WX4NHC TESTED AND READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON   
      
   The National Hurricane Center's Amateur Radio Station WX4NHC conducted   
   their Annual Station Test on May 30th 2015.   
      
   This is the 35th year of volunteer public service by the WX4NHC Group   
   at NHC.   
      
   WX4NHC conducts this event each year in preparation for Hurricane   
   Season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th.   
      
   The station was tested on many frequencies and modes, including; HF,   
   VHF, UHF, WinLink, VHF/HF APRS, EchoLink/IRLP/All-Star, email and   
   on-line form. We are pleased that all of the radio equipment and   
   antennas performed well.   
      
   The WX4NHC Test Event is also good practice for Amateur Radio   
   Operators worldwide, but especially in hurricane prone areas, to test   
   their station's ability to contact WX4NHC, should they need to during   
   a hurricane. It was also a good opportunity for NWS Office Staff to   
   become aware of the unique capabilities of Amateur Radio during severe   
   weather and disaster communications; when conventional communication   
   modes fail.   
      
   WX4NHC was on-the-air on HF and on digital modes and performing   
   equipment testing and operator training for 8 hours.   
      
   Communications contacts and surface reports were received from many   
   stations throughout the USA, Canada, and countries in the Caribbean,   
   Central and South America.   
      
   Special thanks to Jean-Robert Galliard, HH2JR, for his continued   
   support of WX4NHC.   
      
   Also special thanks to Lor Kutchins, W3QA, for helping us with Winlink.   
      
   The VoIP Hurricane Net on (IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference   
   node 7203) worked perfectly making many contacts.   
      
   The Net was great practice, using the same methods used to collect and   
   send weather reports to WX4NHC during hurricanes.   
      
   We send our sincere THANKS to the VoIP Net Manager Rob Macedo KD1CY,   
   the VoIP Hurricane Net Controls, and all those who checked into the   
   net.  http://www.voipwx.net/   
      
   More than 40 D-STAR/D-RATS Surface Weather Reports were received at   
   WX4NHC. The D-Star/D-RATS net and reporting was coordinated by John   
   Davis, WB4QDX.   
      
   We are excited of the potential that D-STAR/D-RATS modes can produce   
   hurricane surface reports in a similar format that is used at WX4NHC.   
   These reports may some day fill in a very important gap in surface   
   data during a hurricane that we could not receive on other modes. We   
   thank John, WB4QDX, for his efforts, and look forward to the   
   participation from D-STAR/D-RATS during hurricanes.   
      
   WX4NHC also participated in the Florida State Hurricane Exercise on   
   the UHF SARnet http://www.sarnetfl.com making many contacts throughout   
   the state of Florida, and with EOC stations. This is a great mode for   
   WX4NHC to make direct contacts statewide, and with EOC offices,   
   especially if a hurricane makes landfall in Florida.   
      
   SARnet currently has 25 UHF repeaters connected statewide. WX4NHC is   
   fortunate to have a SARnet UHF Repeater on campus, courtesy of John   
   McHugh, K4AG.   
      
   It was very satisfying to make direct contact with Ted Okada, N4HNL,   
   (FEMA Chief Tech Officer) on HF 20 meters.   
      
   We were also delighted to make contact with Craig Fugate, KK4INZ,   
   Administrator of FEMA on EchoLink, and on Florida Sarnet.   
      
   The ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, and HWN   
   Manager, Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, both came in loud and clear into WX4NHC   
   as well.   
      
   Mike, Bobby, Craig and Ted all understand very well how Amateur Radio   
   can help their communities during and after severe weather, and other   
   natural disasters.   
      
   We expressed our thanks to all of them for their strong support of the   
   Amateur Radio Volunteers and WX4NHC.   
      
   We are also thankful for all of the Skywarn Volunteers nationwide for   
   their continued efforts to help the NWS and NHC and their communities.   
      
   You may never know, but your efforts may someday save someone's life.   
      
   WX4NHC is thankful for the ARRL's help in publicizing this event as   
   they have done for many years. www.arrl.org   
      
   For more information, please visit:   
      
   www.wx4nhc.org   
      
   -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-   
    Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R   
    WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator   
    www.wx4nhc.org    
    Celebrating 35 years at the   
    National Hurricane Center   
    www.nhc.noaa.gov    
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