NE-FL D-STAR System

The Journal of the North East Florida D-Star Repeater Network

Archive for September, 2010

Local Company Hires another Ham..!

Sep 30

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Users | No Comments

I’m pleased to announce that our Gateway Manager, Jason Price (W4LTL) has just landed a job at the largest private employer in Flagler County. Jason has been working closely with us on the Gateway systems and all things network and recently expressed a desire to seek a job at PCD. The timing was right, since the company recently lost their long-time network and Linux engineer to a Denver company. After multiple interviews, Jason landed the job as their new Linux/Network Engineer.

Congrats to Jason on landing a great opportunity at the largest technology company in town..!!

TD-16 becomes Tropical Storm Nicole

Sep 29

Posted by mikelee in Tropical Cyclones | No Comments

This system continues to march up the eastern coast of Florida.

————-

000
WTNT31 KNHC 291745
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM NICOLE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER   5A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL162010
200 PM EDT WED SEP 29 2010

...CIRCULATION OF NICOLE BECOMING POORLY DEFINED...

SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...23.5N 80.6W
ABOUT 80 MI...130 KM NE OF HAVANA CUBA
ABOUT 225 MI...365 KM SW OF NASSAU
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB...29.41 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
* THE PROVINCES OF CUBA FROM MATANZAS EASTWARD TO CIEGO DE AVILA
* THE NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE.  FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR
NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AIRCRAFT AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT THE CIRCULATION OF
NICOLE IS BECOMING ELONGATED AND LESS DEFINED.  

AT 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM NICOLE WAS
ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.6 WEST.  NICOLE IS
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR.  A MOTION
BETWEEN NORTH-NORTHEAST AND NORTHEAST ACCOMPANIED BY A GRADUAL
INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  ON
THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF NICOLE IS FORECAST TO MOVE OVER
THE FLORIDA STRAITS THIS AFTERNOON...AND MOVE NEAR OR OVER THE
NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED BEFORE NICOLE IS
ABSORBED BY AN EXTRATROPICAL LOW LATER TODAY OR THURSDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 345 MILES...555 KM
TO THE SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTER.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 996 MB...29.41 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL...NICOLE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF
5 TO 10 INCHES OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...JAMAICA...AND CUBA.
ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF CUBA AND JAMAICA.  THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE
LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.  RAIN ACCUMULATIONS
OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
FLORIDA...THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.

WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING
AREAS TODAY AND TONIGHT.

TORNADOES...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE IMMEDIATE
COAST OF SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS TODAY.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER BROWN

TD-16 – Over Cuba – approaching Florida

Sep 29

Posted by mikelee in Tropical Cyclones | No Comments

Currently southeast of Havana – moving North-North-East. Heavy rains in South Florida thru Cocoa Beach already.  If you haven’t made your preparations already, do so now. Florida State EOC is currently on Level-2 Alert, as indicated by the most recent email from the state’s communications officer:

=======  Quoted exactly, and in its entirety

“We have gone to Level II with briefings in the morning.    While ATT we are not expecting a hurricane we  are expecting heavy rain with flooding and possible tornados.  All of the east coast should remain alert monitoring NOAA broadcast the western/Gulf areas should remain alert and be prepared to help if needed.   Currently this notice covers the Keys to Jacksonville/Fernandina Beach and inland to about half of the State from 8 AM Wednesday to late Thursday.  See the information below.  South Florida and North Florida Sections should already be preparing, West Central should  see limited  affects unless there is a change in path.

James “Kimo” Montague, K4IMO/ AFA4BA

Florida Emergency Management Communications”

==========

Most current Advisory from the NHC follows, along with the forecast map:

———–

000
WTNT31 KNHC 291149
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION SIXTEEN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER   4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL162010
800 AM EDT WED SEP 29 2010

...DISORGANIZED DEPRESSION BRINGING HEAVY RAINS TO SOUTHEAST
FLORIDA...THE BAHAMAS...EASTERN CUBA...AND JAMAICA...CENTER
RELOCATED...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...22.6N 81.4W
ABOUT 150 MI...240 KM S OF MARATHON FLORIDA
ABOUT 230 MI...375 KM SSW OF MIAMI FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB...29.41 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
* THE PROVINCES OF CUBA FROM MATANZAS EASTWARD TO CIEGO DE AVILA
* THE NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
* SEBASTIAN INLET SOUTHWARD TO EAST CAPE SABLE AND FLORIDA BAY
* THE FLORIDA KEYS

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH OF EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE FLORIDA

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT THE CENTER OF THE DEPRESSION MAY
BE BECOMING LESS WELL DEFINED AND HAS BEEN RELOCATED OVER CENTRAL
CUBA.  AT 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
SIXTEEN WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.4
WEST. THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 9
MPH...15 KM/HR. A MOTION TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST ACCOMPANIED BY A
GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 TO
36 HOURS.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF THE DEPRESSION
WILL MOVE OVER THE FLORIDA STRAITS LATER THIS MORNING...AND BE NEAR
OR OVER SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA BY THIS EVENING.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND
THE DEPRESSION COULD BECOME A TROPICAL STORM LATER TODAY...BEFORE
MERGING WITH A FRONTAL ZONE TONIGHT OR THURSDAY.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON SURFACE REPORTS FROM CUBA IS
996 MB...29.41 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL...THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN
ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...
JAMAICA...AND CUBA.  ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF CUBA AND JAMAICA.  THESE
RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.
RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA...THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND THE CENTRAL AND
NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.

WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING
AREAS TODAY.

TORNADOES...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEASTERN
FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS TODAY.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 AM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER BROWN

Volusia ARES – Updates

Sep 29

Posted by mikelee in Volusia ARES Admin | No Comments

Had dinner with the Volusia ARES leadership Tuesday night – a delightful bunch of guys who want to turn the organization around into a lean, mean, fast-moving machine..!!

They will be coming out with a number of initiatives to keep people informed in the very near future. A draft of the Emergency Plan is being formulated and will be distributed to key contact points for initial review.

Steve is making good progress toward building a team, putting together a team and getting things done – NOW. I’ll leave it to Steve to communicate details, but suffice to say that I walked away pleased with the progress thus far.

more tk

TD-16 approaching – Heavy Rain expected

Sep 28

Posted by mikelee in Tropical Cyclones | No Comments

Keep a watch on this story – forecast to turn into a Tropical Storm by the time it reaches us.

All forecast models have it going either over, or very close to Miami, then progressing toward the North-North-East.

Disturbance in the Gulf

Sep 28

Posted by mikelee in Tropical Cyclones | No Comments

This one appears to have “legs” for Florida, as all of the current forecast tracks from the NHC appear to either cross or closely-approach the Florida coastline – we will post regular updates as this system becomes better organized and more threatening. In the meantime – be mindful that speed and direction of this system is subject to change at any time. NHC synopsis and forecast tracks follow below.

————————

ZCZC MIATWOAT ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
510 AM EDT TUE SEP 28 2010

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

1. SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THE LARGE LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM LOCATED OVER THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA IS CONTINUING TO
STRENGTHEN AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED.
SURFACE PRESSURES ARE FALLING AND SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE NOW
INCREASED TO NEAR TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
ARE BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT...AND ONLY A LITTLE MORE
ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS NEEDED FOR
THIS SYSTEM TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OR A TROPICAL STORM
AT ANY TIME. THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE...80 PERCENT... OF THIS SYSTEM
BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. INTERESTS IN
CUBA...THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS
SYSTEM. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... CONSULT STATEMENTS FROM YOUR
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE OR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL
SERVICE.

2. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...THE REMNANT OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
JULIA...LOCATED ABOUT 175 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA IS MOVING
WEST-NORTHWESTWARD NEAR 15 MPH. CONDITIONS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND THERE IS A LOW CHANCE...10 PERCENT...
OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE AGAIN DURING THE NEXT
48 HOURS.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

$$
FORECASTER STEWART

JAX Beach – Gateway system changes

Sep 28

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters | No Comments

Scott (K2LSF) noticed a number of gateway “hangs” over the last few days and has preemptively installed a 10/100 Ethernet switch between the gateway’s Gig-E interface and the RP2C card. We are monitoring it on a daily basis to see if the problem recurs, but from a user perspective it manifests itself in not responding to Link/Unlink requests.

..

Stay tuned as we continue monitoring. We have plans of installing a new 10/100 Ethernet card to replace the Gig-E interface, as well as to replace the failed receiver pre-amp in the next couple of weeks.

..

We are grateful that Scott lives so close to the repeater site AND that he is a trained and experienced Network engineer – it makes life MUCH simpler for us, give the distance from Palm Coast to JAX. We will also be leaning on Scott’s help for the BIG JAX machine when the time comes..!!

Daytona D-Star System upgraded to 4G Access

Sep 27

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters | 1 Comment

Jason installed the new 4G modem for the Daytona D-Star system on Sunday afternoon – this is a ClearWire 4G modem – same as that used for JAX Beach (which has been operating wonderfully). We also installed a 10/100 Ethernet Switch between the Gig-E interface and the RP2C in order to avoid lost-packet and packet-corruption between the Gateway and the D-Star controller. Jason has been constantly monitoring the systems for errors over the last couple of weeks and will continue doing so.

..

There’s a good chance that we will replace the Daytona Gateway with a 1U rack server in the near future, in order to provide better standardization across the gateways. Stay tuned for more regarding Daytona plans in the next few weeks.

..

more tk

MS-150 Credentials Printed

Sep 27

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events | No Comments

All registered volunteers for the MS-150 have had their credentials printed and prepared as of Sunday evening. We are fortunate to have 48 total volunteers for the event, between multiple counties both inside and outside of the event jurisdiction. We want to acknowledge that we have volunteers from Duval, Nassau, Clay and Putnam counties. All credentials will be delivered to the EC’s within the next few days.

..

To our knowledge, this is the largest Amateur Radio related event in the history of St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia Counties – working as a coordinated, single organization.

BIG JAX Prep Activities

Sep 26

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, Work Party | 1 Comment

Sunday morning, a small contingent finalized the preparations for the BIG JAX DStar repeater install. Phil (K5BBC), Eddie (KJ4LRB), Jason (W4LTL) and I did the following:
..

  • Inspected the DB-224E antenna for defects and cable/connector faults – factory new
    ..
  • Inspected and set-aside the Antenna Stand-off Bracket for the DB-224E – factory new
    ..
  • Swept the spool of VXL7 Heliax (1-5/8″) for faults  (final length = 1,130-feet) – no issues
    ..
  • Inspected and set-aside the Cable Clamps for the Heliax cable (enough for 500-feet at every 10-feet)
    ..
  • Inspected and set-aside the Grounding Kits for the VXL7 Cable (4 sets)
    ..
  • Inspected and set-aside the Hoisting Grips for the VXL7 Cable (2 sets)

All components were found to be in factory-new condition and ready for installation. We are expecting the call from the Chief Engineer within the next couple of weeks for the antenna/feedline installation, so all components have been laid-out and prepared for delivery to the tower crew.


Above: Eddie (KJ4LRB) with the BIG Jax Antenna and Heliax components (click to enlarge)

As a side-note, other cable what was swept and found to be in factory-new condition and being maintained in the warehouse includes:

  • Heliax 1-5/8″ type LDF7 –  184.7 feet (from Marty)
  • Heliax 7/8″ type LDF5 –  90 feet (from Marty)
  • Heliax 7/8″ type LDF5 – 195 feet
  • Heliax 7/8″ type LDF5 – 288 feet


Above: Eddie with our stock of Heliax (click to enlarge)