedule and location information :
 https://qsl.net/nf4rc/2019Conference/Preliminary2019Program.pdf

This is a 2-day conference — Day 1 has the EXERCISE and many talks.   Day 2 is more about building cables, circuits, boxes, even teach you how to tune a duplexer can.   

Everyone will get TWO books at the front desk ($5) — the 17-chapter Conference Text and also the “The Blank Book” (empty forms book, you may soon well appreciate!). 

The Exercise is at the FIRST of the meeting this year but not until you get a rousing talk on leadership from Joe Bassett W1WCN!   After our lessons from the Hurricane, our Exercise will focus more on management, information, and integration with ICS-style leadership.   Karl Martin (SEC for NFL) has graciously agreed to run the “Ham Leader” type team in the Exercise, for which we got mentoring from communications professionals.   Two teams deployed, the ham leader team, and then a far-off proxy for the State COML.

You won’t need food….but come armed to do real communications because of course our Exercise simulates BAD THINGS HAPPENING!!!!   (Why train, otherwise?)  And it will be more far-reaching than last year, by quite a bit!   
Please invite any friends you think need this training.  Mike Ridlon of Santa Fe Amateur Radio Society/College has gotten us additional rooms this year and we can accommodate MORE PEOPLE (and we won’t freeze you).  We have MORE TIME this year and MORE TALKS, too and LOTS MORE REAL BUILDING and hands-on mentoring!!!   We even have the Baptist Disaster Relief sending a representative since they were so involved in the Hurricane.   You might want to serve their group!    It takes a lot of work to pull these kinds of things off, and your work is essential!  

Registration Page for US (we need this to plan): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9OPwQoo2yKbVzcpIRc_oBil0yBSvLJPmtIXBAimDHPm0HEw/viewform   (for each time slot, choose your 1st choice, and then fill in 2 alternates but expect to go to the one you chose!!!)

Program:  https://qsl.net/nf4rc/2019Conference/Preliminary2019Program.pdf

Hotel List (new this year!):  https://qsl.net/nf4rc/2019Conference/ConferenceHotels.pdf

The Registration Page also tells you how to register in ARES CONNECT for the benefit of the Section(s).   If you can, do both, but please, please register on our page for sure so we know how much food etc to purchase!

You don’t need to purchase the conference text (it comes at the door) but if you just have to see it, here are the links;

Kindle (they raised their minimum price, aaargh)   $1.99  https://www.amazon.com/Amateur-Radio-Emergency-Communications-Conference-ebook/dp/B07MR6HN17

Printed Copy $5.99   https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791865941

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