Amateur Radio Group 470

This Group is for

/ To educate, warn and help all in the surrounding area..Information for those who live and around our Local Area, To Deliver Information On Any Weather Warnings and Watches, and General Weather Information On The District 6 Area..Also any weather events which could possibly affect our area, We are a WRN member, Amateur Radio Operators In The District, Other Skywarn Groups Locally, and Individuals who wish to report dangerous weather activity in our area. Also Will Use The Amatuer Radio repeaters in the area , the 146.730 repeater will be the repeater used at this time effective June 2016 until the 85 repeater is back up and operational, during extreme bad weather the NWS will activate the Skywarn Net as required by the NWS,This FB page was developed in 2012 but will continue through the years to come for all weather events for District 6, thanks for checking our FB site here.. The following link / app is also very good for seeing what is going on in our area, again feel free to post weather events /issues that you are having in our area, and those that may affecy are immediate area, please check out apps for your phone so you may stay informed as, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cds.stormeye&hl=en ,

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.acmeaom.android.myradar&hl=en , https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handmark.expressweather&hl=en , these apps work very well and are accurate ! also if you need to report weather to the NWS and you are a certified spotter use this link, http://www.srh.noaa.gov/StormReport/SubmitReport.php?site=mrx, our goal is to save life and property and keep everyone aware of what is happening

Report to NWS with this form -- http://www.srh.noaa.gov/StormReport/SubmitReport.php?site=mrx

~~....N4JTQ District 6 SKYWARN

https://www.facebook.com/groups/336406169705240/

See info below forhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1207935749291345/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Sevier Co ARES

To contact the EC or AEC e mail [email protected], or call me at 865.446.4535, if no answer please leave a message ...Sevier County ARES has been restarted as of Jan 1st , 2017, Our net is every Thursday , excluding meeting week, which is on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm, at the King Family Library here in Sevierville TN ...unless stated diffrent ,..nets are held on the 146.940 repeater at 6:30 pm...

Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

ARES Membership Requirements

 

Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because ARES is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARESRegistrationForm9-15.pdf

We want to thank Tim Berry WB4GBI for all he does for Amateur Radio and ARES. & SKYWARN -------SKYWARN frequency for District 6 is 146.730 with a 118.8 tone ~

We have a open door policy all are welcome to attend our meetings,and see what we do , join us on our net,to be a member you must live in Sevier County or a ajoining county , for more info please contact us ..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1207935749291345/

We are ready to start letting everyone know its on the books !!! SKYWARN 2018 , New-Recertification- Keeping Up WIth Changes- ALL are welcome to attend !! This Is A Free Class Presented By The National Weather Service Morristown TN .....

About

 

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

 

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

 

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

 

SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.

Who is Eligible?

 

NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such HAM radio, to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter.

How Can I Get Involved?

 

NWS has 122 local Weather Forecast Offices, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the SKYWARN® program in their local area. Training is conducted at these local offices and covers:

 

Basics of thunderstorm development

Fundamentals of storm structure

Identifying potential severe weather features

Information to report

How to report information

Basic severe weather safety

 

Classes are free and typically are about two hours long. To find out when a SKYWARN® class will be conducted in local your area, contact your local Warning Coordination Meteorologist at: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/contact.htm

 

SKYWARN is a concept developed in the late 1960s that was intended to promote a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and communities. The emphasis of the effort is often focused on the storm spotter, an individual who takes a position near their community and reports wind gusts, hail size, rainfall, and cloud formations that could signal a developing tornado. Another part of SKYWARN is the receipt and effective distribution of National Weather Service information.

 

The organization of spotters and the distribution of warning information may lies with the National Weather Service or with an emergency management agency within the community. This agency could be a police or fire department, or often is an emergency management/service group (what people might still think of as civil defense groups). This varies across the country however, with local national weather service offices taking the lead in some locations, while emergency management takes the lead in other areas.

 

SKYWARN is not a club or organization, however, in some areas where Emergency Management programs do not perform the function, people have organized SKYWARN groups that work independent of a parent government agency and feed valuable information to the National Weather Service. While this provides the radar meteorologist with much needed input, the circuit is not complete if the information does not reach those who can activate sirens or local broadcast systems.

 

SKYWARN spotters are not by definition “Storm Chasers”. While their functions and methods are similar, the spotter stays close to home and usually has ties to a local agency. Storm chasers often cover hundreds of miles a day. The term Storm Chaser covers a wide variety of people. Some are meteorologists doing specific research or are gathering basic information (like video) for training and comparison to radar data. Others chase storms to provide live information for the media, and others simply do it for the thrill.

 

Storm Spotting and Storm Chasing is dangerous and should not be done without proper training, experience and equipment.

 

The National Weather Service conducts spotter training classes across the United States, and your local National Weather Service office should be consulted as to when the next class will be held.

Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 10 AM

408 High St Sevierville TN

https://www.facebook.com/events/403289540057251/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A4%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&source=4&action_history=null

On  July 29th TEMA will do the damage assessment class I spoke with Todd if you are going to attend the class from TEMA please advise me by Wed I am going to do a cover sheet for all and send in !!! I must reccomend this class as a required class.... you will be certified by the state and there has been some changes I was told by Todd !!!! contact me by this coming Wed's !!!! from todays date  ! Note Members only on this class --

Just a reminder no net this week,on the 146.940 repeater , we have a meeting at the King Family Library, hope that you can make it, and to any amatuer radio operator feel free to join us, you need no special invite or password lol ~~ just bring yourself and a friend if you wish, we can answer questions about ARES for you and get you signed up if you wish to be a member !

6:00pm King Family Library, 408 High ST , Sevierville TN~~

Bullseye Preparedness & Outdoor Expo / SCARES

June 10 – June 11

Jun 10 at 8:30 AM to Jun 11 at 5:30 PM

Sevier County ARES is dedicated to helping our citizens, helping to educate them , and being a part of our community when needed..we hope you will join us June 10th & 11th, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the LeConte Center , here in Pigeon Forge TN, with the Bullseye Preparedness & Outdoor Expo..2986 Tester Lane, There will Be Workshops / Booths on Emergency Preparedness Communications, Survival, Self _Reliance, First AId, Self Defense, Camping , Hunting and More!! Tickets can be got at the door and good for the entire weekend !!Active Duty & Vertrans Enter Free With ID !Children Free when with a Adult ! Stop by our booth say hi, we will have presentations, free items and more !! Sevier County ARES of TN, check out our Facebook Page @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1207935749291345/

Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources

Hurricane Preparedness Week Info

 

Important NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards and Emergency Alert System Changes

 

Hurricanes are among nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena. On average, 12 tropical storms, 6 of which become hurricanes form over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico during the hurricane season which runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. In the Central Pacific Ocean, an average of 3 tropical storms, 2 of which become hurricanes form or move over the area during the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. Over a typical 2-year period, the U.S. coastline is struck by an average of 3 hurricanes, 1 of which is classified as a major hurricane (winds of 111 mph or greater). By knowing what actions to take before the hurricane season begins, when a hurricane approaches, and when the storm is in your area, as well aswhat to do after a hurricane leaves your area, you can increase your chance of survival. If you, or someone you know, have been a victim of a hurricane, please share your story, including the town and state you were in and the year the event took place.. Please note that NWS will then have permission to use your story for educational campaigns. Sharing this information may help save someone’s life in the future.

Hurricane Hazards

 

While hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property, tropical storms and depression also can be devastating. The primary hazards from tropical cyclones (which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents.

 

Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. This hazard is historically the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States. Storm surge and large battering waves can result in large loss of life and cause massive destruction along the coast.

Storm surge can travel several miles inland, especially along bays, rivers, and estuaries.

Flooding from heavy rains is the second leading cause of fatalities from landfalling tropical cyclones. Widespread torrential rains associated with these storms often cause flooding hundreds of miles inland. This flooding can persist for several days after a storm has dissipated.

Winds from a hurricane can destroy buildings and manufactured homes. Signs, roofing material, and other items left outside can become flying missiles during hurricanes.

Tornadoes can accompany landfalling tropical cyclones. These tornadoes typically occur in rain bands well away from the center of the storm.

Dangerous waves produced by a tropical cyclone's strong winds can pose a significant hazard to coastal residents and mariners. These waves can cause deadly rip currents, significant beach erosion, and damage to structures along the coastline, even when the storm is more than a 1,000 miles offshore.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/index.shtml

 

Details

We are ready to start letting everyone know its on the books !!! SKYWARN 2018 , New-Recertification- Keeping Up WIth Changes- ALL are welcome to attend !! This Is A Free Class Presented By The National Weather Service Morristown TN .....

About

 

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

 

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

 

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

 

SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.

Who is Eligible?

 

NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such HAM radio, to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter.

How Can I Get Involved?

 

NWS has 122 local Weather Forecast Offices, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the SKYWARN® program in their local area. Training is conducted at these local offices and covers:

 

Basics of thunderstorm development

Fundamentals of storm structure

Identifying potential severe weather features

Information to report

How to report information

Basic severe weather safety

 

Classes are free and typically are about two hours long. To find out when a SKYWARN® class will be conducted in local your area, contact your local Warning Coordination Meteorologist at: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/contact.htm

 

SKYWARN is a concept developed in the late 1960s that was intended to promote a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and communities. The emphasis of the effort is often focused on the storm spotter, an individual who takes a position near their community and reports wind gusts, hail size, rainfall, and cloud formations that could signal a developing tornado. Another part of SKYWARN is the receipt and effective distribution of National Weather Service information.

 

The organization of spotters and the distribution of warning information may lies with the National Weather Service or with an emergency management agency within the community. This agency could be a police or fire department, or often is an emergency management/service group (what people might still think of as civil defense groups). This varies across the country however, with local national weather service offices taking the lead in some locations, while emergency management takes the lead in other areas.

 

SKYWARN is not a club or organization, however, in some areas where Emergency Management programs do not perform the function, people have organized SKYWARN groups that work independent of a parent government agency and feed valuable information to the National Weather Service. While this provides the radar meteorologist with much needed input, the circuit is not complete if the information does not reach those who can activate sirens or local broadcast systems.

 

SKYWARN spotters are not by definition “Storm Chasers”. While their functions and methods are similar, the spotter stays close to home and usually has ties to a local agency. Storm chasers often cover hundreds of miles a day. The term Storm Chaser covers a wide variety of people. Some are meteorologists doing specific research or are gathering basic information (like video) for training and comparison to radar data. Others chase storms to provide live information for the media, and others simply do it for the thrill.

 

Storm Spotting and Storm Chasing is dangerous and should not be done without proper training, experience and equipment.

 

The National Weather Service conducts spotter training classes across the United States, and your local National Weather Service office should be consulted as to when the next class will be held.

408 High St   Sevierville TN 

https://www.facebook.com/events/403289540057251/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D

Details

Sevier County ARES is dedicated to helping our citizens, helping to educate them , and being a part of our community when needed..we hope you will join us June 10th & 11th, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the LeConte Center , here in Pigeon Forge TN, with the Bullseye Preparedness & Outdoor Expo..2986 Tester Lane, There will Be Workshops / Booths on Emergency Preparedness Communications, Survival, Self _Reliance, First AId, Self Defense, Camping , Hunting and More!! Tickets can be got at the door and good for the entire weekend !!Active Duty & Vertrans Enter Free With ID !Children Free when with a Adult ! Stop by our booth say hi, we will have presentations, free items and more !! Sevier County ARES of TN, check out our Facebook Page @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1207935749291345/

We where asked  to  join the  event  and the 600.00 fee for both days was  excused,  I hope all well come and join us at the event  and look through the  Expo , some great  vendors  I will be there on Saturday  8:30 to around 1 pm  there will be  items we will give out  and   a communication system  set up  plus more  

 I hope that many understand  why  Tim  needs these  batteries, amateur radio operators help with communications during weather emergencies  and disasters when needed to  relay  information,  and keep up the support for family's to make sure their loved ones are ok ! 

https://www.gofundme.com/dzg3n2a4

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34670919

http://www.facebook.com/groups/122027231298718/

Welcome to the East Tennessee Prep Net, this net will meet every Tuesday on the 145.370 repeater, the 147.195 repeater and the 443.225 repeater, all with a 100 hz PL tone, not a Amateur Radio Operator thats fine, if you have a scanner just enter one of the 3 frequencies listed above in to the scanner, as all three repeaters are linked, your comments and or questions are welcome to be posted here also for discussion.. This net and Facebook page is dedicated to passing information along about disasters, natural or man made, how to survive, it is not a political arena , but to give idea's and information of what to do in a emergency, what to have to survive and how to protect yourself and family and neighbors, I hope that you join the net and listen in for idea's, Kevin Duplantis W4KEV has spoke to me about this and several others in making this possible... Kevin will start the net as net control, this is not a check in net, its to discuss and make possible for everyone to hopefully survive a disaster or emergency...

Q.  Can the professional communicators commandeer our amateur service frequency channels?      A. Yes, unless their purpose is to conduct a RACES training drill or test.  Section 97.101(c) says that at all times and on all frequencies, each control operator must give priority to stations providing emergency communications, except to stations transmitting communications for training drills and tests in RACES.  

   Q. Can they communicators commandeer our repeater?

   A. Not unless your repeater station licensee hands over to them physical control of your repeater station apparatus.  Read Section 97.5(a).  They can, however, appropriate your repeater's transmitting and receiving channels for providing emergency communications.  Read Section 97.101(c).  They can, moreover, appropriate your repeater's transmitting and receiving channels for communications on behalf of an employer in an emergency preparedness or disaster readiness test or drill and operational testing immediately prior to such test or drill.  Sectiona Private sector professional communicators are time limited in their testing and drilling.  Read Section 97.113(a)(3)(i). Federal, state, county, municipal and all other government agencies are not as long as they are not affiliated with RACES.  Read Section 97.101(c).    

   Q. Section 97.113(a)(3)(i) says that non-government sponsored tests and drills for an employer can be conducted for one hour per week. Should that limit be exceeded, who would be accountable?

   A. The licensee of each station that exceeded the limit would be accountable. Note, however, that unlimited operational testing immediately prior to any such test or drill is authorized. Additionally, twice in any calendar year they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours. Stations that participate in federal, state, commonwealth, territory, district, county, city and other municipal government-sponsored tests and drills are exempt from these time constraints.   

   Q. Is the employer accountable to the FCC in case of a violation?  

   A. No, unless the employer is also the station licensee.  Section 97.103(a) says that the station licensee is responsible for the proper operation of the station in accordance with the FCC Rules. When the control operator is a different amateur operator than the station licensee, both persons are equally responsible for proper operation of the station.   

  Q.  Many state and county government professional communicators are using our ham bands.  The Department of Homeland Security has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to medical emergency facilities for amateur radio apparatus.  I hear hospital nets everywhere chit-chatting on their HF stations to "check" their systems.         

   A.  Under Section 97.113(a)(3)(i), they are most likely conducting operational testing during - or immediately prior to - an emergency preparedness and disaster readiness test or drill. 

   Q.  For which levels of government infrastructure may a professional communicator participate on behalf of an employer in unlimited emergency preparedness or disaster readiness testing and drilling.

   A.  For all levels of government: federal, state, county, municipal, foreign, etc, without time limits, unless they involve communications for RACES training.  Non-RACES government sponsored testing and drilling can be conducted any time, with priority over amateur service communications.  Read Section 97.101(c).

   RACES training drills and tests - unlike other government-sponsored tests and drills - are limited to a total time of one hour per week; except that no more than twice in any calendar year, they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours.  Read Section 97.407(e)(4). 

   Section 97.113(a)(3)(i) also limits our non-government private-sector emergency communications testing and drilling to a total time of one hour per week; except that no more than twice in any calendar year, they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours. 

   Q.  Does that include FCC employees while on-the-clock?

   A.  Yes.  The FCC is a federal government agency and, as such is a component of the government infrastructure for which a professional communicator may participate on behalf of an employer in unlimited emergency preparedness or disaster readiness testing and drilling.

   Q.  Does that also include agencies of foreign governments?

   A.  Yes. Section 97.113(a)(3)(i) does not exclude foreign government agencies.  Station licenses and control operators can participate on behalf of a foreign government agency in unlimited emergency preparedness or disaster readiness tests or drills.  The station license, however, cannot be held by a representative of a foreign government.  Read Section 97.5.  

   The foreign government agency, nevertheless, can engage a FCC-licensed amateur operator, or a non-U.S. citizen (alien) holding an amateur service authorization granted by the alien's government, provided there is a multilateral or bilateral reciprocal operating agreement in effect to which our United States and the alien's government are parties.  Read Section 97.107.

   Q.  Section 97.113(a)(3)(i) says that tests or drills that are not government-sponsored are limited to a total time of one hour per week; except that no more than twice in any calendar year, they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours.  Section 97.407(e)(4), however, says that that for RACES training drills and tests may not exceed a total time of 1 hour per week.  It seems as though federal, state, county, municipal and other government agencies are being encouraged to sponsor non-RACES amateur radio systems in order to have two-way priority radio communications 24-7.  

   A.  Yes, it does.  The downside is that in the event of an emergency which necessitates invoking the President's War Emergency Powers under of Section 706 of the Communications Act 47 U.S.C. 606, amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on the frequency segments authorized pursuant to rule Part 214.  

   During World War II, the President shut off the amateur service completely.  If that should occur again, possibly RACES would continue.   Another disincentive to RACES is that Section 101(c) says:   At all times and on all frequencies, each control operator must give priority to stations providing emergency communications, except to stations transmitting communications for training drills and tests in RACES.    

   In Section 97.113(a)(3)(i), the rules codify the policy that emergency preparedness or disaster readiness tests and drills sponsored by government entities, as well as non-government entities, are appropriate for our amateur service radio spectrum in places where the FCC regulates.  These are in addition to, and separate from, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service authorized in Section 97.407.  These three communication activities have frequency priority - under Section 97.101(c) - over our amateur service purpose of self-training, intercommunication, and technical investigations. 

    Q. What is RACES?  

   A. RACES stands for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.  For information, read BE informed PROVIDING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS No. 7.2 What is RACES?

   Q. Equipment budgets are being cut drastically. A dozen VHF/UHF belt-clip ham radios can be had for the price of just one Part 90 radio.  Some Chinese units are under $100.  Can all emergency services provider agencies use them?  

   A. Yes, their professional communicators can use them for providing emergency communications and for emergency preparedness and disaster readiness tests and drills. The agency, however, cannot be the station licensee; that has to be a person holding a FCC-granted amateur operator/primary station or military recreation station license grant. In the latter case, the person need not hold an amateur operator license, the military recreation station license may be held only by the person who is the license custodian designated by the official in charge of the United States military recreational premises where the station is situated.

   Communications by emergency service providers is regulated first and foremost under Part 90, Private Land Mobile Radio Services. Those rules establish a Public Safety Radio Pool and provide for the licensing of non-federal governmental entities - including law enforcement and fire protection - as well as medical services, rescue organizations, veterinarians, persons with disabilities, disaster relief organizations, school buses, beach patrols, establishments in isolated places, communications standby facilities, and emergency repair of public communications facilities. 

   Read Be Informed BASICS No. No. 1.7 Can I Use A Chinese Radio?

   Q.  Section 97.503 says that our VEs' exams must be such as to prove that the examinee possesses the operational and technical qualifications required to perform properly the duties of an amateur service licensee.  Our examinations, therefore, are unsuitable for the professional communicators now moving onto our frequency bands.  Their employers are the logical parties to determine who best serves their needs.  If some form of FCC certification is mandatory, wouldn't the commercial operator license make more sense?

   A.  No, that would be even more ludicrous.  Section 13.3 says those rules that require FCC station licensees to have certain transmitter operation, maintenance, and repair duties performed by a commercial radio operator are contained in Parts 23, 80, and 87.  Part 80 contains the rules for stations in the maritime services and Part 87 contains the rules for the aviation services.  (E-CFR does not show a Part 23.) 

   Those professional communicators are obviously not migrating to our amateur service bands to carry out transmitter maintenance and repair duties.  They are being stationed there to participate on behalf of an employer in emergency preparedness or disaster readiness tests or drills and operational testing immediately prior to such test or drill.

   Q. Can I use my amateur station to intercommunicate directly with a police officer on Part 90 channels?  

   A. Not unless it is necessary in connection with safety of life and property or a station in distress.  Otherwise, your station is authorized to transmit only on amateur service spectrum.   Read Sections 97.403 and 97.405.

   Should a police officer someway having the capability of receiving your station's transmissions choose to intercommunicate with you while providing emergency communications, such is authorized by Section 97.111(a)(13).  It says that an amateur station may transmit two-way communications necessary to exchange messages with a station in another FCC-regulated service while providing emergency communications. You would, of course, have to have the capability of receiving the police officer's Part 90 channel transmissions.   This procedure is sometimes referred to as crossbanding. Read BE Informed BASICS No. 1.12 Hamslanguage.  

   For more information on providing emergency communications in the amateur service, read BE Informed PROVIDING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS No. 7.0 EMERGENCY!  Also read FCC Report to Congress in Amateur Radio in Emergencies and Disaster Relief.

§97.403 Safety of life and protection of property.-

No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.

§97.405 Station in distress.-

(a) No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station in distress of any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its condition and location, and obtain assistance.

(b) No provision of these rules prevents the use by a station, in the exceptional circumstances described in paragraph (a), of any means of radio communications at its disposal to assist a station in distress.

§97.407 Radio amateur civil emergency service.-

(a) No station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-licensed primary, club, or military recreation station and it is certified by a civil defense organization as registered with that organization. No person may be the control operator of a RACES station, or may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that person holds a FCC-issued amateur operator license and is certified by a civil defense organization as enrolled in that organization.

(b) The frequency bands and segments and emissions authorized to the control operator are available to stations transmitting communications in RACES on a shared basis with the amateur service. In the event of an emergency which necessitates invoking the President's War Emergency Powers under the provisions of section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 606, amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on the frequency segments authorized pursuant to part 214 of this chapter.

(c) A amateur station registered with a civil defense organization may only communicate with the following stations upon authorization of the responsible cicl defense official for the organization with which the amateur station is registered:

(1) an amateur station registered with the same or another civil defense organization;

(2) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the FCC.

(d) All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by the civil defense organization for the area served. Only civil defense communications of the following types may be transmitted:

(1) Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeopardizing the public safety, or affecting the national defense or security during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies;

(2) Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life of individuals, the immediate protection of property, maintenance of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and the combating of armed attack or sabotage;

(3) Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dissemination of public information or instructions to the civilian population essential to the activities of the civil defense organization or other authorized governmental or relief agencies; and

(4) Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of the RACES as ordered by the responsible civil defense organizations served. Such drills and tests may not exceed a total time of 1 hour per week. With the approval of the chief officer for emergency planning the applicable State, Commonwealth, District or territory, however, such tests and drills may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours no more than twice in any calendar year.

FYI for you folks around Knoxville area: Soon all the current KY D-STAR machines will be connected together on REF-056B so you can talk from Knoxville, TN area all the way to Cincinnati, OH along the I-75 corridor by regular linking together of Middlesboro, Richmond, Lexington, & soon Northern Ky machines! In an emergency REF-056E can be used in the same manner or for exercises in the future and it will be able to tie all the future KY D-STAR machines into one statewide Kentucky REF-056E as well for EMCOMM use when needed! It would be very cool if TN did the same thing with a machine in Knoxville and one in Chattanooga tied together for your TN I-75 corridor too.

Tad "The Sun came up this morning like a burning red balloon"Cook, K7RA, reports: Sunspot activity continued to drop until early thisweek: The average daily sunspot numbers were 26.3, down more than 58 pointsfrom last week's numbers, while the average daily solar flux declined to 92.8,down over 33 points from last week's average. The weekly sunspot numberaverage has declined since the May 31-June 6 period, when it was 130.4,followed by 116.1 the next week, 84.6 the next and 26.3 this week. In last week's ARRL Letter, we reported theaverage daily sunspot number as 87, but it was really 84.6. This is because wereported what may have been a preliminary sunspot number of 46 for June20, but the sunspot number for that date was 29. Geomagnetic conditions overthe past week were quiet. The average planetary A index was 5.7, down from12.6 last week, 9 the week before and 13.4 the week before that. The quietplanetary A index for this week was exactly as it was on the week of May24-30 -- 5.7 -- which also happened to be the mid-latitude A index for thatperiod. The latest prediction from USAF/NOAA shows geomagnetic activitypeaking on June 29-July 4, probably from a coronal hole spewing solar wind. Thepredicted planetary A index for June 28-30 is 7, 10 and 18, followed by 15on July 1-3, 10 and 8 on July 4-5, 5 on July 6-7, 8 on July 8-9, 5 on July10-25, and then 10, 18, 15, 15, 15 and 8 on July 26-31. This is an echo ofthe activity this week, based on the 27.5 day rotation of our Sun,relative to Earth. The predicted solar flux is 110, 115 and 115 on June 28-30, 120and 125 on July 1-2, 130 on July 3-5, 135 and 140 on July 6-7, 135 on July8-9, 130 on July 10-11, 125 on July 12-13, then 120, 115, 110 and 105 onJuly 14-17. Solar flux may dip below 100 around July 19-28. Look for more onthe ARRL website on Friday, June 29. For more information concerning radiopropagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page. This week's"Tad Cookism" is brought to you by Eurythmics' You HurtMe.

Repeater Etiquette

            The Ham Radio Society has been around for a long time, consisting of professional operators who know how to handle and pass emergency and non-emergency traffic.  This professionalism is in part due largely to their codes of conduct on the air and what we will call "Proper Repeater Etiquette".  We must remember that not only will our repeater system be heard by other hams in the area, but will also be heard by the general public listening in by way of scanners and other receiving equipment.  Our repeaters are judged by what is heard on the air.  In the following are listed repeater practices that we all need to adhere to and follow as we talk on not only our repeaters, but those in and around our area:

1.         Listen, Listen, and Listen   

                       One of the best ways for new hams to become accustomed  to the hobby is to listen to those who have been around a while. Always listen before you begin a new QSO.  Don't just jump in the truck, turn your rig on, and then just begin calling a station.  Be considerate!  There might just be someone else using the repeater.

2.         Identify Properly       

                       Make sure and identify properly. (FCC Part 97.119) Requires each station to identify at the end of a QSO and every 10 minutes during each QSO.

3.         "Kerchunking"    

                        Transmitting without identifying is considered illegal!  Please do not "kerchunk" the machine.  If you are wanting to test out your equipment do it legally by giving your call followed by the word "testing" (Example  K4TC testing...)

4.         Language on the  Repeater  

                        Bad language of any type including swearing, off color jokes, and/or any other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.  Don't air your dirty laundry over the repeater!  If there is something that you would like to say or voice about  another or you have a problem with another amateur operator, then contact the person by phone or in person, not on the repeater  Remember that others are listening!

5.         On Air Operation     

                        The repeater is here for everyone's enjoyment and use!  When you here a QSO going on over the repeater, don't be rude and just break in unless you have something to add to the  conversation that is worth while.  If you have a legitimate emergency, wait for the user to finish and break in just before the courtesy tone sounds by saying "break " and then your call.  Users are expected to yield to any and all emergency traffic!  Remember that interrupting someone is no more polite on the air as it is in  person.

6.         Organized Activities      

                       An organized activity such as a net or a training drill of any kind will take priority over any other regular/non-emergency repeater use!  When you know a net is about to begin, then stay off the air so that "net control" can call the net.

7.         Power

                        Please use only the amount of power you need to effectively and clearly get your transmission out to the repeater.  This FCC  97.313a regulation minimizes the possibility of accessing distant repeaters on the same frequency.

8.         Music over the air    

                       Although we have had little to no problem with this, please remember to turn down the music in the car when you decide to transmit.  Not only is music over the air unprofessional, but it is also illegal (FCC 97.113).

9.         CB vs. Ham Radio    

                        Please remember that CB has its own language and therefore Ham Radio does as well.  When talking on the repeater, please use plain English not a bunch of CB jargon!  Remember that we are still governed by FCC law.

10.       Be Courteous  

                        Let us all strive to be a friendly to each other!!!  Remember the times when you threw out your call over a repeater or asked for directions and no one answered?  Well, the only cure for this is our willingness to respond.

The 443.225,which I am the trustee for,  and all of Tim Berry's repeaters are rated G!!! We have children listening !!! We have folks who do not appreciate certain things above. Lets all get along and be Amateur Radio Operators, These are Tim's request as well as mine, and I am sure other repeater owners,

Tim has a good saying , "If its not good enough for my daughter to hear , then its not good enough for the repeater "! It has nothing to do with old hams or new hams, it is what it is. Times do change, equipment changes, the way we act on repeaters on the air doesn't, amateur radio operators have worked hard for their license, remember # 9 above as well as all the others..

73

Rick Sr

Forecasters Calling for Near-Average Hurricane Season TAGS: atlantic hurricane season, hurricane, hurricane net, hurricane season, hurricane strength, Hurricane Watch Net, late-season major hurricane, major hf hurricane, major hurricanes, national hurricane center, percent probability, Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network, sea surface temperatures, storms, tropical event, tropical storm strength, tropical storms 06/02/2012 Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) are calling for a “near-normal” Atlantic hurricane season for 2012. In its initial outlook for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season -- which began Friday, June 1 and runs through November 30 -- the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is calling for a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 25 percent probability of an above-normal season and a 25 percent probability of a below-normal season. The 2012 hurricane season began early when Tropical Storm Alberto and Tropical Storm Beryl both developed several days before the official start of the season, the first time since 1908 that two tropical storms developed early; the only other year with two storms so early in the year was 1887.

According to the CPC, ongoing conditions that have been associated with increased Atlantic hurricane activity since 1995 favor a near-normal hurricane season, as do expected near-average sea surface temperatures across much of the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea (called the Main Development Region, or MDR). In addition, the possible development of El Niño during the season could make conditions less conducive for hurricane formation and intensification during the peak months of August-October, shifting the activity toward the lower end of the predicted range

CPC forecasters say that there is a 70 percent chance of having 9-15 named storms, of which four to eight could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5). These ranges do not represent the total possible ranges of activity seen in past similar years. Tropical systems acquire a name upon reaching tropical storm strength with sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour. Tropical storms become hurricanes when winds reach 74 miles per hour and become major hurricanes when winds increase to 111 miles per hour. An average season has 12 named storms, including six hurricanes with three becoming major hurricanes.

Though this season isn’t expected to be as busy as last year’s above-average season, federal officials warned coastal residents to start stocking up on hurricane supplies and forming evacuation plans. “That’s still a lot of activity, so just because we’re predicting a near-normal season doesn’t mean anybody’s off the hook at all,” said Gerry Bell, the lead seasonal forecaster at the CPC. “Our range (of expected storms) is a bit wider this year because of this inherent uncertainty right now based on the best guidance we have as to whether El Nino will form or not.”

This year’s hurricane season got an early start when Tropical Storm Alberto formed May 19 off the coast of South Carolina, dissipating just three days later over the Atlantic. Alberto was the first named storm to form during May in the Atlantic basin since Arthur in 2008, and the earliest tropical storm since Ana in April 2003 According to NHC Director Bill Read, KB5FYA, Alberto was unusual, in that it was a small storm that formed in a small area that was favorable for storm development. On May 23, Tropical Storm Beryl formed in the Caribbean, moving into Southern Florida and making landfall with near Jacksonville Beach. Read said that tropical storms can develop when seasons transition from one to another, in this case, spring into summer. Chris is slated to be the name of the named next storm of 2012.

The atmospheric and marine conditions that began with the 1995 hurricane season still continue. The 1995 season was extremely active, largely due to favorable conditions including a La Niña and warm sea surface temperatures. Nineteen named storms formed during the season, making it the third most active on record behind the 2005 and 1933 seasons, and tied with the 1887 and 2010 seasons. There were 11 storms that reached hurricane strength that year, placing 1995 behind the 1969, 2005 and 2010 seasons as the year with the most hurricanes to form in one season.

There were a number of destructive hurricanes during the 1995 season, totaling more than $13 billion in damages and more than 100 deaths. Hurricane Erin caused substantial damage in Florida, while Felix caused heavy beach erosion in the northeast United States, producing strong waves that drowned eight. Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn caused billions of dollars in damages in the Leeward Islands and Bermuda. Hurricane Opal, the strongest storm of the season, caused very heavy damage along the US Gulf Coast. Hurricane Roxanne -- a late-season major hurricane -- caused heavy damage when it made landfall in Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Amateur Radio and Hurricanes

Rick Palm, K1CE, editor of the ARRL’s ARES E-Letter, warns that now is the time for ARES® members to assess their portfolio of communications equipment and disaster response knowledge. Palm gives several tips for amateurs involved with hurricane operations:

Monitor major HF hurricane networks during events this season. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) on 14.325 MHz is one of several key players. It serves either the Atlantic or Pacific during a watch or warning period and coordinates with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Frequent, detailed information is issued on nets when storms pose a threat to the US mainland. In addition to hurricane spotting, local communicators may announce that residents have evacuated from low-lying flood areas. Other amateurs across the country can help by relaying information, keeping the net frequency clear and by listening. See the HWN’s website for more information. The net works closely with WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the NHC.The SATERN Net (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) provides emergency communication support to the Salvation Army and populations at large. They also handle health-and-welfare traffic. SATERN holds high profile nets on 20 meters (14.265 MHz) during major hurricanes and has a long history of excellence, discipline and service. Refer to the SATERN website for more information.The Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) meets on 14.300 MHz and is composed of hams who serve and assist those in need of communications on the high seas. According to its website, the primary purpose of the net is for handling traffic from maritime mobile stations. The network is recognized by the United States Coast Guard and has an excellent working relationship with that agency. The MMSN has handled hundreds of incidents involving vessels in distress and medical emergencies in remote locations, as well as passing health and welfare traffic in and out of affected areas. They also work closely with the NWS and NHC by relaying weather reports from maritime stations.The VoIP SKYWARN and Hurricane Net operates by combining both the EchoLink and IRLP linked repeater networks, while handling critical wide area communications during major severe weather and tropical events. These operations have gained national stature in recent years and are a critical partner with WX4NHC. Whenever tropical weather is imposing a threat to the US mainland and certain other areas of interest, the VoIP WX net will be fully operational. See the VoIP SKYWARN and Hurricane Net website for more information.Palm said that during hurricane events, there are usually two or three regional nets (usually on 40 or 20 meters) that spring to prominence as major key assets to the disaster response on an ad hoc basis. “Watch for these nets, as well as the nationally recognized networks described above, this season,” he advised. “Don’t transmit on their frequencies unless you are absolutely sure you have something substantive to add, and then only under the direction of the net control station.”

ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, added that when ARES® activates in response to any tropical event, it is crucial that information flows up through the Section and is reported to Headquarters. “These reports allow us to develop the situational awareness and disaster intelligence that is required for us as an organization to support the Sections that are impacted.” he explained. “In this way, we are able to respond to relevant requests from the media and finally to coordinate with the governmental and non-governmental organizations. This information also allows us to make the decision at Headquarters on whether to stand up the ARRL HQ Emergency Response Team to support and coordinate the operations.”

Echolink is a way that you can talk anywhere in the world, check out the link below to see how to setup , note this is for only licensed amateur radio operators,  don't have a license , then check with a local club or check the ARRL for testing locations in your area !

http://www.echolink.org/

You can also check out the District 6 SKYWARN on Facebook, lastest weather updates, information, and news from the NWS..

Come check us out  from the link below..

http://www.facebook.com/groups/336406169705240/

Note the 145.470 is the repeater that all emergency weather will be reported on for District 6, per the NWS Morristown TN, our back up will be the 443.225, which is also linked to the 145.370 and the 147.195 /PL 100 repeaters.  The 443.225 is the Sevier County Emergency Radio Service Repeater.