The Swedish Days Bike Ride in June, for which we provide communications support, has been cancelled.  The sponsors of the ride, the Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club, has told us this is due to the COVID 19 situation.   We look forward to working with them again next year.

 Announcement from WX4NHCAmateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Miami Florida

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Station TestSaturday, June 1st , 2019 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT ( 1300z- 2100z). 

This will be our 39th year of public service at NHC.The purpose of this event is to test Amateur Radio Station equipment, antennas and computers prior to this year's Hurricane Season, which starts June 1st and runs through November 30th.This event is good practice for Ham Radio Operators world-wide as well as NWS Staff to become familiar with Amateur Radio communications available during times of severe weather.

We will be making brief contacts on many frequencies and modes, exchanging signal reports and basic weather data exchange ("Sunny", or "Rain", etc.) with any station in any location. WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on HF, VHF, UHF , 2 & 30 meter APRS and WinLink wx4nhc@winlink.org subject must contain "//WL2K".We will try to stay on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325 MHz most of the time.Due to space and equipment limitations, we will have 2 operators per shift, we cannot be on all frequencies or on every mode at the same time.

You may be able to find us on HF by using one of the DX Spotting Networks,Such as the DX Summit Web Site: http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspxWe will also be on VoIP Hurricane Net 4pm-5pm EDT (2000-2100z)(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). http://www.voipwx.net/Florida Statewide SARNET and local VHF & UHF Repeaters will be contacted.QSL Cards are available via WD4R.

Please send your card with a S.A.S.E.Please do NOT send QSLs directly to the Hurricane Center address, as it will get delayed. Due to security measures:NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC without prior clearance from NHC PIO and Security. Only WX4NHC Operators on the pre-approved operating schedule will be allowed entry.

For more information about WX4NHC, please visit our website
www.wx4nhc.orgThank you for your participation in the WX4NHC Annual Station Test event.73, Julio - WD4R

During this COVID-19 situation, let's keep in touch with our fellow hams.  Here is a list of nets to consider checking into.  In addition, the Bolingbrook Club BARS is hosting an "Anti Viral Net" every evening at 1930L (0030Z) on their linked 2 meter/440 machines 147.330 PL 107.2 and 443.525 PL 114.8

 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YdopCuQOizD7iSrC_PO3Tnn62rknWkQM_FJ0ASDg1V8/edit#gid=0 

I obviously have not checked out every net on this list, so if you have corrections send them to the owner in accordance with the instructions on the spreadsheet.  My hats off to this ham for compiling this.  Great job!

Check out the new DuPage Weather net, in cooperation with DuPage OHSEM and the Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs.

7 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month on the WCRA UHF Repeater 444.474  PL 114.8. Bring your expertise and interest in Weather.  As they say, it isn't a question of "if" severe weather is going to hit us, but rather "when" and "how much!"

The Raspberry Pi workshop originally scheduled for April has been postponed because of COVID 19.  We will advise when we can reschedule it - probably in the fall.

In the event of an area disaster or a need for an unscheduled callout, DuPage ARES leadership will start a net on W9AUX 2 meter repeater (146.655, minus 600 KHz offset, 107.2 PL), with the W9AUX 440 box (442.050, + 5MHz offset,  114.8) as first backup.  If these repeaters are down, our backup repeaters (in order) are the WCRA UHF Repeater on 444.475 MHZ, +5MHZ, PL 114.8,, and then KA9KDC in Wheaton on 444.275  +5MHz, with a PL 114.8. If this fails, we will try to  mobilize using simplex - Our DP-S1 Channel on 146.400 (simplex). It has been our experience that IL2A on the 2 meter national calling frequency is used by ragchewers and is not the best choice for serious interop work.

Once you have found a DuPage ARES net, check in and advise as to condition and availability. Even if you will be responding to a callout from another agency, such as a local EMA, advise us so we know who is available, and in turn, you can make your capabilities known to that organization. In general, DO NOT SELF-DEPLOY!  

For a wide-scale emergency involving more than the metropolitan area, Illinois ARES net will be functioning on 3.905 MHz LSB Voice.

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