ALERT NEWSLETTER – November 2015

Hi everyone,
I hope this finds you well and that no hobgoblins created mischief for you overnight.

Have you checked in to the ALERT Sunday Night Net lately? Our net meets each Sunday at 7PM on 146.88 MHz, PL 88.5 Hz.

It is a discussion net, formal, but, with a somewhat laid back style.

As of today, if my memory serves me correctly, I will have completed 15 years as Net Manager.

Our Team of Net Control Stations consists of Jackson Chance, KK4NGD, David Hanna, KK4YPK,
Dale Wisely, N4HEY & Mark Wells, WD4NYL, with Owen Holland W3NH backing us up.

If you haven’t checked into our net, I invite you to do so.

I think you will enjoy it!

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K4NWS D-Star Updated
Ron Arant, N4PHP, and Ken Adkisson, WB4FAY, cleaned up the programming on the ICOM ID-800 at the K4NWS station. As part of the ‘clean up’ the memories were all reprogrammed in the ID-800 at the NWS station.
– Many of the repeater definitions were no longer valid or they were repeaters that were too distant to be remotely possible to use from the NWS office. These memory locations were deleted to eliminate confusion.
– Several usable D-STAR repeaters have been brought online since the ID-800 was originally programmed. These were added to memory locations.
– Echo, Link and Unlink command memories were added to support the use of the D-STAR reflector system.
– Analog FM repeaters were updated to include the PL tones for various local repeaters (e.g. 146.88, 146.98, 147.32, etc.)
– The FM Simplex net frequency (146.58) was programmed
The memories are set as follows:
# Display Name Call Band Location Function
01 DSO-VT K4DSO 2M Birmingham (Double Oak) Vhf general use Talk channel
02* DSO-VE K4DSO 2M Birmingham (Double Oak) VHF Echo
03** DSO-U K4DSO 2M Birmingham (Double Oak) Unlink the repeater from any
Reflector
04** DSO02A K4DSO 2M Birmingham (Double Oak) Link repeater to Reflector 02A
05** DSO58B K4DSO 2M Birmingham (Double Oak) Link repeater to Reflector 58B
06 DSOUHF K4DSO 440 Birmingham (Double Oak) UHF general use talk channel
07* DSO-UE K4DSO 440 Birmingham (Double Oak) UHF Echo
09 SBB-T KI4SBB 2M Birmingham (Red Mtn) VHF general use Talk channel
10* SBB-E KI4SBB 2M Birmingham (Red Mtn) VHF Echo
11** SBB-U KI4SBB 2M Birmingham (Red Mtn) Unlink the repeater from any
Reflector
12** SBB02A KI4SBB 2M Birmingham (Red Mtn) Link repeater to Reflector 02A
13** DSO58B KI4SBB 2M Birmingham (Red Mtn) Link repeater to Reflector 58B
15 AEC-VT W4AEC 2M Clanton (EOC) Vhf general use Talk channel
16* AEC-VE W4AEC 2M Clanton (EOC) VHF Echo
19 TUSC-T W4KCQ 2M Tuscaloosa VHF general use Talk channel
20** TUSC-E W4KCQ 2M Tuscaloosa VHF Echo
22 SIMPLX N/A 2M 145.67 D-STAR Simplex D-STAR Simplex frequency

101 SHL-98 W4SHL 2M Shelby County 146.98 Repeater
102 SHL-32 W4SHL 2M Shelby County 146.32 Repeater
103 BARC88 W4CUE 2M Birmingham 146.88 Repeater
104 147.14 WA4CYA 2M Hoover 147.14 Repeater
106 146.50 N/A 2M 146.50 Simplex
107 146.52 N/A 2M 146.52 Simplex
108 SMPLX N/A 2M Two Meter Simplex Net
109 TALLTR KX4I 2M Tuscaloosa Tall Tower Repeater

Notes:
* Echo memories are used to check how well the station is getting into the particular repeater. Simply select the appropriate ‘echo’ memory location; key the radio and speak a test message (e.g. “This is K4NWS echo testing.”). When the repeater records whatever it hears and then retransmitted the recording when you the input signal drops.
** Various repeater gateway commands (Unlink, Link to REF002A, and Link to REF058B) are programmed in various memories. To use these, select the appropriate memory location and simply ‘kerchuck’ the repeater. The command is transmitted and if properly received by the repeater, it will be executed and a confirmation message will be sent by the repeater. These memory channels are NOT for voice communications. They should be used only to command the repeater for a particular function

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Preparing For The Fall Tornado Season
As we enter our Fall Tornado Season, this month’s ALERT newsletter will focus on training, with a review ALERT’s operational procedures. Please print out these instructions, keep and study them.
This is a general overview. For more detailed instructions and many more resources please refer to the ALERT Handbook written by Roger Parsons, KK4UDU.
Also, remember that most of our “real training” is from “on the job experience”. In other words, please don’t be afraid to respond to a callout even if you feel need more training. 90 percent of our training is “learning by doing” under the supervision of seasoned mentor. That’s how I did it. My training was with David Black KB4KCH “showing me the ropes” during a callout many years ago.

ALERT CALLOUT PROCEDURES
What To Do Before The Callout
Some preparations you should think about before responding are:
1. Attend a storm spotter class. This way you will be more knowledgeable about the situations being encountered and the needs of the NWS. Also you will be better prepared to filter reports and eliminate the well-meant, but oft times goofy “Leaf debris reports”.

2. Familiarize yourself with radar interpretation, especially the new Dual-Pol products, so you can be looking at the radar and anticipating problem areas, as this will give you a head start on seeking pertinent information. I learned radar interpretation at JSU – James Spann University. When the TV meteorologists point out the various things they are seeing on radar, pay attention, learn and remember, for this is a good source for familiarization of standard NEXRAD displays. For the new Dual-Pol products I recommend the NOAA course http://www.wdtb.noaa.gov/courses/dualpol/outreach/ and the instructional posts at http://tennesseewx.com/index.php/topic,3110.0.html
3. Gain knowledge of the various area ARES / Skywarn frequencies and nets. Do be aware that due to propagation and repeater range, sometimes a counties “favored” repeater may not be the one that we can actually reach. Also, understand that some counties have ongoing political “situations” between rival organizations, and in some cases between ham groups and the county’s EMA. There is nothing we can do about this. Our job is to get reports for the NWS, not be a referee or a “ham marriage counselor”. Most groups like us, but, a very few do not. Do not be discouraged or engage in a conflict if you end up dealing with one of the latter groups. Remember that we represent the NWS, and we must practice diplomacy at all times.

4. Make a “go kit” or bag. Teresa & Mark’s go kit contains the ALERT Handbook, an Alabama atlas (the same one the NWS uses), a notepad, pens & a binder with all my “NWS / ALERT guides, and junk” that I’ve gathered over the years. Other useful items would be medicines, your favorite drink (non-alcoholic, please) & a favorite snack. Also included are things to do to keep you awake, for while some callouts are intense, hectic and exciting, others, especially when the storms keep dying near Meridian, are easy cures for insomnia.

Now that we have prepared ourselves, we wait for the callouts.

ALERT Callout Process
1. We want, encourage and welcome Operational members to take active roles in callouts. To receive callouts you must be on our callout list, if you are not receiving callout notifications, contact Russell KV4S so you can be put on the list. Contact Russell at Russell@kv4s.com. Remember that you must be a “paid up” ALERT member to be allowed to respond to a callout. If you are not a member or have let your membership lapse, please join ALERT, for non-members cannot respond.
Also, while guests are more than welcome at meetings, please do not bring guests to callouts. This is due to NWS security concerns and space limitations in the K4NWS cubical.
2. Monitor the weather situation and be prepared for a possible callout. Have more than one way to receive weather warnings. NOAA weather radio is the primary method, phone apps being secondary.
3. Don’t self-activate and just show up at the NWS because you think that help is needed and ALERT hasn’t acted or hasn’t acted fast enough. Remember that ALERT is activated when the NWS request activation. The NWS decides if and when we are needed, not ALERT. Never try to bypass the callout system. The callout system is in place for specific reasons.
The callout system allows us to:
Know who is actually there, so we can maintain accountability, security & control.
Avoid duplication of effort. When we know who is available & what times, we can schedule shifts allowing us to more efficiently utilize our available resources & avoid having a confused, chaotic response.
It helps operators choose which responses they can best give to which entity. This is especially becoming more & more important as many operators belong to more than one emergency response group
For instance, if there are multiple callouts – ALERT, ARES, CERT etc all issuing simultaneous callouts, if one calls the ALERT Liaison & asks if ALERT needs operators or is adequately staffed it will help you decide where you are best needed, since you can’t be everywhere at once.
It allows you to cover more bases, as it can allow you to say, “I can be at the NWS with ALERT from 3PM to 7PM and then at the EMA from 8PM till the duration”.
4. If a callout is issued and you are available, call the contact person listed in the callout notification so you can be scheduled. Always coordinate with the NWS liaison issuing the callout – Russell before responding to the NWS. If it is your first callout, let the liaison know, so you may be teamed with an experienced member. We don’t want to just “thrown you to the wolves”.
5. As mentioned earlier, remember that when you respond to the callout, visitors & guests are not allowed. NWS security restrictions and ALERT policy forbid this.
6. When you leave for the NWS, allow extra travel time, as travel conditions may be slow and dangerous.
7. If you are scheduled and will be late or unable to fill your shift, contact the Liaison you responded to & let him know.
8. When you arrive at the NWS buzz the buzzer to be let in & let them know you are with ALERT, and sign in providing a photo ID.

K4NWS Startup Procedures

1. Did You Sign In At The Front Desk?
2. Obtain a brief situational update from the meteorologist who greets you, or the person he designates.
3. Turn on the power supplies first.
4. Turn on the radios second, so you don’t damage the radios.
5. Starting with the 220 MHz radio on the far left, open the squelch and adjust the volume to a comfortable level, a level which will not distract the forecasters from doing their jobs. Verify that the radio is on 224.500 MHz.
6. Do likewise with the next radio to the right, which is 2 meters. This will be your “roaming” radio that you will use to search distant repeaters for reports. When not searching for distant reports, leave it on 146.880 MHz.
7. Next is the 440 MHz radio, which can be used for roaming UHF, but, is normally monitoring 444.100 MHz.
8. Next is the Icom 706. We currently do not operate on HF, so set this on 146.980 MHz so that if West Alabama is being affected, Shelby County can link with West Alabama and reach.
9. Lastly the D-Star radio is prepared. Test the radio on Channel 1. It can also be used on 146.88 or 98, and other reflectors and repeaters as needs dictate. But, usually it should remain on Channel 1.
The Radio Station is now prepared, now for the Computer Workstation
10. Verify that the computer is up and running, it should already be on.
11. If not, or if you cannot log into the computer or on the Spotterchats, if Jody Aaron or John DeBlock are available, seek their assistance.
One thing to remember is that as long as you can log into BMXspotterchat (the general use chatroom), this is sufficient. You don’t necessarily need to monitor the BMXEMACHAT & relay reports from BMXchat to BMXEMACHAT. After all you are sitting at the NWS – if someone has a report on BMXspotterchat, thank the operator & then simply tell the forecaster what was reported.
Remember also that ALERT members at offsite locations usually are covering the chatrooms. The focus of K4NWS is RF operations.
If you can’t log on the NWSchat system & want to monitor traffic on the BMXEMACHAT you can still do so (assuming you have an NWSchat account). This may be done by opening the Internet Explorer & going to https://nwschat.weather.gov/live/, log in & go to “Chatrooms” at the bottom left of the screen & click the link. From the list that appears find “Birmingham (BMX) EM Chat (bmxemachat)” and click on this & then click “join a chat” on the box that appears. A fully functional interactive version of the chat will then be activated.
Please note that while we can access the “BMXchat” or “Birmingham (BMX) Chat (bmxchat), it is preferred by the NWS that we use the BMXEMACHAT instead. Anything posted on the BMXchat automatically appears on the BMXEMACHAT. You miss nothing.
Now, if you can’t log on to the BMXspotterchat you may do so by going to http://weather.im/live/?nomap log in and find “BMXspotterchat” on the chatroom list at the bottom left of the screen and you may login in from the “join a chat group” box that appears, making sure you remember to identify yourself as K4NWS in the “chat handle” field.
The “ABC33/40skywatcher” chat can be accessed in the same way.
12. To monitor radar go to the College Of Dupage website at http://weather.cod.edu/satrad/nexrad/index.php?type=BMX-N0Q-0-6 The radar may initially display the Chicago area. Click the “radar site map” tab in the upper right of the display to access the available radar sites and select the appropriate Alabama radar. This is a full feature Dual-Pol radar site. As a backup use the NWS NEXRAD site http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/radar.php?rid=bmx&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no
13. If you are wanting to monitor APRS, though we currently do not have APRS capability, you may use the following websites to monitor APRS activity. http://aprs.fi/#!lat=33.46670&lng=-86.80660 & http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=wb4fay-4 These and many other weather tools and resources are readily available at www.freewebs.com/weatherlynx/.
Do understand that it is not the job of the operators at K4NWS to track people on APRS. During a hectic callout we simply do not have the time to track other counties operators. That is the job of the individual counties Net Control Stations. Each county should be aware of their spotter’s location and/or deployments, and simply relay the reports to us. If we were to try to track one counties operators, it would slow the process down severely and we would miss valuable reports from other counties also needing our attention.
14. When the computer is ready, as best you can, balancing radio coverage with computer coverage, monitor the radar & the Chatrooms. Remember that everyone has limited multitasking capacity & that this capacity varies with each person. Our prime mission is gathering reports via RF.
to him or her. Remember you are NOT intruding. They WANT your reports. That’s why they called you in.
16. You usually will receive requests for information & be given updates by the meteorologists. Honor those requests as best you can.
17. Listen to the background chit-chat in the room and monitor the radar. When an area of concern is mentioned or a suspicious looking cell appears on radar, go to repeaters covering the area of concern & SEEK reports. Don’t just wait for a warning to be issued to react. SEARCH for reports. We are to ACT, not just REACT. If a net is in session, check in with the Net Control Station and let them know that you are available for reports. Always go through the Net Control Station. We don’t “take over” other’s nets. If no net is in session, a general call for reports is acceptable.
If for some reason a counties Net Control Station or Net Manager asks us to not use their frequency, comply with their request and inform ALERT leadership of the situation.
Also be aware that no other ham organization, whether on a local, county, district, state or national level has authority over ALERT. ALERT is a separate entity operating under the authority of the National Weather Service, and they and the Federal Communications Commission are the only entities that have authority over our operations.
18. While monitoring 88 & 98 is desirable, you have to “go where the action is”, which means leaving those frequencies. If you are checked in to a local net, tell the NCS’s you are leaving. They can still reach K4NWS via 220 or 440.
19. Remember to log your reports.
20. When your relief operator arrives, leave, and go get some rest. You may be needed later again & will need to be fresh.
I’ll reemphasize the word “leave”. The guys & gals really don’t have the time to chit chat while an event is ongoing.

Shutdown Procedures

1. If possible, don’t shut down until the meteorologists say that you are no longer needed.
2. After they do, finish your paperwork & straighten up the cubical.
3. If the 88 & 98 Nets are up, let the NCS’s know you are shutting down. This also applies to any other net you are still monitoring.
4. Do likewise on the Spotterchat, as the Buddy List may say “K4NWS” even if no one is there, causing confusion.
5. Shut off the radios.
6. Shut off the power supplies.
7. DO NOT SHUT OFF THE COMPUTER!
8. Sign out and leave.
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Here are a few more words about the Spotterchats.
ALERT and the NWS cover 39 counties. Some have a low Amateur Radio population, who may not even be interested is the Skywarn program. Some counties are outside the VHF/UHF range of K4NWS, or rarely in range, such as is the cases of the Tuscaloosa & Gadsden 82 repeater’s or the Montgomery 84 repeater.
But, as long as the internet is accessible the Spotterchat system is always in range and has the potential to provide full 39 county coverage, which can be monitored remotely be ALERT members, freeing up the operators at K4NWS, and they can be monitored with or without a callout.
So here is a little brush up on the spotter chat protocols.
Operational ALERT members on the chats act as a liaison to the BMXEMACHAT and directly copies and pastes reports onto the BMXEMACHAT. They filter the information when needed, as any regular NCS should do, to insure that only necessary information is passed.
Here are some guidelines to help filter reports. Including reports from both the BMXspotterchat and the ABC33/40 chat, which James Spann has given ALERT permission to use & from which we “copy and paste” to the BMXEMACHAT when appropriate.
The first question to be asked is “is this report usable for NWS purposes? “Clear sky”, “full moon”, “it’s thundering”, “the stars are out”, “it’s getting very dark out here” (especially at sunset) aka “leaf debris reports” are complete wastes of the operators time, energy and Internet bandwidth.
If it is a suitable report, the “what, when and where rules” apply. What has or is happening, when did it happened and where? We will need a clear specific location. A location that is clearly defined with street/cross-street, mile marker, etc. If the location has a strange or unfamiliar sounding name, don’t hesitate to ask the reporting station to spell the street name. Otherwise you may have to waste time chasing down details in a fast pace, hectic, often hellacious situation. Remember that time is our greatest enemy.
We don’t need scanner reports or third hand reports. They are unverifiable and in the case of scanner reports, the EMA usually already knows about the call and will know whether it is a false alarm or not. If it’s the “real deal”, the EMA will pass the information directly to the NWS. Scanner reports are how false rumors are spread, which is something that we – ALERT, the NWS and the EMA’s all seek to avoid.
The BMXchat & BMXEMACHAT are for “weather and weather only” and not places for idle chit-chat or critiquing NWS forecast decisions. This would include the ABC3340 Chat. Publicly criticizing the NWS while flying the ALERT banner is totally unacceptable and can damage the public confidence of the NWS and damage ALERT’s relationship with the NWS.
Remember also that we don’t casually “chat with the guys at the NWS”. They are busy. If the meteorologists ask us a question, we answer, but usually not the other way around.
Information & discussions seen on the NWSchat are NOT to be discussed on the air or on the other chats. The information is confidential and is to be treated as such. The only exceptions would be in cases where you see the forecaster saying something like “rotation is really tightening up over Hueytown”. Then simply say on the other chats or on the air that the “NWS is needing reports from the Hueytown area”.
A final word on this subject is to remember that everyone has a slightly different methodology, based on knowledge, experience and personal preference. Don’t be afraid that you might mess up. It’s when you think that you never mess up, or are afraid to act at all, that you are on the slippery edge of a problem. So hop on in there.
Know that by responding and manning K4NWS you may have saved a life. You may never know whose family you have saved, whose child will still have a mother and father or whose life will continue because of the advanced warning you helped make possible. But, because of the service you provided, you literally saved these lives.
Which is something to be proud of.

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Mark’s Almanac

November, the eleventh month, is named for “Novem”, being the ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar.
With the arrival of November we enter our second tornado season. Alabama and the Southeast is “blessed” by being the only area on Earth having two tornado seasons. And, the cause of the fall season is the same as the spring season – clashes of cold and warm air masses. The cold air of winter invades and tries to push the warmth of the summer back into the sea, which is the same process of springtime, just in reverse.
The second tornado season is often more destructive than the spring season.

Based on NWS statistics from 1950 to 2014 November the third most active month for tornadoes, having seen 247, following just behind second ranked March’s 263 count. April leads with 455 tornadoes.

Jefferson County, incidentally, has now taken the lead for tornadoes per county – 95 tornadoes from 1950 to 2014. Baldwin is second with 90, and Mobile third with 83.

So beware of a warm & muggy November day. Especially one with a south wind, as something may really be “in the air”.

The Hurricane threat greatly diminishes, with hurricane activity occurring mainly in the open Atlantic, threatening the Eastern Seaboard, but usually veering off into sea as cold fronts off the East Coast deflect them. Hurricanes can still form in the Caribbean, which usually visit the Yucatan, but can enter the Gulf.
Hurricane season ends November 30.
November welcomes the peak of fall colors. For Birmingham the peak occurs around November 15, but the date can vary depending on your elevation & latitude.

Indian Summer and Squaw Winter continue to battle it out, but the cool or cold weather will eventually win, with the first average frost being on November 11.

The usual fall effects occur in North America with Canada’s Hudson Bay becoming unnavigable due to pack ice & icebergs. Navigation in the Great Lakes becomes perilous due to storms bringing the “Gales Of November” made famous in song “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald”.

And, don’t be surprised if you hear ducks overhead & see wedges of Canadian geese heading south for the winter. And if you see strange birds appearing in your front yard, remember that for 336 species of birds Alabama IS south for the winter.

For fun, some November weather folklore is:

“A cold November means a warm Christmas, conversely, a warm November is a sign of a bad winter to come.”

“Wind in the North-west on St. Martin’s Day (Nov 11)
There’s a severe winter on the way

Wind in the South-west on St. Martins Day
There it will remain till February, and a mild winter will be had.”

“Ice before Martinmas (St. Martin’s Day), enough to bear a duck
The rest of winter, is sure to be muck.”

“Martinmas”, incidentally, was the time when autumn wheat seeding was completed, and the annual slaughter of fattened cattle produced “Martinmas beef”.

Looking towards the sky, Mercury is low in the eastern predawn sky, look for him 45 minutes before sunrise.

Venus, Mars and Jupiter be in a rare three planet conjunction at the first of the month, with the planets forming a tight 1 degree triangle in the early morning sky, with the star Regulus lingering nearby. Look to the East at sunrise for this very rare spectacular.

Jupiter and Mars pass through conjunction on Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th just 0.4 degrees apart. Then Jupiter moves upward towards Venus and are only 1.1 degrees apart on the 25th and 26th.

Saturn, at the Libra/Scorpius border is very low in the southwest during twilight, near twinkling Antares.

Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius are high in the southeast and south respectively by 9 or 10 PM.

The Taurid Meteor Shower peaks the night of November 5 & 6. The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10.

The second quarter moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. If you are patient, you may still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

New Moon occurs November 11 at 11:47 AM CST when the Moon will on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.

The Leonid Meteor Shower will occur the night of November 17 & 18. The Leonids is an average shower, producing an up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001 and the next will occur in 2034.

The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th.

The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving fairly dark skies for what could be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

The Leonids are well known for producing bright meteors and fireballs. Its productivity varies per year, but it can deposit 12 to 13 tons of particles across the planet. Which is why having an atmosphere to shield us is such a nifty thing.

If you can’t see them, you can listen to them. Try http://spaceweatherradio.com/index.php and click “listen”. You may hear them “pinging” off the US Air Force Space Surveillance radar system.

Full Moon will occur November 25 at 4:44 PM CST. This month’s moon is “Full Beaver Moon” so named by Native American tribes because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. It has also been known as the Frosty Moon and the Hunter’s Moon.

1903 planets beyond our solar system have now been confirmed as of October 22, per NASA’s Exoplanet Archive http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/.

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This month’s meeting will be on November 10 at 7PM at the National Weather Service Forecast office at the Shelby County Airport.

If for some reason you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can still participate via telephone. The teleconference number is 1-877-951-0997 & and the participant code is 741083.
Hope to see you there!
Mark / WD4NYL
Editor
ALERT Newsletter

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