Usenet Newsgroups The ARES E-Letter for September 8, 2010 From: memberlist@www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site) ********************************************             The ARES E-Letter Published by the American Radio Relay League ******************************************** September 8, 2010 Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE <k1ce@arrl.net> ==> THE VIEW FROM FLAGLER COUNTY Hurricane Earl: On Monday morning, August 30, I listened to the opening of the Hurricane Watch Net <> on 14.325 MHz, with Dan Weisenburger, KW4T, performing superbly as net control station, in response to the storm's brush with the Virgin Islands. The National Hurricane Center <> station WX4NHC <> was activated and monitored the net. Long time friend and Virgin Islands Section Manager John Ellis, NP2B, on the north side of St. Croix, reported a barometric pressure of 29.66 mb, and maximum sustained winds of 33 mph. His Internet connection, cell phone service, and commercial power were out. At mid-week, Ellis reported that they were fortunate: no major damage. The island community was turning its attention to new cells starting their march across the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. As I write this on Friday morning, September 3, Hurricane Earl is off the coast of Cape Hatteras, and I'm listening for reports on the HWN. I also listened to the EchoLink "WX-Talk <>" Conference Room, an efficient operation, to say the least. The crew at WX4NHC also monitors CWOP <>, APRS <> and MADIS <> automated weather stations in the affected areas, as well as the EchoLink service. Surface reports using WX4NHC's Online Hurricane Report form <> are also monitored. The VoIP Hurricane Net <> was also supporting WX4NHC with surface reports. Stations can connect to the net via the EchoLink conference node 7203. More from ARRL HQ on Hurricane Earl here <>. Report: Massachusetts ARES Prepares as a Now-Weakened Hurricane Earl Approaches <> _____ I also checked into the Florida Hurricane Net <> on the D-STAR platform Monday night at 2100 local time, which had a robust turnout of check-ins from across the southeastern portion of the country in the spirit of mutual support. The digital voice quality is superb! The net is run with a high degree of professionalism. The purpose of the net is to provide training to ARES members in the three Florida ARRL Sections and hurricane emergency communications in Florida for served agencies. Any Amateur Radio emcomm operator or organization is welcome on the net, however. In addition to hurricanes, the net will be activated by any major emergency to support our served agencies and the Florida State Emergency Operations Center <>. Note the check-in protocol: The net takes check-ins using the "Quick Key Format." The operator transmits his/her call sign by keying the radio or Dongle for one second only when the frequency is clear. Net Control will then acknowledge all check-ins seen. Quick and efficient! ______ And finally, no news to anybody is that this month marks the fifth anniversary of the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina. For a look back at the Amateur Radio response as it was unfolding then, see the special edition of this newsletter released this month five years ago here <>. _____ In This Issue: IN THIS ISSUE - The View from Flagler County - Learning through Practicing: GAREC-2010 Convenes Next Month - Pakistani Amateurs Team Up to Provide Communications, Relief Support for Flood Victims - Nomination Being Sought for the 2010 George Hart Distinguished Service Award - ARES 75th Anniversary Updates - Illinois Nuclear Power Plant Exercise: Lessons Learned - Letters - - 2010 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test Guidelines and Links to Reporting Forms - EmComm East, September 18: Plan to Attend Now! - Communications Academy Lite - Seattle, Washington, October 2: Focus on New Hams - K1CE For a Final _____ ==> LEARNING THROUGH PRACTICING: GAREC-2010 CONVENES NEXT MONTH "Learning through practicing" is the theme of GAREC-2010, to be held October 11 and 12, 2010, in Curacao. GAREC is the global Amateur Radio emergency communications  conference, a popular annual confab that is supported by the ARRL and IARU <> through all three ITU Regions <>. This year's conference is an opportunity for emergency communicators to discuss recent events, cooperation with professional partners and technical solutions to problems. An actual emcomm exercise will also be conducted during the conference to explore how information sharing across borders can be improved. The opening ceremony will feature a representative of the Curacao government; patron Dr. Hamadoun Tour Subject  The ARES E-Letter for September 8, 2010