Information requests re: Puerto Rico - plus - ALE operators needed for relief efforts

The following is from the ARRL

Advisory: Requests for Information from the Public and the Press

Many individuals have loved ones in Puerto Rico and they are understandably hopeful that Amateur Radio operators can relay messages to them. As a result, some are contacting amateurs with requests to pass message traffic to the island.

At the same time, individual amateurs and clubs have reported that local press representatives have contacted them to request information about Amateur Radio involvement in Puerto Rico. This is likely to increase as word spreads in the national media about our activities.

For inquiries from the public, ARRL advises that these individuals should be informed that amateurs traveling to the island to support the American Red Cross effort will be tasked with handling outbound traffic only. With that in mind, members of the public should access the American Red Cross Safe and Well System online at https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php. Status information from friends and relatives in Puerto Rico will be entered into the system as it arrives from amateurs stationed there.

For press inquiries, please ask reporters to contact ARRL directly at newsmedia@arrl.org.  A system has been established at ARRL Headquarters to respond to press inquiries in a timely and accurate manner.

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In addition, the following request comes from HFLINK International Coordinator Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA:

ALE operators are needed to help support disaster relief flights in the Caribbean area.
Volunteer ham radio operators who live in the following areas are asked to activate their home ALE HF stations: 
+ Caribbean islands
+ southeastern USA
+ eastern USA
+ Central America
+ northern South America
+ areas that have good HF propagation to Caribbean

If you can volunteer some of your spare time to put your ALE station on the air, even on a single frequency, please respond to this request. 

Please see the HFLINK.NET website to text chat with other ALE ops.

http://hflink.net

We will be using the HFL (voice) and HFN (text/data/sounding) channel sets. 
The following frequencies will probably be the most active.
14346.0 kHz USB 
7296.0 kHz USB 
5371.5 kHz USB 

Bonnie Crystal KQ6XA
HFLINK International Coordinator
http://hflink.net

(via Lloyd Colston, KC5FM) 

New Personal Radio (Part 95) Rules Take Effect Tomorrow

The FCC's rewrite of its rules for the Part 95 Personal Radio Services takes effect tomorrow, September 28, 2017.

Major changes include removing the 155-mile distance limit on CB contacts (which had virtually never been observed anytime the band was open in the past 50 years); addition of new Family Radio Service (FRS) channels (shared with GMRS, the General Mobile Radio Service); GMRS power restrictions on the channels newly shared with FRS, and allowing GMRS licensees to send text messages in addition to voice transmissions. (See July CQ, p. 26, for a more comprehensive look at the changes in various personal radio services.)

The Federal Register announcement is at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/08/29/2017-17395/personal-radio-service-reform

The complete text of the new Part 95 Report & Order is at:
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-344617A1.pdf
(Be aware: it's 114 pages long)

Health & Welfare Traffic for Dominica

The Caribbean Emergency Weather Net advises that its on-air operators cannot handle incoming health and welfare messages for Dominica at this time. However, it has provided an e-mail address to which inquiries may be directed:
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The email to send you Health and Welfare Traffic and requests to is: WelfareDominica@cewn.org
In the email please indicate clearly:
Your Name and location (country city)
Whom you are inquiring of (full name)
Location / Community The person(s) are at
An email and /or phone number to reach you at for the return info
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Tnx CEWN and KC5FM

Emergency Nets in Operation for Hurricane Maria, Mexican Earthquake - PLEASE KEEP FREQUENCIES CLEAR

Several emergency nets are currently active as Hurricane Maria heads for Caribbean islands and a major earthquake strikes Mexico. The following nets are active as of 20 Sept 2017 UTC, based on information from ARRL and other sources:

Mexican earthquake response:
FMRE National Emergency Net - 7.060 MHz

Hurricane Maria response:
* Caribbean Emergency Weather Net - 3.815 & 7.188 MHz
* FEMA 60-Meter Interoperability Nets - 5.331 MHz (voice) & 5.346.5 MHz (digital) - FEMA IS A PRIMARY USER OF 60 METERS. AMATEURS MAY NOT CAUSE INTERFERENCE TO AND MUST ACCEPT INTERFERENCE FROM FEMA OPERATIONS.
* Hurricane Watch Net - 7.268 & 14.325 MHz
* SATERN SSB Net - 14.265 MHz (handling only OUTBOUND health & welfare messages)

PLEASE KEEP THESE FREQUENCIES CLEAR FOR EARTHQUAKE/HURRICANE-RELATED TRAFFIC.

In addition, the ARRL says W1AW has suspended bulletin transmissions and visitor operations in order to monitor the various emergency nets and provide assistance as needed.

630 & 2200 Meters to Open as Early as October 16, 2017

CQ MF/LF Editor John Langridge, KB5NJD/WG2XIQ, reports that the PLC (Power Line Communications) database is live and that hams may begin operating on 472 kHz (630 meters) and 137 kHz (2200 meters) as early as October 16 if they register today and receive no objection in the next 30 days. Hams may not operate on the bands without going through this process.

The link to the sign-up page is here: https://utc.org/plc-database-amateur-notification-process/

The effective date for use of the new bands by amateurs was published in today's Federal Register. The relevant pages are at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-09-15/pdf/2017-19578.pdf

The FCC's Public Notice is at: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0915/DA-17-893A1.pdf

John is asking all amateurs to register, even if they don't plan to use these bands in the near future, as the FCC rules prohibit UTC (the Utilities Technology Council) from deploying PLC in these bands
closer than 1 kilometer from registered stations. Registration now will protect your ability to use our new MF/LF bands in the future.

Hurricane Watch Net Suspends Operations - Continues to Monitor

The following is from our friends at the Hurricane Watch Net - Net operations are suspended but monitoring continues.
 
(Update: Monday, September 11, 2017 @ 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC)
The Hurricane Watch Net has suspended net operation for Hurricanes Irma, José, and Katia. This does not mean were are finished with José, we are in a monitoring mode.

Many people have been seriously affected by Irma, José, and Katia this week. Please keep them in your prayers as well as the first responders.

I realize our net operations have disrupted normal amateur radio activity on the frequencies of 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz. I wish to sincerely thank the daily users of these frequencies to allow us to serve our fellow man during their time of need. Members of the Hurricane Watch Net, many who have regular working jobs, have taken time off to assist in this record breaking Hurricane Weather Emergency.

73 & God Bless
Bobby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobby Graves - KB5HAVHurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
HWN Webmasterwww.hwn.org

Hurricane Watch Net Update 1000 UTC Sept. 11

 The following is provided by our friends at the Hurricane Watch Net. Irma was downgraded to a tropical storm at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC), but remains a very dangerous storm as it continues to move northward through Florida and into Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Over 3 million people remain without power and that number may grow as the storm moves inland. Plus, Hurricane Jose continues to be a threat in the Caribbean and possibly even to south Florida.

National Hurricane Center/NOAA map

(Update: Monday, September 11, 2017 @ 6:00 AM EDT (1000 UTC)

Irma continues to weaken now that landfall has occurred. The hurricane is forecast to weaken to a Tropical Storm later this morning. (CQ - That change of designation occurred at 8:00 AM EDT/1200 UTC)

Considering the path of destruction caused by Irma, many areas, especially the islands, are just now beginning to get HF communications somewhat restored.

In addition to collecting post-storm damage reports, we will be calling and listening for stations who have been affected by Irma with Emergency and Priority Traffic.

We already know there is a huge need to for Health & Welfare and Emergency & Priority Traffic. Considering the areas hardest hit – an Andrew-like disaster spread across many islands as well as south Florida – nets like ours could be busy for days.

Please, don’t drop your guard on Hurricane José. Over the next few days, this storm is expected to make a loop and perhaps affect the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Cuba, and south Florida by the weekend. Of course, a lot can change in 36 hours, so, let’s pray the storm heads out to sea and not cause any harm to anyone!

The Hurricane Watch Net remains operational on 7.268.00 MHz (LSB). We will suspended nighttime operations at 7:30 AM EDT – 1130 UTC. Daytime operations will resume on 14.325.00 MHz (USB) at 7:00 AM EDT - 1100 UTC.

We will remain operational on 14.325.00 MHz (USB) until 7:00 PM EDT – 2300 UTC. We will make an announcement regarding our plans for net operations later today.
To help those with Health and Welfare questions, we have a growing list of Health & Welfare Nets, Telephone Number, and more, found on our website homepage: hwn.org. We will add to this list as we get more information.

I wish to sincerely thank the daily users of these 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz to allow us to serve our fellow man in a serious time of need.

Please, continue to keep those affected by Irma in your thoughts and prayers!
Sincerely,
Bobby Graves - KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
www.hwn.org

Hurricane Watch Net Update - 2330 UTC Sept. 10

The following is from our friends at the Hurricane Watch Net

 (Update: Sunday, September 10, 2017 @ 7:30 PM EDT (2330 UTC)
 

Hurricane Irma made landfall near Naples, FL shortly after 5:00 PM EDT – 2100 UTC as a Category 2 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph.

The Net is currently operating on 7.268.00 MHz and will remain in operation overnight. We will suspended nighttime operations at 7:30 AM EDT – 1130 UTC. Daytime operations will resume on 14.325.00 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT - 1100 UTC, 30 minutes prior to shutting down on 7.268. Any change in Net Operation plans will be noted here, on our website, the networks of 14.300.00 MHz, and many additional amateur radio networks and media.

At around 1200 PM EDT – 1600 UTC, the sun unleashed a Class X-8.3 Solar Flare. This caused a widespread communications blackout for nearly 3 hours, which could not have happened at a worse time. But, we cannot control Mother Nature, only work around her.

Even with the poor band conditions, members of the Hurricane Watch Net persevered and did everything possible to help those in harm’s way. Many weather reports were received and forwarded to the forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. Additionally, we handled a few pieces of priority traffic this morning.

Considering the path of destruction caused by Irma, many areas are just now beginning to get HF communications somewhat restored. In addition to collecting weather data, we will be calling and listening for stations who have been affected by Irma with Emergency and Priority Traffic. Additionally, we are available to provide backup communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers and Red Cross officials in all areas affected by Irma.

To help those with Health and Welfare questions, we have a growing list of Health & Welfare Nets, Telephone Number, and more, found on our website homepage: hwn.org.

Please, don’t drop your guard on Hurricane José. Over the next few days, this storm is expected to make a loop and perhaps affect the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Cuba, and south Florida by the weekend. Of course, a lot can change in 36 hours, so, let’s pray the storm heads out to sea and not cause any harm to anyone!

I wish to sincerely thank the daily users of these frequencies to allow us to serve our fellow man in a serious time of need. We do pray these storms are over soon as we, members of the Hurricane Watch Net, many who have regular working jobs, have taken time off to assist in Hurricane Weather Emergency. Please bear with us as we continue to help those affected and yet to be affected. We will return these frequencies to normal amateur radio use as soon as this Weather Emergency has passed.

Please, keep those who are in the path of these dangerous hurricanes in your thoughts and prayers!

As always, we are praying and hoping for the best yet preparing for the worst.

Sincerely,
Bobby Graves - KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
www.hwn.org

Hurricane Watch Net update - widespread damage reported in British Virgin Islands

The following is from our friends at the Hurricane Watch Net – widespread damage reported on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands…

(Update: Sunday, September 10, 2017 @ 9:30 AM EDT (1330 UTC)

The Hurricane Watch Net remains at Alert Level 5 – Catastrophic Response Mode.

The Net is operating on both 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz.

Around 8:40 AM EDT – 1240 UTC, we received a report from the island of Tortola (British Virgin Islands) of massive wide-spread damage.

This is an extremely dangerous hurricane and we greatly appreciate everyone allowing us a clear frequency. It not only helps our Net Control Stations but, and more importantly, those who are affected area in need of help.

Throughout our Net activation, members of the Hurricane Watch Net will be disseminating weather advisories as well as handling Emergency and Priority Traffic from ALL areas affected by Irma.

We will remain operational on 14.325.00 MHz (USB) until 7:00 PM EDT – 2300 UTC or for as long as propagation allows. We will begin our nighttime frequency of 7.268.00 MHz (LSB) and continue operations overnight.

As a reminder, our Net will remain in continuous operation until further notice.

Note: Operations on 7.268.00 MHz will pause at 7:30 AM ET, and, if required, resume at approximately 8:30 AM ET. This will allow the Waterway Net to conducts their daily net.

Any change in Net Operation plans will be noted here, on our website, the networks of 14.300.00 MHz, and many additional amateur radio networks and media.

HWN requests observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area (Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Wind Direction, Barometric Pressure – if available, Rainfall, Damage, and Storm Surge). Measured weather data is always appreciated but estimated data is accepted. We will also be interested to collect and report significant damage assessment data back to FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane Center.

In addition to collecting weather data for the forecasters at the National Hurricane Centers and reading the latest advisories, bulletins, and updates, we will be making for calls for those with Emergency or Priority traffic. Many areas have been severely affected by Irma and are just now beginning to get HF communications somewhat restored. Additionally, we are available to provide backup communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers and Red Cross officials in all areas affected by Irma.

I wish to sincerely thank the daily users of 14.325.00 and 7.268.00 MHz to allow us to serve our fellow man in a serious time of need. We do pray this storm is over soon as we, members of the Hurricane Watch Net - many who have regular working jobs - have taken time off to assist in this Hurricane Weather Emergency. Please bear with us as we continue to help those affected and yet to be affected. We will return these frequencies to normal amateur radio use as soon as this Weather Emergency has passed.

Please, keep those who are in the path of these dangerous hurricanes in your thoughts and prayers!

As always, we are praying and hoping for the best yet preparing for the worst.

Sincerely,
Bobby Graves - KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
www.hwn.org