Anyone enjoying ten meters? #ARRL #hamradio

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Even when it's not "open", it's frequently open. With the sunspots on the rise, so should the activity on the band increase.

Have you found http://ten-ten.org/daily_nets.html yet? Nets listed there will help determine if the band is open. If you look at http://www.qsl.net/steelcity/nets/whichnet.html, one will see a search box that lets you know which nets are in operation.

http://www.dxwatch.com/dxsd1.php?f=92 or http://hamspots.net/10/ will also give you DX Cluster spots, just for 10 meters.

At http://www.vhfdx.info/spots/warnings.php, one can get email alerts when six meters is open. If SIX is open, it's almost a given that TEN is open.

http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=28&ML=M&Map=W2L&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N also offers a map of openings AND the ability to post spots all in one place.

http://propnet.org/catch3.php?band=HY&last=24&call=&center=NAgives a map and paths band openings over a 24-hour time period. The site lists the stations and who heard who over PSK.

Another propagation tool is http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.htmlwhere one will find forecast for six- and ten-meters.

There's a number of 10 meter software defined radios that one can use to see where's the band is open. Two are dedicated to the "Beacon Band".

http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/bcn.htm is a list of beacons on Ten. Tune here to see where the band is open, even when it's not.

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Thankfully, there's plenty of tools to take some of the Magic out of the Band.

73

Lloyd, KC5FM

Exploring FM simplex #ARRL #hamradio @SimplexSunday #tweko

Are you using FM Simplex?  What frequency or frequencies do you monitor and your location?

Locally, I use 147.51, 146.52, and 446.000 in the scanner.  Traveling, I use 146.52 mostly but occasionally monitor the APRS alert (144.39 with 100 PL tone).


http://kd0tls.blogspot.in/2015/03/exploring-fm-simplex.html?m=1

Wildfire Chat set for April 7 #OKfire #WildfirePrepDay #OKready

Participate in next week’s Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Twitter Chat Tuesday, April 7 at 2pm EDT.  Using the hashtag #WildfirePrepDay the sixty-minute format will focus on projects that can be coordinated for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Saturday, May 2 and America’s PrepareAthon Thursday, April 30.  The conversation will provide information on mitigation, communication and evacuation.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about Wildfire Preparedness Day and America’s PrepareAthon projects and the available resources and ideas. Special guest participants include:

·         U.S. Fire Administration:  Phyllis Krietz, Fire Program Specialist, United States Fire Administration

·         America’s PrepareAthon:  Allison Carlock, Individual and Community Preparedness Division, U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA

·         U.S. Forest Service:  Pam Leschak, National WUI/FAC Program Manager

·         Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS):  Brent Henzi, Public Affairs Manager

Post these promotional tweets and get your stakeholders involved too:

·         Participate in the #WildfirePrepDay Twitter Chat – 4/7 at 2pm EDT and learn how you can accomplish something great!

·         Find your role in Wildfire Community Preparedness Day – People.Projects.Purpose. #WildfirePrepDay Twitter Chat 4/7 at 2PM EDT.

·         Learn how to make communities more wildfire resilient – #WildfirePrepDay Twitter Chat, 4/7 at 2pm EDT.

·         Be a local preparedness champion – plan a Wildfire Prep Day activity. Learn more in the #WildfirePrepDay Twitter Chat 4/7 at 2pm EDT.

·         Reduce your community’s wildfire risk with a PrepDay project.  Get mentored in the 4/7 #WildfirePrepDay Twitter Chat at 2pm EDT.   

Demonstrate your commitment to wildfire preparedness by adding your May 2 activities to the nationwide project map.  It’s easy to do and illustrates the magnitude of grassroots risk reduction projects occurring throughout the U.S.

Springtime Flooding #AltusOK #OKdrought

With spring comes the expectation of warmer weather and longer days. But it may also bring heavy rains and rapid snowmelt that can increase your risk for one of the most common disasters in the United States – floods. Properly preparing for this hazard can keep your family safe, minimize potential damage and speed up recovery efforts.

While everyone is at risk for flooding, many remain financially unprotected. One of the best ways to protect your home is by purchasing flood insurance because flood losses are not typically covered under homeowner’s insurance policies. Keep in mind that there is a 30-day waiting period before flood coverage takes effect, so the time to purchase is now!

In addition to flood insurance, follow these steps to safeguard your home and possessions:

• Create a personal flood file containing information about all your possessions, and keep it in a secure place such as a waterproof container or safe deposit box;
• Keep a written and visual record of all major household items and valuables;
• Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if you live in an area that has a high flood risk; and
• Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up in the drains of your home.

No matter the source, a flood does not have to be a catastrophic event to be costly. Just a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Check out this interactive Cost of Flooding tool from FloodSmart.gov to measure the financial impact a flood could have on your home.