Whatcom County Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Having trouble with HF today? Here’s why!

An X-Class solar flare reaching at least the X2.0 level is currently in progress. AR 3234 towards the northwest limb will be the most likely source. More to follow.

SolarHam.com

KOMO News
KIRO 7 News
Kcpq TV Channel 13
KING 5

Hurricane Ian may have wiped out normal communications.

Ham radio is still working. A hurricane net is on 7.268 LSB and helping those affected communicate outside Florida.

We train for disasters…….

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio

Amateur radio operators KNOW this. Please share to your personal pages.

When All Else Fails®, ham radio operators serve their communities by providing emergency communications. Read ARRL's REPORT TO AMERICA in our 2021 Annual Report. The report includes recent stories of amateur radio activations and response for storms, fire, and other disasters: www.arrl.org/annual-reports

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency Department of Homeland Security

Amateur radio was part of this team!

We are pleased to see the department recognizing what we, as radio operators, know.

Are you confused about how the sun affects radio waves?

https://www.solarham.net/help_center.htm?fbclid=IwAR3a6V5dqOlOdLXXhx9LkG8uyLJ9TMkXvYbkffRFtoEpt4-lfU-wUgc9S_g

(Help Center) SolarHam coronal mass ejection (CME) The material consists of plasma made up primarily of electrons and protons (in addition to small quantities of heavier elements such as helium, oxygen, and iron), plus the entrained coronal magnetic field. When the plasma cloud sweeps past the Earth as an ICME (Interplane...

This is great news!

ARRL News | New FCC Application Fee Will Not Apply To Amateur Radio License Upgrades

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) staff has clarified in response to an ARRL request that the new $35 application fee will not apply to most license modifications, including those to upgrade an Amateur Radio Licensee’s operator class and changes to club station trustees. The FCC staff explained that the new fees will apply only to applications for a new license, renewal, rule waiver, or a new vanity call sign. As previously announced, the new fees take effect on April 19, 2022.

“We are pleased that the FCC will not charge licensees the FCC application fee for license upgrade applications,” said ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM. “While applicants for a new license will need to pay the $35 FCC application fee, there will be no FCC charge for future upgrades and administrative updates such as a change of mailing or email address. Most current licensees therefore will not be charged the new FCC application fee until they renew their license or apply for a new vanity call sign.”

ARRL previously reported that the new $35 application fee for Amateur Radio licenses will become effective on April 19, 2022. Further information and instructions about the FCC Application Fee are available from the ARRL VEC.

http://www.arrl.org/news/new-amateur-radio-license-applications-fee-to-become-effective-april-19-2022

New Amateur Radio License Applications Fee To Become Effective April 19, 2022 The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

Every Sunday at 7 pm. Any amateur radio operator can check in.



ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio

About WECG - WECG Ham Radio Operators Serve Our Community as Volunteer Emergency Communicators Whatcom County Emergency Communications The Whatcom Emergency Communication Group provides a platform for field communications that supports the Sheriff’s Search And Rescue efforts through the use of two mobile radio vans...

ARES net every Sunday at 7 pm Pacific time.

All licensed amateurs are welcome.

Voice Sundays 1900-1920 All licensed amateurs Church Rd UHF repeater 442.825 MHz, tone 156.7 Hz.
Net Control may move the net to another repeater or simplex frequency after starting the net on on the Church Road repeater. Exercise your radio equipment.
Consider being Net Control for this net. Visit http://wecg.org for details.

About WECG - WECG Ham Radio Operators Serve Our Community as Volunteer Emergency Communicators Whatcom County Emergency Communications The Whatcom Emergency Communication Group provides a platform for field communications that supports the Sheriff’s Search And Rescue efforts through the use of two mobile radio vans...

The active sun can wreak havoc on the bands……and it can create excellent conditions.

A long duration flare currently measuring just above the moderate M1 level X-Ray threshold is currently in progress around AR 2936. A minor (R1) level radio blackout is now affecting the Pacific Ocean region of Earth. More details regarding this particular event to follow whenever necessary.

SolarHam.com

FYI

The tsunami advisory for the Washington and Oregon coasts is cancelled. No tsunami danger exists for the area. If this had you nervous, learn your tsunami hazard and evacuation maps at mil.wa.gov/tsunami. We also recommend you opt into your local alerts at mil.wa.gov/alerts

Listen to the experts…..

WeatherWatch.co.nz on Twitter “Infrared Satellite Imagery shows how clear skies were fast replaced by the giant cloud over in the past couple hours. https://t.co/pxqA4LymlH”

The latest newsletter.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio

ARRL NW Division Newsletter, Dec 26, 2021 – ARRL – Northwestern Division Newsletters  ARRL NW Division Newsletter, Dec 26, 2021 December 26, 2021December 26, 2021 Mike Ritz 1 Views 0 Comments FacebookTweet First of all, I hope everybody is ready for the New Year’s holiday,which is just right around the corner! Mark and I have been very busygetting ready writing up rep...

FYI - let those who need help know about this resource.

12/27/21: 8:20AM Shelter continues to be OPEN. Please contact the Fire Department if you need a ride to the shelter. 599-2823 ❤️Neighbors help each other know about this support in case without power they are also without a phone.❤️

If you call and leave a message please be sure to leave your phone number. We may be busy helping folks who are at the warm up center get their needs met but would like to follow up with you too! So please leave a number and hope you are safe and warm.

12/26/21 Fire District 14, Whatcom Emergency Management & Opportunity Council opened the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center (EWRRC) for shelter & warm up space. Please let your neighbors in need know. Stay home if it is safe to do so! Whatcom County Fire District 14 Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Whatcom County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Foothills Food BankFoothills Community Alliance

Here’s one of the best explanations of the various conditions of the sun and how the sun affects radio propagation.

https://www.solarham.net/help_center.htm?fbclid=IwAR1yFv_WMZh9Ryqlz2Ri3f80TIxzI0u0Y7xpOhjz0eWXZ77Nr0_cRtDACuU

(Help Center) SolarHam coronal mass ejection (CME) The material consists of plasma made up primarily of electrons and protons (in addition to small quantities of heavier elements such as helium, oxygen, and iron), plus the entrained coronal magnetic field. When the plasma cloud sweeps past the Earth as an ICME (Interplane...

10 meters is wide open today. Sunspots are about 120 with an SFI about the same.

I’ve never seen 10 meters this open.

Here it comes….faster than you think. What are your plans?

ARRL Field Day 2022!

Mark your calendars for June 25-26 📅

👉STAY TUNED for 2022 Field Day MERCHANDISE!

Be safe and follow emergency directions.

Whatcom County was hit by a huge storm and the worst flooding in 30 years.

Our Search and Rescue partners had a crucial piece of equipment damaged beyond repair.

See the post to find out how you can help.

Please feel free to share this post.

Any donations to Summit to Sound search and rescue would be greatly appreciated as, one of our boats was damaged beyond repair during this week's rescues in Sumas! We are 100% non profit and all our gear and boats are paid for by our members and community donations! Thank you everyone. Donations can be made via check mailed to 1041 West Smith Rd., Bellingham, WA 98225. You can also message our page and a unit officer can pick up the donations. Venmo - summit to sound search and rescue or PayPal ([email protected]) are also options. We are a 501(c)3 for tax deductions also!

Update: I-5 is closed in both directions.

Southbound at North Lake Samish

Northbound at Nulle road.

The hillsIde is “active” and dangerous.

Northbound I-5 will be closed overnight at MP245 due to slides.

Stay safe. We can’t help if we are in trouble.

Increasing sunspots also bring more solar storms.

Geomagnetic storming continues. Aurora should be visible according to the data at middle latitudes while it is still dark outside.

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2021 Nov 04 0730 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0600-0900 UTC
Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate

SolarHam.com

Good advice…..

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH MORE INFORMATION.

We’re seeing a lot of attention towards a social media post advising you to change your voicemail if you are lost and your cell phone battery is low. This is very bad advice. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS.

Why is this a bad idea? If you have enough service to change your voicemail, then you should call 911. Calling 911 will ensure rescue resources are being dispatched. If you are low on battery, don’t waste your battery life doing something that may not get help headed your way in a timely manner. If you try to change your voicemail and your battery dies in the process, you’ve wasted your chance.

Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Whatcom County Search & Rescue Council offer this advice.

• First off, ALWAYS tell someone your plans, where you’re going, and when you expect to return.
• If you have a GPS tracking device, make sure it’s charged and take it with you.
• If you find yourself lost or injured and your phone battery is low, disconnect the Bluetooth and wifi. Put your screen brightness as low as possible. Close any open apps.
• EVEN IF IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE NO SIGNAL, TRY CALLING 911. If your 911 call is not going through, text 911. Texting takes less battery and service. A second group text to family and/or friends can also be helpful. Do not send individual texts, just one group text, and just text; no images. This also saves power. Include any information pertinent to your location and your condition.
• STAY PUT.

While your cell phone can be a valuable tool, there are many remote areas where access to a tower, any tower, is not possible. In that case, your cell phone will not be useful. The BEST advice is to be prepared for the possibility of not being able to call or text.

According to Lauri McBeath from WCSAR, "Search and Rescue volunteers are always ready to respond. Please call as soon as you think you’re in trouble. We’d rather go home not being needed after all, than your day being worse off for waiting."

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺 𝘚𝘈𝘙 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Power outages are possible. Are you ready?

Update from Saturday morning: This is now a high wind warning, upgraded from a watch.

Now is a good time to check your outside decorations and ensure you emergency kits and cabinets are stocked in case of power outages. A high wind WARNING has been issued for coastal Washington, as well as admiralty inlet San Juan County, Western Whatcom County, Western Skagit County and the Western Strait of Juan De Fuca. This watch is in effect from Sunday to Monday morning. Winds could be 40mph with gusts to 60mph. There are also high surf warnings. Check your local forecast. You can also find a list of Alerts by county at this link: https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wa.php?x=3

(We recognize Pacific County isn't on the map, but the watch applies there, as well. The map was created by the Seattle office of the National Weather Service. Pacific County is served by the Portland office.)

Cell phones and other devices will go off at 10:21.

At 10:21 am TODAY, millions of people will participate in the largest earthquake drill ever: ShakeOut! Why? Earthquakes can happen anywhere, so everyone should know how to protect themselves when an earthquake occurs. Coastal earthquakes can be followed by tsunamis – which is why the Great Washington ShakeOut includes a tsunami drill.

Washington’s network of coastal tsunami sirens will be tested at around 10:21 a.m. on October 21 using the wailing sound of a tsunami warning, not the Westminster Chimes that are used during the monthly tests. PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911. NOAA Weather Radios will also be tested.

We’re using on social media. Today at noon, we’ll be doing a FB Live on this page at https://www.facebook.com/WashEMD/live_videos/ If you have questions about earthquakes or tsunamis, let us know.

For a map of siren locations and to hear what the sirens sound like, visit https://mil.wa.gov/tsunami

The wailing sound will be followed by this message in English and Spanish: “This is a test of the siren alert system. If you are in a low coastal area, test your evacuation route. If this had been a real emergency, you should follow evacuation routes, move to higher ground inland, now. Do not delay. Do not return until directed to do so. Tune into your local media sources for further instructions. This was only a test.”

To learn more about ShakeOut, visit shakeout.org/Washington

Aurora was visible in NW Washington.

Geomagnetic storming reaching Moderate G2 levels continued on Tuesday in the wake of the CME passage last night. The storm sparked visible aurora across many locations, including mostly all of Canada and the northern tier of the United States. Things are a little quieter at the moment, however visible aurora will be likely at higher latitudes during the next 24 hours while the solar wind stream remains elevated.

Attached is a colorful aurora photo captured last night by Runólfur Hauksson from Iceland. Nice shot and thanks for sharing!

SolarHam.com

Are you ready or getting ready a little bit at a time?

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills help people in homes, schools, and organizations worldwide improve preparedness and practice how to be safe during earthquakes. Register to participate in your state or country's drill at www.ShakeOut.org.

New for us!

NW Division Newsletter – Sept 23, 2021 – ARRL – Northwestern Division Newsletters  NW Division Newsletter – Sept 23, 2021 September 24, 2021September 24, 2021 Mike Ritz 1 Views 0 Comments FacebookTweet Well, the last week of August, and the first couple weeks of Septemberhave been busy for me, but not from anything really ARRL related for achange. It’s because th...

Our amateur community has been busy.

https://zeroretries.substack.com/p/ca803313-1720-40f7-b065-35e8a79a4215?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cta

Zero Retries 0010 Multipurpose Remote Nodes, SignaLink USB updates

Sunspots are increasing. Unfortunately there is some increase in RF interference due to this increase.

But, all in all, it’s great to see the increase in sunspots.

Good evening. AR 2860 continued to expand on Friday and developed a Beta-Gamma magnetic configuration. A number of C-Class solar flares were observed, including a C7.3 at 21:09 UTC (Aug 27). An isolated moderate M-Flare will be possible during the next 24 hours.

Geomagnetic activity reached the Active (Kp4) threshold due to a prolonged period of southward Bz, possibly related to a weak CME passage. Additional enhancements will be possible during the next several days with another weak CME passage predicted. Visible aurora will be likely around the polar zones.

SolarHam.com

Does FEMA know something you don’t?

Yes, they know we will be working when other modes go down.

You can help by helping keep these frequencies clear.

Also, try checking into the “HF traffic system nets” (google that phrase), you might be able to take a message for a family member who has someone in Haiti.

Following Earthquake in Haiti, Radio Amateurs Asked to Keep Frequencies Clear | August 14, 2021

In a statement received by ARRL on August 14, 2021, Region 2 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU-R2) has requested that radio amateurs in the Americas keep the following frequencies clear to support emergency communications in Haiti following an earthquake this morning: 3750 kHz, 7150 kHz and 14330 kHz. The statement came from IARU-R2 Emergency Coordinator (EMCOR) Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, CO2JC.

According to preliminary information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on August 14, 2021 at 1229 UTC, about 12 kilometers northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud and 33 kilometers to the east-northeast of Les Cayes, Haiti; 18.352 degrees north and 73.4801 degrees west at a depth of 10 km.

Mr. Jean-Robert Gaillard, HH2JR, President of the Radio Club of Haiti, reported significant structural damage.

International news reports fear high casualties.

https://www.iaru-r2.org/en/iaru-r2-in-alert-about-todays-earthquake-in-haiti/

If you are reading this page and have not signed up with one of the many radio organizations in Whatcom County, we need you! Your community needs you.

If you want to volunteer in your community with Amateur Radio but you feel unprepared, “Your First Amateur Radio Event”, by John Unrath, K6JHU, in the July/August 2021 issue of On the Air magazine, lays out what to expect and how to be ready for it! www.arrl.org/read-on-the-air

Photo: A ham's-eye view of the racecourse at the Boston Marathon, 2018. (Bill Tarkulich, K1WMT)

Field Day was a success even with the record heat.

New service available to cell phone users, call if you can, text if you can’t.

Be aware, however, that cell services do go down in emergencies…… amateur radio will be there when nothing else works.

Whatcom County 911 now offers Text-to-911: Call if you can, text if you can’t.

What-Comm 911 is pleased to announce that cellular phone users in Whatcom County can now send text messages to 911 in an emergency, as What-Comm 911 can now accept Text-to-911 messages.

For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3jc3r7c

Field day is coming — June 26 and 27 — come learn more about what we do, why we do it and how we do it. The space will be in a field, wheelchair accessible and lots to see whether you are a seasoned amateur or even just thinking about getting your license.
https://wecg.org/downloads/FieldDayWhatcom2021.pdf

wecg.org

Help others……