Thanks Ron for forwarding this link to us and sharing it with the club

08/22/2011

At 8 AM on Monday, August 22, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activated for Hurricane Irene -- the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season -- currently a Category 1 storm. HWN members are monitoring 14.325 MHz in support of WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC). In advance of the storm’s approach, the Bahamian government has issued a hurricane warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas. 

As of 11 AM (EDT) on Monday, August 22, Irene is located about 105 miles west-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico and about 70 miles east-northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; it is moving west-northwest at 13 MPH, with maximum sustained winds near 80 MPH with higher gusts. According to the NHC, Hurricane Irene is expected to strengthen in the next 48 hours.

As the storm approached Puerto Rico on Sunday, the NHC issued a hurricane warning for the area, now downgraded to a tropical storm warning. Hurricane Irene hit Puerto Rico, causing power outages throughout the island. More than 1 million are still without power on Monday morning. As of 11 AM (EDT) Monday, August 22, hurricane warnings are in effect for the north coast of the Dominican Republic, from the Haiti border eastward to Cabo Engano. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Central Bahamas and the north coast of Haiti from Le Mole St Nicholas eastward to the Dominican Republic border. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Haiti, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra, and the south coast of the Dominican Republic, from south of Cabo Engano westward to the Haiti border. 

Hurricane Irene could cause heavy rain, flooding and mudslides in the Caribbean, hitting Puerto Rico on Monday and moving on to Hispanola later that day or Tuesday, August 23. The storm is expected to then track through parts of the Bahamas from late Tuesday night through early Friday morning. Forecasters are calling for the hurricane to reach South Florida as soon as Thursday, August 25 and move up the coast into Georgia and the Carolinas by Friday or Saturday.

TWiT.com is a webcasting site dedicated to technology both old and new.  They do a webcast of Ham Nation http://twit.tv/hn 

Some field day pictures have been posted on the site for your enjoyment.  More pictures can be found on the web at Field Day 2011 Photo Album

Just a reminder that the club picnic is coming up fast.  We look forward to seeing you all there. 

Check out the DTE interactive power outage map

ARRL Atlantic Division to Host Two D-STAR Webinars

05/23/2011

Periodically, the ARRL’s Atlantic Division hosts a “webinar” -- an interactive Web-based seminar, designed to facilitate communication between a small number of presenters and a large remote audience using the Internet. Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, and the National Capital Region D-STAR Association will present a two-part webinar discussion on D-STAR technology and its application to emergency communications. Anyone can register for these informative, interactive Internet meetings; you do not need to reside in the Atlantic Division to join in.

Part 1 will be presented on Wednesday, May 25 at 9 PM (EDT). This 90 minute webinar -- entitled D-STAR Basics -- will provide a general introduction to the topic of D-STAR and compares the technology to existing Amateur Radio systems. Examples of D-STAR innovation will also be presented. Click here to sign up for Part 1.

On Wednesday, June 8 at 9 PM (EDT), join in for Part 2 -- D-STAR and EmComm. This 90 minute webinar will provide a discussion on how D-STAR technology can benefit Amateur Radio EmComm scenarios. Examples of D-STAR applications to EMCOMM will also be presented, as well as future growth ideas. Click here to sign up for Part 2.

 

From ARRL web site news.

Members please go to the event calendar and register for Field Day.  You can order your T-shirt, Friday night Steak and select your preferred operating times.  

I would like to thank K8THU Don, W8KZP Bill, KB8TOO Linda, K8SB Stan, WB8AFO Ruth, KD8MLJ Mike and Cole, KC8DQJ Marv, N8SLJ Ray, KC8NNX JIM, K8SSB Jim, N8KAM John, KD8HFX JIM and KC8OBH Dave for helping with the MGST this year.  We had about 600 riders despite the weather. The day started with heavy rain but fortunately the skies cleared for the ride. Thanks to Jim K8SSB for bringing some of his scouts to the event they all got on the air at one time or another. John N8KAM thanks for bringing all the equipment.  We had enough help to cover all the checkpoints on all 3 routes. The Downriver Cycling Club was again happy to have our assistance.  Thank you again to all who came.

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/korea/ham-radios-find-place-in-high-tech-world-1.139146