The following is just a “Cut N Paste” from the Hurricane Watch Net Website describing their activation plans for Hurricane Milton. They would be accurate as of 1600 utc October 8th 2024.

================================

Hurricane Watch Net Activation Plans

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 @ 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)

Overnight, Milton completed an eyewall replacement cycle. The storm is once again intensifying. How strong will this storm become windwise? Let’s not let that be our focus. A real danger we must consider is going to extreme Storm Surge!

The Hurricane Watch Net will Activate this afternoon for Hurricane Milton as planned. There are a few minor changes.

Due to the timing and location of Hurricane Milton, we will operate until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC). Once we’ve read the latest Advisory on Milton, we will suspend operations until 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) at which time we will resume operations on 14.325.00 MHz. We will resume operations on 7.268.00 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC) or at the conclusion of the Waterway Net. The remainder of our plans remain unchanged.

Activation Plans:
Tuesday, October 8 – (Line Up Reporting Stations, EOCs, Storm Shelters)
• 20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC).
• 40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC).

Wednesday, October 9 — (Landfall Day)
• 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) and remain active until we lose propagation at night.
• 40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Thursday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net.

Thursday, October 10 — (Post Storm Reports, Emergency Traffic, Health & Welfare Traffic)
• 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC).
• 40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC).

Any change to these plans will be posted here, our website, http://www.hwn.org, and our social media pages.

To everyone in the path of this storm. Do NOT focus on the forecast track of the center of this storm. This will be a very powerful and deadly storm. While high wind is a concern, we must consider the very deadly and possibly historic Storm Surge to take place. Please, take all necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family.

If you have to evacuate to a Storm Shelter, if you have a portable HF station (a Go-Kit), please ask your shelter if you can set it up there. If so, please check in with us. We can help you keep up with the storm and help you with any traffic you may have.

As a reminder, once Hurricane Milton has exited the state into the Atlantic, the Hurricane Watch Net will remain active on both frequencies, listed above, to assist with Emergency Traffic, Health & Welfare Traffic with assistance from SATERN, and to collect and forward post-storm reports to the National Hurricane Center. We will remain active until our services are no longer required.

To all official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers, Red Cross officials, and Storm Shelters in the affected area, we are available to provide backup communications. We also collect and forward significant damage assessment data to government and non-government officials requesting such.

We greatly appreciate the daily users and various nets who use 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz for allowing us a clear frequency. It certainly makes our job easier and I know those in the affected area appreciate it as well.

Kind Regards and God Bless,
Bobby Graves – KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager

================================

For accurate and current net operations information please check with the Hurricane Watch Net website. If you are reading this now then you should be checking the link above for up to date info from the website

To my fellow hams in Florida and the surrounding areas… Be Careful and stay safe.

73bob

I guess this would be the best way to say it….

My local “watering hole” puts little gems like the above out on a regular basis. This one just seems to fit. I normally take pics of the good ones

But really… Recently the East coast of the US has been beaten on like a Narc at a biker rally.

.

First with “Hurricane Helene” attacking North Carolina and now with “Hurricane Milton” bearing down on Florida….

Just to make matters worse…. We are having a Major Solar Storm in between the two weather events

This might be a good time to remind you that the Hurricane Watch Net will be operating on 14.325 usb and also 7.268 lsb depending on the propagation (or lack of it) at the time. Please try to give them a clear frequency.

Depending on what time “Milton” arrives in Florida there could/might be some major disruptions to the two bands expected to be in use by the HWN.

As you can tell by the above graphic…. Its not looking too good… Hope it clears up before “Milton” arrives.

73bob

The following is just a “Cut N Paste” from the Hurricane Watch Net Website describing their activation plans for Hurricane Milton. They would be accurate as of 1600 utc October 8th 2024.

================================

Hurricane Watch Net Activation Plans

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 @ 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)

Overnight, Milton completed an eyewall replacement cycle. The storm is once again intensifying. How strong will this storm become windwise? Let’s not let that be our focus. A real danger we must consider is going to extreme Storm Surge!

The Hurricane Watch Net will Activate this afternoon for Hurricane Milton as planned. There are a few minor changes.

Due to the timing and location of Hurricane Milton, we will operate until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC). Once we’ve read the latest Advisory on Milton, we will suspend operations until 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) at which time we will resume operations on 14.325.00 MHz. We will resume operations on 7.268.00 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC) or at the conclusion of the Waterway Net. The remainder of our plans remain unchanged.

Activation Plans:
Tuesday, October 8 – (Line Up Reporting Stations, EOCs, Storm Shelters)
• 20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC).
• 40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC) until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC).

Wednesday, October 9 — (Landfall Day)
• 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) and remain active until we lose propagation at night.
• 40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC). We will remain active on this frequency throughout the day and overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Thursday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net.

Thursday, October 10 — (Post Storm Reports, Emergency Traffic, Health & Welfare Traffic)
• 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC).
• 40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC).

Any change to these plans will be posted here, our website, http://www.hwn.org, and our social media pages.

To everyone in the path of this storm. Do NOT focus on the forecast track of the center of this storm. This will be a very powerful and deadly storm. While high wind is a concern, we must consider the very deadly and possibly historic Storm Surge to take place. Please, take all necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family.

If you have to evacuate to a Storm Shelter, if you have a portable HF station (a Go-Kit), please ask your shelter if you can set it up there. If so, please check in with us. We can help you keep up with the storm and help you with any traffic you may have.

As a reminder, once Hurricane Milton has exited the state into the Atlantic, the Hurricane Watch Net will remain active on both frequencies, listed above, to assist with Emergency Traffic, Health & Welfare Traffic with assistance from SATERN, and to collect and forward post-storm reports to the National Hurricane Center. We will remain active until our services are no longer required.

To all official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers, Red Cross officials, and Storm Shelters in the affected area, we are available to provide backup communications. We also collect and forward significant damage assessment data to government and non-government officials requesting such.

We greatly appreciate the daily users and various nets who use 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz for allowing us a clear frequency. It certainly makes our job easier and I know those in the affected area appreciate it as well.

Kind Regards and God Bless,
Bobby Graves – KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager

================================

For accurate and current net operations information please check with the Hurricane Watch Net website. If you are reading this now then you should be checking the link above for up to date info from the website

To my fellow hams in Florida and the surrounding areas… Be Careful and stay safe.

73bob

I guess this would be the best way to say it….

My local “watering hole” puts little gems like the above out on a regular basis. This one just seems to fit. I normally take pics of the good ones

But really… Recently the East coast of the US has been beaten on like a Narc at a biker rally.

.

First with “Hurricane Helene” attacking North Carolina and now with “Hurricane Milton” bearing down on Florida….

Just to make matters worse…. We are having a Major Solar Storm in between the two weather events

This might be a good time to remind you that the Hurricane Watch Net will be operating on 14.325 usb and also 7.268 lsb depending on the propagation (or lack of it) at the time. Please try to give them a clear frequency.

Depending on what time “Milton” arrives in Florida there could/might be some major disruptions to the two bands expected to be in use by the HWN.

As you can tell by the above graphic…. Its not looking too good… Hope it clears up before “Milton” arrives.

73bob

Support Your Parks

This event happens seasonally, on the 3rd full weekend of the month (Saturday & Sunday UTC). These are ‘activity weekends’ where the main purpose is to get out in the parks, and have as much fun as possible.

• Winter – 3rd Full Weekend of January. January 18-19, 2025
• Spring – 3rd Full Weekend of April. April 19-20, 2025
• Summer – 3rd Full Weekend of July. July 19-20, 2025
• Autumn – 3rd Full Weekend of October. October 19-20, 2024

Hope to get you in my Logs during the upcoming event….

73bob

Support Your Parks

This event happens seasonally, on the 3rd full weekend of the month (Saturday & Sunday UTC). These are ‘activity weekends’ where the main purpose is to get out in the parks, and have as much fun as possible.

• Winter – 3rd Full Weekend of January. January 18-19, 2025
• Spring – 3rd Full Weekend of April. April 19-20, 2025
• Summer – 3rd Full Weekend of July. July 19-20, 2025
• Autumn – 3rd Full Weekend of October. October 19-20, 2024

Hope to get you in my Logs during the upcoming event….

73bob

It was a great time being back in Ottawa, visiting with friends from my old neighborhood and also spoiling my Daughters two cats.

However on the “Radio side” of things …. not so good

The plans were that I would be able (weather permitting) continue to control my hour on the Trans Provincial Net while away. It seemed that “Mother Nature” had different ideas. Most days rain or the threat of rain kept me from heading over to the park.

Above pic showing where the park was and the route I took

As I mentioned in a previous post…. there was a local (non-POTA) park within walking distance to operate from. It was a local sports field and had some bleachers for when the crowds came for Junior Soccer/Football and or Rugby…

Below pic showing how I set up at the park

Although the operating position was excellent there was NO PROTECTION from the elements which in my case meant rain.

I was able to wrap my MFJ mast to one of the bleachers and stretch the end of the EFHW antenna to the other bleacher and it did work like a charm. Signal reports were great considering I was running 50w into the antenna

So for 1 out of a potential 5 operating days it was fun and dry. Walking home with the gear safely packed in the backpack “Mother Nature” paid a short visit.

I also managed to activate CA1515 and CA1516 using my Xiegu X5105 along with a 29 foot wire (supported by the same mast mentioned earlier) with a 9:1 unun, a 17 foot counterpoise with a choke on the radio end of the coax. Jose VA3PCJ was nice enough to offer me a ride there and back. I activated the parks using SSB and VA3PCJ activated the same parks using CW and his KX3.

For Jose’s version of the park activation click HERE

I am expecting to be returning to Ottawa in Mid-January 2025 for another visit with my GrandKits and like last years winter visit there will be a car to keep me warm and dry.

73bob

It was a great time being back in Ottawa, visiting with friends from my old neighborhood and also spoiling my Daughters two cats.

However on the “Radio side” of things …. not so good

The plans were that I would be able (weather permitting) continue to control my hour on the Trans Provincial Net while away. It seemed that “Mother Nature” had different ideas. Most days rain or the threat of rain kept me from heading over to the park.

Above pic showing where the park was and the route I took

As I mentioned in a previous post…. there was a local (non-POTA) park within walking distance to operate from. It was a local sports field and had some bleachers for when the crowds came for Junior Soccer/Football and or Rugby…

Below pic showing how I set up at the park

Although the operating position was excellent there was NO PROTECTION from the elements which in my case meant rain.

I was able to wrap my MFJ mast to one of the bleachers and stretch the end of the EFHW antenna to the other bleacher and it did work like a charm. Signal reports were great considering I was running 50w into the antenna

So for 1 out of a potential 5 operating days it was fun and dry. Walking home with the gear safely packed in the backpack “Mother Nature” paid a short visit.

I also managed to activate CA1515 and CA1516 using my Xiegu X5105 along with a 29 foot wire (supported by the same mast mentioned earlier) with a 9:1 unun, a 17 foot counterpoise with a choke on the radio end of the coax. Jose VA3PCJ was nice enough to offer me a ride there and back. I activated the parks using SSB and VA3PCJ activated the same parks using CW and his KX3.

For Jose’s version of the park activation click HERE

I am expecting to be returning to Ottawa in Mid-January 2025 for another visit with my GrandKits and like last years winter visit there will be a car to keep me warm and dry.

73bob

On Wednesday the Nickel Belt Net celebrates its 6th Anniversary on the 40m band. If the band conditions allow check in with them on Wednesday afternoon and give them a hearty “Congrats” for a job well done.

73bob

On Wednesday the Nickel Belt Net celebrates its 6th Anniversary on the 40m band. If the band conditions allow check in with them on Wednesday afternoon and give them a hearty “Congrats” for a job well done.

73bob

I attended last years event and got some good deals but this year I will be in Ottawa and will miss it.

If you can… drop in for a visit.

73bob

I attended last years event and got some good deals but this year I will be in Ottawa and will miss it.

If you can… drop in for a visit.

73bob

Its another gig sitting my “Grand Kittens” for my daughter as she and her hubby will be out of town from September 20th for a week. I guess I did a good job when they went to Cuba last January so I got invited back… I will be operating /p from Ottawa from September 21st to September 27th.

Most of my operating will be from September 23rd onwards.

As you can see from the above pic… they like having me around (one cat at least)

This time its a bit different because the car will be going with them to their rental cottage which is about 2 hours north of Ottawa.

However I plan to take both my Portable Station and my Transportable Station with me so I can activate some POTA locations with the Xiegu X5105 and also use my Yaesu FT 891 as I control the Trans Provincial Net for my 11am slot.

---

Before we go any further please remember that all my RF Plans you will see below are if the weather is good. I don’t like operating outside in the rain and neither do my radios….

---

The closest park to where they live is a City Park and not a POTA park.

The park has two sport fields and they have bleachers so it will be easy as I will have somewhere to sit along with strap my MFJ 33 foot mast to so the EFHW will have some altitude.

That will allow me to act as NCS with a 100w station with a full size antenna.

Once the net is over I will be packing up and heading back to the apartment for lunch. In the afternoons…. Once again if the weather is cooperating I plan to take the X5105 out to one or two of the local POTA Parks for a couple of hours. Check POTA Spots….

Due to the fact of not having access to a vehicle I will be heading out either on foot or public transport. After checking the POTA map it seems there are quite a few POTA sites that are fairly easy to access via the Bus and LRT service. However a few of the “Locals” have mentioned that they might pick me up and we could do an activation as a group so you never know.

They say that “getting there is half the fun” and this might be the case.

Stay tuned…

73bob

Yes its an old picture but the hobby has been fun since the 1990’s

Its another gig sitting my “Grand Kittens” for my daughter as she and her hubby will be out of town from September 20th for a week. I guess I did a good job when they went to Cuba last January so I got invited back… I will be operating /p from Ottawa from September 21st to September 27th.

Most of my operating will be from September 23rd onwards.

As you can see from the above pic… they like having me around (one cat at least)

This time its a bit different because the car will be going with them to their rental cottage which is about 2 hours north of Ottawa.

However I plan to take both my Portable Station and my Transportable Station with me so I can activate some POTA locations with the Xiegu X5105 and also use my Yaesu FT 891 as I control the Trans Provincial Net for my 11am slot.

---

Before we go any further please remember that all my RF Plans you will see below are if the weather is good. I don’t like operating outside in the rain and neither do my radios….

---

The closest park to where they live is a City Park and not a POTA park.

The park has two sport fields and they have bleachers so it will be easy as I will have somewhere to sit along with strap my MFJ 33 foot mast to so the EFHW will have some altitude.

That will allow me to act as NCS with a 100w station with a full size antenna.

Once the net is over I will be packing up and heading back to the apartment for lunch. In the afternoons…. Once again if the weather is cooperating I plan to take the X5105 out to one or two of the local POTA Parks for a couple of hours. Check POTA Spots….

Due to the fact of not having access to a vehicle I will be heading out either on foot or public transport. After checking the POTA map it seems there are quite a few POTA sites that are fairly easy to access via the Bus and LRT service. However a few of the “Locals” have mentioned that they might pick me up and we could do an activation as a group so you never know.

They say that “getting there is half the fun” and this might be the case.

Stay tuned…

73bob

Yes its an old picture but the hobby has been fun since the 1990’s

Life is great IF you can get everything happening when it should. Today was living of proof of having to improvise and adapt….

Liz (the patient one who tolerates/supports this hobby) had a follow up appointment at the Providence Care Health Facility here in Kingston for 1030 am… At 11am I was supposed to be the Net Control Station for the Trans Provincial Net on 7.100.

This is a conflict and I have to give priority to Liz…. But here was the solution and it worked…

I dropped her off at her appointment for 10:15 and then walked out the back door of the Health Facility and into POTA CA-6003 which is the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

In the above graphic the Health Care Facility if the Grey building and the Trail is the thin green line right below it.

I had activated from there before and knew which trees would work with what picnic tables.

And yes I had brought my “Transportable Station” with me….

The FT891 was quickly hooked up to the 20AH battery and my “HomeBrewed” EFHW was strung between the trees… I managed to make a couple of POTA Contacts on 40m before the TPN started up at 11am. (thanks for the 2fer Bill) I managed to wrangle up 9 Checkins to the net which is not too bad as I took the summer off from my regular 11 am shift.

After the net ended I managed a couple of POTA contacts on 20m SSB which made it a successful POTA activation along with keeping up with my obligations to the Net. At 12:15 Liz sent me a text telling me she was finished and to meet her in the coffee shop in the facility. At 12:30 I met her in the coffee shop and we headed back home.

All in all it was a busy but fun start to the day…

73bob

Life is great IF you can get everything happening when it should. Today was living of proof of having to improvise and adapt….

Liz (the patient one who tolerates/supports this hobby) had a follow up appointment at the Providence Care Health Facility here in Kingston for 1030 am… At 11am I was supposed to be the Net Control Station for the Trans Provincial Net on 7.100.

This is a conflict and I have to give priority to Liz…. But here was the solution and it worked…

I dropped her off at her appointment for 10:15 and then walked out the back door of the Health Facility and into POTA CA-6003 which is the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

In the above graphic the Health Care Facility if the Grey building and the Trail is the thin green line right below it.

I had activated from there before and knew which trees would work with what picnic tables.

And yes I had brought my “Transportable Station” with me….

The FT891 was quickly hooked up to the 20AH battery and my “HomeBrewed” EFHW was strung between the trees… I managed to make a couple of POTA Contacts on 40m before the TPN started up at 11am. (thanks for the 2fer Bill) I managed to wrangle up 9 Checkins to the net which is not too bad as I took the summer off from my regular 11 am shift.

After the net ended I managed a couple of POTA contacts on 20m SSB which made it a successful POTA activation along with keeping up with my obligations to the Net. At 12:15 Liz sent me a text telling me she was finished and to meet her in the coffee shop in the facility. At 12:30 I met her in the coffee shop and we headed back home.

All in all it was a busy but fun start to the day…

73bob

I just had to share this….

Mike K8MRD from Ham Radio Tube just posted this video on You Tube and if you own a Xiegu X5105 you gotta give this a try. I will be looking for the the MFJ Antennas he mentioned at any hamfests I get to.

Thanks Mike for sharing this with us….

I suggest you check out Mikes YouTube page for this and other great videos…

73bob

I just had to share this….

Mike K8MRD from Ham Radio Tube just posted this video on You Tube and if you own a Xiegu X5105 you gotta give this a try. I will be looking for the the MFJ Antennas he mentioned at any hamfests I get to.

Thanks Mike for sharing this with us….

I suggest you check out Mikes YouTube page for this and other great videos…

73bob

Well according to their QRZ page the CY9C DXPedition to St Paul Island is now underway. The operation started on August 26th and will finish on September 5th 2024.

Here is a link to their website for those of you who want more info…

I saw them spotted on the cluster (20m CW working split) and decided to give it a try. Carefully set up the split wanted (I went up 4) and then confirmed that my trusty decoder could easily decode their CW (sent at 35wpm???)

I set my contest keyer in my Yaesu FT991a at 30wpm and then hit memory 1 on the keyer. NO Luck…. after about 3 minutes of sending my call out I finally heard back VA3QV 5nn.

I glanced at the screen to confirm what I had heard and also quickly hit memory 2 and 5nn ON was sent out. Right after that I heard TU and the screen again confirmed what I had heard…

Just for giggles I checked the Club Log for CY9C and to my surprise I found the following:

Gotta love it when a DXPedition promptly uploads their logs….

Now to be honest St Pauls Island is not exactly “rare DX” at a distance of just over 800 miles I know that I will get them on one of the bands…

Todays attempt was just quicker than I expected and in a different mode.

This afternoon (1500 utc) CY9C was spotted on 15m CW and I thought I would try again as I needed CY9 on 15m for my feeble attempts at 5 band DXCC.

It was a ZOO between the lids who can’t understand what “UP” means and the DX Cops who insist on explaining to the lid what UP means there was no chance of me hearing the reply if they actually heard me (I was up 4-8) …

Well I got a few days but at least I got them once.

73bob