On Saturday, I went traveled with Guy McDonald, K4GTM to the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Communications Trailer open house at the airport in Statesboro. The trailer is being hosted at the airport by the Baptist Association in Statesboro. Many thanks to Ed Johnson, the association missionary for getting the trailer to our area; it will be of benefit to the entire southern side of the state.
Here are some photos from Saturday's event:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kf4lmt/sets/72157622348256883/
For more information on Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief see their website.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
28 September 2009
24 September 2009
Become a Trained Advanced Weather Spotter FOR FREE October 14th, 2009 Chatham County Annex - EOC 5:30 PM
In conjunction with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency, The National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Charleston will be offering an Advanced Weather Spotter Training Class on Wednesday, October 14th at 5:30 PM. The training is FREE, but space is limited.
If you have taken the Basic Weather Spotter class and are interested in improving your skills, please register by October 12th with Dustin Hetzel at DJHetzel@ChathamCounty.org. In your email, please include your Storm Spotter ID number or provide a copy of your NWS certificate.
The Advanced Weather Spotter training is offered to those who seek an in depth analysis of techniques used for identifying storm structure and events that pose a threat to life and property. During the presentation participants will learn about the ingredients needed for thunderstorm development and associated hazards likely to occur during each stage of the thunderstorm lifecycle. Additional topics include radar and satellite interpretation, convective storm modes with likely locations of severe weather in unstable atmospheric environments and understanding potential weather threats by observing storm structure through pictures and videos.
The Advanced Weather Spotter training will last approximately 90 minutes and individuals who have completed the Basic Storm Spotter training are strongly encouraged to attend.
Training Details
Location: Chatham County Annex: 295 Police Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA
Time: 5:30 PM
Contact: Dustin Hetzel at (912) 201-4500 or DJHetzel@ChathamCounty.org to reserve a seat and directions to the Chatham County Annex.
In your email, please include your Storm Spotter ID number or a copy of your NWS Basic Storm Spotter certificate.
If you have taken the Basic Weather Spotter class and are interested in improving your skills, please register by October 12th with Dustin Hetzel at DJHetzel@ChathamCounty.org. In your email, please include your Storm Spotter ID number or provide a copy of your NWS certificate.
The Advanced Weather Spotter training is offered to those who seek an in depth analysis of techniques used for identifying storm structure and events that pose a threat to life and property. During the presentation participants will learn about the ingredients needed for thunderstorm development and associated hazards likely to occur during each stage of the thunderstorm lifecycle. Additional topics include radar and satellite interpretation, convective storm modes with likely locations of severe weather in unstable atmospheric environments and understanding potential weather threats by observing storm structure through pictures and videos.
The Advanced Weather Spotter training will last approximately 90 minutes and individuals who have completed the Basic Storm Spotter training are strongly encouraged to attend.
Training Details
Location: Chatham County Annex: 295 Police Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA
Time: 5:30 PM
Contact: Dustin Hetzel at (912) 201-4500 or DJHetzel@ChathamCounty.org to reserve a seat and directions to the Chatham County Annex.
In your email, please include your Storm Spotter ID number or a copy of your NWS Basic Storm Spotter certificate.
23 September 2009
CEMA Talkgroups
During a recent exericse that I monitored, both Port Wentworth and CEMA (Chatham County Emergency Managment Agency) referred to TG 6256 as CEMA 3 ALPHA. This was formerly referred to as just CEMA 3, so I've begun wondering if there is parallel set of CEMA channels using digital voice (with the analog channels in the portable radio's A bank and the digital channels perhaps in the B bank). I have heard CEMA activity on a digital talkgroup within the past year (TG 12496) but I have not been able to tie it to a channel designator, so there is one piece of evidence that could point in that direction.
Drop me an email or post to the Scan Savannah google group (there is a link at the bottom of this blog) if you've monitored anything similar or have additional info.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
Drop me an email or post to the Scan Savannah google group (there is a link at the bottom of this blog) if you've monitored anything similar or have additional info.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
19 September 2009
The Day on Radio - 19 September 2009
I turned on the HF radio for (according to the log) the first time in 2 weeks this morning. I decided to play some radio before watching some football this afternoon and going to work this evening. I didn't get any DX today, but I did have fun chasing the Blue Ridge Bonanza special event stations, working a couple of South Carolina QSO Party stations, and working an Elmer Club in Virginia. Most all of this morning's contacts were on 40 Meters.
The first station I came across this morning was W4CA, one of the Blue Ridge Bonanza stations. The Blue Ridge Bonanza is a group of 13 special event stations along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina. This first W4CA that I worked was at mile marker 0 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Throughout the morning I worked 5 more W4CA stations at mile marker 84 - Peaks of Otter, mile marker 121 - Mill Mountain, mile marker 45.6 - Buena Vista, mile marker 189 - Groundhog Mountain, and milemarker 213 - the Blue Ridge Music Center. For the seventh of the 13 stations, I worked W4NC at mile marker 244.
In between the Blue Ridge Bonanza stations, I worked two stations in the South Carolina QSO Party on 80 Meters: KF4UOR in Calhoun County, SC and W4QNW just across the river in Beaufort County, SC.
This being a day of Virginia stations, I continued the run of Virginia stations by working W4ZA, the Richmond Amateur Radio Club. The Richmond ARC was celebrating the 80th birthday of their club!
The last contact of the morning was with the Memorial Amateur Radio Club. This is an intersting organization. They are an elmering club that works with students in the WFOS broadcast radio class at the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology. The school has a broadcast FM station on 88.7 MHz (I'll have to start listening for them during E-Skip and Tropo ducting). They not only elmer these students with both the broadcast station and amateur radio, they also try to provide amateur radio equipment to those students that pass their amateur radio license exams.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
The first station I came across this morning was W4CA, one of the Blue Ridge Bonanza stations. The Blue Ridge Bonanza is a group of 13 special event stations along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina. This first W4CA that I worked was at mile marker 0 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Throughout the morning I worked 5 more W4CA stations at mile marker 84 - Peaks of Otter, mile marker 121 - Mill Mountain, mile marker 45.6 - Buena Vista, mile marker 189 - Groundhog Mountain, and milemarker 213 - the Blue Ridge Music Center. For the seventh of the 13 stations, I worked W4NC at mile marker 244.
In between the Blue Ridge Bonanza stations, I worked two stations in the South Carolina QSO Party on 80 Meters: KF4UOR in Calhoun County, SC and W4QNW just across the river in Beaufort County, SC.
This being a day of Virginia stations, I continued the run of Virginia stations by working W4ZA, the Richmond Amateur Radio Club. The Richmond ARC was celebrating the 80th birthday of their club!
The last contact of the morning was with the Memorial Amateur Radio Club. This is an intersting organization. They are an elmering club that works with students in the WFOS broadcast radio class at the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology. The school has a broadcast FM station on 88.7 MHz (I'll have to start listening for them during E-Skip and Tropo ducting). They not only elmer these students with both the broadcast station and amateur radio, they also try to provide amateur radio equipment to those students that pass their amateur radio license exams.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
17 September 2009
QSL Card from the Central African Republic
I worked TL0A, Christian, from the Central African Republic on 4 July 2009. I haven't worked Africa very many times, so I promptly sent off a QSL card on 6 July. This morning, I received this terrific card back.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
15 September 2009
JTFEX 09-4
As indicated by the article I posted previously, JTFEX 09-4 began today. I monitored some activity that may or may not be related to the JTFEX; further monitoring throughout the week should indicate whether it was or not.
4.372 USB - A link coordination net with stations DELTA, FOXTROT, MIKE, and NOVEMBER. NOVEMBER had a possible foreign accent but I never was quite able to place it. As mentioned in the article, there is participation from foreign navies in the JTFEX.
340.125 - CHILL 21 (B-52H) wkg STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS). I don't know if this is a new JSTARS discrete (a few new ones have popped up lately) or if it is an exercise frequency. I'm not even sure this was part of the JTFEX, it could have been a different exercise. Friends from Florida indicate that there is another exercise going on at Avon Park, possibly an Atlantic Strike type exercise.
In addition to those two frequencies, the following were also in use:
284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
4.372 USB - A link coordination net with stations DELTA, FOXTROT, MIKE, and NOVEMBER. NOVEMBER had a possible foreign accent but I never was quite able to place it. As mentioned in the article, there is participation from foreign navies in the JTFEX.
340.125 - CHILL 21 (B-52H) wkg STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS). I don't know if this is a new JSTARS discrete (a few new ones have popped up lately) or if it is an exercise frequency. I'm not even sure this was part of the JTFEX, it could have been a different exercise. Friends from Florida indicate that there is another exercise going on at Avon Park, possibly an Atlantic Strike type exercise.
In addition to those two frequencies, the following were also in use:
284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
Harry S. Truman Strike Group Begins JTFEX 09-4 Off East Coast
From USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG), along with 13 foreign ships from nine nations, began Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 09-4 Sept. 14.
JTFEX is a scenario-driven tactical exercise that focuses on major combat operations for the HST CSG, which will provide necessary training for the strike group to proceed into a Fleet Synthetic Training - Joint (FST-J) exercise for final deployment certification.
JTFEX provides a "graduate-level" exercise to ensure U.S. and coalition forces are interoperable, capable and ready to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"JTFEX 09-4 will present the strike group with challenging, dynamic exercise threats. This scenario, and the opportunity to work with our coalition partners will prepare our strike group for the varied missions we will be assigned when we deploy," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. Leadership on board HST is looking forward to the challenge.
"Like all exercises, JTFEX is a great learning opportunity. It's also a chance to show the rest of the Navy the hard work and dedication the Sailors and Marines aboard USS Harry S. Truman put forth every day," said Capt. Joe Clarkson, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) commanding officer.
Participating countries include Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, The United Kingdom and The United States. Some of the participating units include the Canadian ship HMCS Fredericton (FFG 337), Brazilian ship BNS Liberale (F43), Italian submarine ITS Scire (S527), and Royal Netherland ships HNLMS Tromp (F803) and HNLMS Van Speijk (F828).
JTFEX 09-4 also marks the first ever inclusion of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1, which includes the Danish ocean patrol vessel HDMS Thetis (F357), the Belgian coastal minehunter BNS Lobelia (M 921), the Royal Netherland minehunter HNLMS Urk (M861), the Estonian minehunter ENS Sakala (M314), the British minesweeper HMS Quorn, and the Royal Norwegian minesweeper KNM Rauma (M352). In addition to the foreign ships and units, HST CSG has embarked several foreign naval liaison officers to incorporate into its training.
"The Royal Navy participates in the exercise with two frigates and we're looking forward to the exercise," said Royal Netherlands Navy Commander Bud Boots. "I think the exercise is a perfect training opportunity for us to practice real coalition cooperaion." "This exercise is a great opportunity for the Brazilian Navy to learn and interact with other Navies," said Brazilian Navy Lt. Cezar Santos.
The HST CSG is made up of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and embarked Destroyer Squadron 26 staff, the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66); the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).
CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA-32, VFA-37, VFA-105 and VMFA-312; Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron VAQ-130; Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-126; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron HS-7.
For more news from USS Harry S. Truman, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn75/.
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG), along with 13 foreign ships from nine nations, began Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 09-4 Sept. 14.
JTFEX is a scenario-driven tactical exercise that focuses on major combat operations for the HST CSG, which will provide necessary training for the strike group to proceed into a Fleet Synthetic Training - Joint (FST-J) exercise for final deployment certification.
JTFEX provides a "graduate-level" exercise to ensure U.S. and coalition forces are interoperable, capable and ready to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"JTFEX 09-4 will present the strike group with challenging, dynamic exercise threats. This scenario, and the opportunity to work with our coalition partners will prepare our strike group for the varied missions we will be assigned when we deploy," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. Leadership on board HST is looking forward to the challenge.
"Like all exercises, JTFEX is a great learning opportunity. It's also a chance to show the rest of the Navy the hard work and dedication the Sailors and Marines aboard USS Harry S. Truman put forth every day," said Capt. Joe Clarkson, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) commanding officer.
Participating countries include Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, The United Kingdom and The United States. Some of the participating units include the Canadian ship HMCS Fredericton (FFG 337), Brazilian ship BNS Liberale (F43), Italian submarine ITS Scire (S527), and Royal Netherland ships HNLMS Tromp (F803) and HNLMS Van Speijk (F828).
JTFEX 09-4 also marks the first ever inclusion of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1, which includes the Danish ocean patrol vessel HDMS Thetis (F357), the Belgian coastal minehunter BNS Lobelia (M 921), the Royal Netherland minehunter HNLMS Urk (M861), the Estonian minehunter ENS Sakala (M314), the British minesweeper HMS Quorn, and the Royal Norwegian minesweeper KNM Rauma (M352). In addition to the foreign ships and units, HST CSG has embarked several foreign naval liaison officers to incorporate into its training.
"The Royal Navy participates in the exercise with two frigates and we're looking forward to the exercise," said Royal Netherlands Navy Commander Bud Boots. "I think the exercise is a perfect training opportunity for us to practice real coalition cooperaion." "This exercise is a great opportunity for the Brazilian Navy to learn and interact with other Navies," said Brazilian Navy Lt. Cezar Santos.
The HST CSG is made up of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and embarked Destroyer Squadron 26 staff, the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66); the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).
CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA-32, VFA-37, VFA-105 and VMFA-312; Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron VAQ-130; Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-126; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron HS-7.
For more news from USS Harry S. Truman, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn75/.
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