TRO SIGNAL BULLETIN 30 MAR 13
TULSA REPEATER ORGANIZATION
P.O. BOX 1422
TULSA, OK 74101

http://www.tulsahamradio.org/index.html

##### #####

IN THIS ISSUE:

Weather On The Web #3
A Message For Everybunny

#####

Weather On The Web #3

Last week, I talked about Decision Support Page at the website of the Tulsa NWS office. You can find a button to that page at the right end of the row of buttons above the map on the front page. The direct link is: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/dsp/dsp.php.

This week, I’ll look at the Storm Prediction Center’s website:http://www.spc.noaa.gov/.

I am glad I waited on this one, because they have redesigned their front page. The new design presents more information, and quicker access to the detailed information products represented by the front page graphics.

The dominant feature on the front page is the SPC Activity Chart. To the right of that is a scrollable window with a list of individual products arranged by their most recent updates. Below these items, you will see several blocks representing items such a Severe Weather Climatology, Watch Summaries, Forecast Tools, and Public Awareness.

The SPC Activity Chart is a map of the Lower 48 states with two overlays: a national radar mosaic, and outlines of the areas featured in the Day 1 Convective Outlook. Along the top of the map sits a row of tabs. When you place your pointer on top of one of the tabs, the map changes to show the graphical representation of the information available on the associated product. Clicking on that tab takes you to that product’s page. Below the map is a grid showing the risk levels for severe and fire weather hazards for each day for the current day and the next seven days.

The products that I look at the most are the Convective Outlooks, Watches, and Mesoscale Discussions.

Convective Outlooks outline areas of thunderstorm activity. Within the general thunderstorm areas, the SPC will add outlines for areas with a risk of severe thunderstorms. The risk levels are slight (SLGT), moderate (MOD), or high (HIGH). The SPC issues outlooks for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Days 4 – 8. Each day runs from 1200 UTC to 1200 UTC (0600 CST or 0700 CDT).

The SPC is the only agency or division of the NWS that issues Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches. When the SPC issues one of these products, it will appear on their Watches page, Clicking on a Watch link brings up a new page created just for that product.

Before the SPC issues a Watch, they will often issue a Mesoscale Discussion for an area where a watch could be needed. These products present the information and the thoughts that cause them to consider issuing a watch. Sometimes they will issue a discussion for an area where thunderstorms could become severe, but not all indicators point that way, so they wish to explain why they might not issue a watch. The SPC also issues MD’s for winter weather events.

Next week, I’ll take a quick look at weather apps for smartphones.

A Message For Everybunny

The Management and Staff hare at the TRO Signal Bulletin wishes everyone a Hoppy Easter!

##### #####

PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS & TRAINING

ARES-Oklahoma Tulsa Metro Zone 5 Weekly Thursday Night NET
2000 hrs (8:00 PM) , Every Thursday
TARC W5IAS UHF Superlink System 443.850 (East Tulsa hub), 442.000 (Mannford), 444.600 (Mounds/ NW Okmulgee Co.), or 443.100 (Muskogee), all with (+) offset and 88.5 PL.
Backup on 146.880 (PL 88.5 or 141.3), or 147.390 (second backup)

http://www.tulsabicycleclub.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=539195&module_id=107743

https://www.facebook.com/events/165454470273767/?ref=2

ON TAP: Tour de Cure, Tulsa Tough, and ARRL Field Day in June. Details to follow soon.

##### #####

HAMFESTS

Green Country Hamfest, March 7 & 8, 2014 (tentative)
Regular planning meetings are the 2nd Thursday of every month at the Rib Crib, 81st & Yale. The committee will take a few months off and resume planning efforts in late summer or early fall.
http://www.greencountryhamfest.org/

Hanging Judge Hamfest, Ft. Smith AR - April 6
http://www.hangingjudgehamfest.com/

Dayton Hamvention, Dayton OH - May 17 - 19
http://hamvention.org/

Ham-Com, Plano TX - June 7 - 8
http://www.hamcom.org/

Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs (CORA) Ham Holiday 2011 July 26 - 27
http://www.hamholiday.org/

##### #####

VE HAM RADIO TESTING

Walk-ins are welcome at the following ARRL affiliated sessions:

##### #####

NETS

Sunday
American Airlines net @ 2100 147.000 or 147.345 (as backup) No PL required
ARES Oklahoma HF Net @ 2130 hrs UTC, Every Sunday 7.260 MHz (alt freq 3.900 MHz)+/- QRM

Monday
BAARC net @ 2000 146.91
Muskogee ARC net @2100 146.745

Tuesday
RCWA (Claremore) net @ 1900 147.09
NORA (Vinita) net @ 2000 147.36 88.5 PL

Wednesday
Youth At Heart net @ 1700 146.91
Bartlesville ARES net @ 2000 146.76
KC5DBH (Rose, OK) net @ 2100 146.985 110.9 PL

Thursday
Mayes County ARC (Pryor) net @ 2000 147.06 88.5 PL
Tulsa ARES/RACES net @ 2000 146.88 (see Public Service Events & Training for more details)
USS Batfish & USS Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club Net @ 2000 146.910
Side Winders On Two net @ 2000 144.250 ssb
Okmulgee ARES/RACES net @ 2100 147.225 (inactive)

Friday
Youth At Heart net @ 1900 147.09
Tech Net @ 2000 146.910

Saturday
Simplex Net @ 2100 146.550

##### #####

CLUB MEETINGS & ACTIVITIES

Tulsa Repeater Organization (WA5LVT)
Fourth Tuesday of each month except June (Field Day), and possibly December (Christmas)
Location: Tally's Good Food Cafe, 11th & Yale
Next scheduled meeting: 23 APR 13
Program: Unknown at this time
http://www.tulsahamradio.org/index.html

Broken Arrow Amateur Radio Club (W5DRZ)
First Monday of each month 1900 hrs. (7 PM)
Broken Arrow Community Center
1500 South Main Street
Broken Arrow OK
Next scheduled meeting: 01 APR 13 (No fooling!)
Program: Raspberry Pi (No fooling!)
http://w5drz.org/

Tulsa Amateur Radio Club (W5IAS)
Third Tuesday of each month 1900 hrs. (7 PM)
Room M Keplinger Hall, University of Tulsa
441 South Gary Place (West of 5th and Harvard)
Tulsa OK
Next scheduled meeting: 16 APR 13
Program: Unknown at this time
http://www.w5ias.com/

American Airlines Amateur Radio Club (K5JME)
Last Saturday of each even numbered month 0900 hrs. (9 AM)
Martin East Regional Library
2601 S Garnett Road
Tulsa, OK
Next scheduled meeting: 27 APR 13

##### #####

Request For Feedback

For the Bulletin to continue to be the useful tool I intend it to be, I need your feedback. I need to know of any items that I should add, remove or change. I will consider all suggestions.
Plus any comments about the quality or the handling of the Bulletin will be appreciated.
Please send any comments, corrections, additions, etc., to kc5zqm@cox.net. DO NOT send them as a reply to the WA5LVT Yahoogroup, unless you want the entire group to see them before I have a chance to review them.

73 de Doug KC5ZQM