This USB sound card, model SB0490, is apparently intended for use with high-end multimedia computers feeding home theaters with surround sound and subwoofers. It comes in a neat little silver box about the size of a Palm Pilot, with two handy volume pots on top (one for mike, other for speaker output and incorporating an instant mute switch). There are inputs for mike and line, and outputs for several different speaker configurations. These include DIN, digital, optical, headphones (thank goodness!), surround, and the standard 2-channel or 2.1 amplified computer speaker system with subwoofer. There's also an IR port for a remote control (not included).
I got interested in the unit when it was recommended by the company making SkySweeper as by far the best performing with their software. None of the stores around here ever heard of the thing, but a quick trip to Amazon turned up a good price (US $44) from TigerDirect.com. The order was picked the same day, despite it being the Friday before Christmas, and arrived by UPS in a timely manner the week after.
I am told that refurbished units are available from Creative, with warranty, for around $25 US.
Once you get the plastic box open (I used a razor knife, a new blade, and lots of caution), there's the card in its little case, the quick start guide, a CD with drivers and other goodies for Mac and that other system out there, a USB cable, and a DIN cable for home theaters. You open up the quick start guide fearing the worst.
However, step one is to insert one end of the cable in the sound card, and the other in a free USB port on your machine (not a hub). No wall wart needed, as the power comes from the computer, which (if you're running a decent OS like XP) should find it right off. Step two is to install the drivers, a media center/player type of app, and (for Windoze) the appropriate version of DirectX. You don't have to install the player, but since I love to push every button on new software, I did.
Step three is to enable DMA and digital CD playback on your computer. Since XP has these both on by default, for me there was no step three. I was up and going.
I gave the player a nice music file with a known high quality that I'd been listening to for Christmas. It had sounded good, but now it sounded better, especially with the digital reverb and enhanced stereo off. It wasn't going to blow away a rack of vacuum tube gear from a good vinyl playback into studio-grade speakers, but then what does? This little box sings.
Even without the inputs padded down with caps, it took some real doing to find the noise floor. I forgot exactly where I measured it, but it probably met the claimed -100 dB. This is way, way cleaner than you'll ever get inside a computer case full of EM fields. Distortion is also way down, due possibly to the 24-bit processing.
Of course I tried SkySweeper, but it had worked well on my old card, so there wasn't much to test. Conditions weren't very good, and noise was up, making too many variables. DGPS, which is less subject to the ionosphere's bad moods, was worse until everything got tweaked in. Then it was detectably better, with fewer missed messages.
For a real test, I fired up the commercial PC-HFDL, which either likes your sound card or it doesn't. It had never liked the internal ones on my last two computers, making the program largely useless. It liked the SB Live! just fine, though. The screen filled right up, with lists of planes quickly appearing down the right. In fact, this might be a marriage made in heaven. This hardware and software really get along. The only problem is that now I will have to pay Charles Brain for his program.
If you think I like this sound card, you're right. It's one of those incremental little improvements that won't impress your friends with your technical prowess, but it does make a difference you can hear and measure. That has to count for something.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Storm Stories
The Weather Channel has this Storm Stories show, with melodramatic re-enactments of rescues and other life and death situations. These often end with lessons on what to do in such situations to avoid winding up like the people in the stories.
Over Christmas, utility listeners heard a couple of incidents that should make it onto this show.
The first one started on December 23, when the tanker Maersk Scotland went dead in the water off Cape Hatteras, NC. The ship was carrying 8300 tons of liquid butane, and its breakup would have posed a major hazard to say the least.
Here's the first automated distress call, as copied on 2187.5 kHz DSC:
This was acknowledged by US Coast Guard:
It was also followed by voice communication on the international distress frequency of 2182 kHz USB. On 12/24, Christmas Eve, the Maersk Scotland called MAYDAY on 2182, getting several responses. They reported broken steering gear and hydraulic failure.
On Christmas Eve, the world could hear the Maersk Scotland working US Coast Guard CAMSLANT on 4125 kHz USB. The ship was in the gulf stream, and drifting northeast at one knot. A seagoing tug, the Katie McAlister, was dispatched for a tow, and also came up on frequency.
On Christmas Day, the Maersk Scotland reported she was under tow to Virginia in rising seas from a bad storm which created tornadoes in Florida. Fortunately, the tow was successful under these worsening conditions, and we were spared a tragedy and/or release of explosive gas.
The next day, the annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race had one of its notorious storms come up. The HF race net on 4483.0 and 6516.0 USB got busy, with the police launch Alert picking up crew from at least two racing yachts in serious trouble. Another boat dismasted, injuring several, and several others requested aid.
Hope everyone else had a far less eventful holiday. Happy New Year from Utility World!
Over Christmas, utility listeners heard a couple of incidents that should make it onto this show.
The first one started on December 23, when the tanker Maersk Scotland went dead in the water off Cape Hatteras, NC. The ship was carrying 8300 tons of liquid butane, and its breakup would have posed a major hazard to say the least.
Here's the first automated distress call, as copied on 2187.5 kHz DSC:
UTC Date 12/23/06
UTC Time 23:43:32
RX Station gs3660001-0
Radio # 2
Tag # 03433
Frequency 02.187.5
FS 1 Distress call
FS 2 Distress call
Address All Stations
Self ID 775065000
Msg 1 Disabled and adrift
Msg 2 LAT 34 57 N
LON 074 06 W
Msg 3 23:42
Msg 4 TC1: J3E TP
EOS EOS
ECC OK
This was acknowledged by US Coast Guard:
UTC Date 12/23/06
UTC Time 23:44:35
RX Station 003660003-0
Radio # 2
Tag # 13871
Frequency 08.414.5
FS 1 All ships call
FS 2 All ships call
Address All Stations
Category Distress
Self ID 003669991
USCG BOSTON
TC1 Distress acknowledge
Vessel 775065000
Msg 1 Disabled and adrift
Msg 2 LAT 34 57 N
LON 074 06 W
Msg 3 23:42
Msg 4 TC1: J3E TP
EOS EOS
ECC OK
It was also followed by voice communication on the international distress frequency of 2182 kHz USB. On 12/24, Christmas Eve, the Maersk Scotland called MAYDAY on 2182, getting several responses. They reported broken steering gear and hydraulic failure.
On Christmas Eve, the world could hear the Maersk Scotland working US Coast Guard CAMSLANT on 4125 kHz USB. The ship was in the gulf stream, and drifting northeast at one knot. A seagoing tug, the Katie McAlister, was dispatched for a tow, and also came up on frequency.
On Christmas Day, the Maersk Scotland reported she was under tow to Virginia in rising seas from a bad storm which created tornadoes in Florida. Fortunately, the tow was successful under these worsening conditions, and we were spared a tragedy and/or release of explosive gas.
The next day, the annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race had one of its notorious storms come up. The HF race net on 4483.0 and 6516.0 USB got busy, with the police launch Alert picking up crew from at least two racing yachts in serious trouble. Another boat dismasted, injuring several, and several others requested aid.
Hope everyone else had a far less eventful holiday. Happy New Year from Utility World!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
FLASH: FCC Drops Code from Amateur Exams!
With everything else that was going on last week, this one slipped under the proverbial radar. On December 15, the US Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice of its intention to issue a Report and Order that will eliminate all Morse code testing in the Amateur service.
Currently, US Amateur Radio applicants must pass a 5 WPM Morse code test to operate on HF. The FCC's action will eliminate that requirement all around. There will be no code test for General or Extra Class licensing.
This, of course, makes the older Technician Plus license irrelevant, and when the order takes effect, the privileges will be identical for both licenses. In other words, Technicians will be allowed the same limited use of HF as present Tech Plus licensees, who were grandfathered in after new examinations for that class were eliminated.
There is no effective date yet, as these are always contingent on 30 days elapsing from publication in the Federal Register. ARRL estimates that the change will take place sometime next February.
Here's the full FCC text:
Currently, US Amateur Radio applicants must pass a 5 WPM Morse code test to operate on HF. The FCC's action will eliminate that requirement all around. There will be no code test for General or Extra Class licensing.
This, of course, makes the older Technician Plus license irrelevant, and when the order takes effect, the privileges will be identical for both licenses. In other words, Technicians will be allowed the same limited use of HF as present Tech Plus licensees, who were grandfathered in after new examinations for that class were eliminated.
There is no effective date yet, as these are always contingent on 30 days elapsing from publication in the Federal Register. ARRL estimates that the change will take place sometime next February.
Here's the full FCC text:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2006
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991
FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES,
ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND
ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Order) that modifies the rules for the Amateur Radio Service by revising the examination requirements for obtaining a General Class or Amateur Extra Class amateur radio operator license and revising the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees. In addition, the Order resolves a petition filed by the American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order on amateur service rules released on October 10, 2006.
The current amateur service operator license structure contains three classes of amateur radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30 MHz, while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted to operate in bands above 30 MHz. Prior to today’s action, the FCC, in accordance with international radio regulations, required applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses to pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination. Today’s Order eliminates that requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. This change reflects revisions to international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union’s 2003 World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio.
Today’s Order also revises the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees by eliminating a disparity in the operating privileges for the Technician Class and Technician Plus Class licensees. Technician Class licensees are authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above 30 MHz. The Technician Plus Class license, which is an operator license class that existed prior the FCC’s simplification of the amateur license structure in 1999 and was grandfathered after that time, authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above 30 MHz, as well as frequency segments in four HF bands (below 30 MHz) after the successful completion of a Morse code examination. With today’s elimination of the Morse code exam requirements, the FCC concluded that the disparity between the operating privileges of Technician Class licensees and Technician Plus Class licensees should not be retained. Therefore, the FCC, in today’s action, afforded Technician and Technician Plus licensees identical operating privileges.
Finally, today’s Order resolved a petition filed by the ARRL for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order released on October 10, 2006 (FCC 06-149). In this Order, the FCC authorized amateur stations to transmit voice communications on additional frequencies in certain amateur service bands, including the 75 meter (m) band, which is authorized only for certain wideband voice and image communications. The ARRL argued that the 75 m band should not have been expanded below 3635 kHz, in order to protect automatically controlled digital stations operating in the 3620-3635 kHz portion of the 80 m band. The FCC concluded that these stations can be protected by providing alternate spectrum in the 3585-3600 kHz frequency segment.
Action by the Commission on December 15, 2006, by Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell.
For additional information, contact William Cross at (202) 418-0691 or William.Cross@fcc.gov.
WT Docket Nos. 04-140 and 05-235.
– FCC –
News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission
is available at www.fcc.gov.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Severe Storm In Progress
The expected major geomagnetic event has arrived. The current planetary K index is 8. (9 is as high as it can go.)
WWV was so distorted on 10 MHz that it was barely understandable. Converting the file to a stereo MP3 showed phase distortion so severe that the sound would literally jump back and forth between speakers. A somewhat less dizzying mono MP3 is at the column's web site.
5 MHz was at least intelligible, but the flutter was so severe as to change the audio tone frequency randomly plus/minus several hertz at a rapid rate.
Similar flutter is appearing on 31 meter broadcast stations, even from Cuba.
This is a good night to go out and look for aurora. Current auroral oval plots show a southern limit well into the United States, and this is expected to improve over the next few hours.
Active region 930 produced another X class flare around 14/2210 December UTC. It is not known whether a radio fadeout occurred in the Western Hemisphere.
WWV was so distorted on 10 MHz that it was barely understandable. Converting the file to a stereo MP3 showed phase distortion so severe that the sound would literally jump back and forth between speakers. A somewhat less dizzying mono MP3 is at the column's web site.
5 MHz was at least intelligible, but the flutter was so severe as to change the audio tone frequency randomly plus/minus several hertz at a rapid rate.
Similar flutter is appearing on 31 meter broadcast stations, even from Cuba.
This is a good night to go out and look for aurora. Current auroral oval plots show a southern limit well into the United States, and this is expected to improve over the next few hours.
Active region 930 produced another X class flare around 14/2210 December UTC. It is not known whether a radio fadeout occurred in the Western Hemisphere.
Magnetic Storming Continues
Looks like we're just going to have to get used to unstable conditions. Active region 930 continues to produce flares. A well-aimed coronal mass ejection from yesterday's X3 event reached the earth at 1400 UTC on the 14th, immediately pushing the planetary K index to 6, followed by 7. Such a short time from ejection to storm commencement indicates a very energetic event, and one that should intensify as the less energetic particles reach the Earth. Unfortunately, a coronal hole is also rotating into position, and will still be visible after region 930 finally rotates out.
An R2 radiation event forced astronauts on the Shuttle/ISS to go to a safe area of the station, as a precaution in case it intensified. Fortunately, it did not. Last I heard, today's EVA is still on.
Auroral propagation fans, or those who just want to watch the pretty show, should have an interesting night tonight. The usual precautions are being taken by pipeline and power grid operators.
The WWV Geoalert predicts a severe geomagnetic storm event. Here's a recent message:
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt
:Issued: 2006 Dec 14 1810 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center
#
# Geophysical Alert Message
#
Solar-terrestrial indices for 13 December follow.
Solar flux 94 and mid-latitude A-index 8.
The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 14 December was 6 (122 nT).
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level occurred.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be severe.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G4 level are expected.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level are expected.
Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected.
An R2 radiation event forced astronauts on the Shuttle/ISS to go to a safe area of the station, as a precaution in case it intensified. Fortunately, it did not. Last I heard, today's EVA is still on.
Auroral propagation fans, or those who just want to watch the pretty show, should have an interesting night tonight. The usual precautions are being taken by pipeline and power grid operators.
The WWV Geoalert predicts a severe geomagnetic storm event. Here's a recent message:
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt
:Issued: 2006 Dec 14 1810 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center
#
# Geophysical Alert Message
#
Solar-terrestrial indices for 13 December follow.
Solar flux 94 and mid-latitude A-index 8.
The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 14 December was 6 (122 nT).
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level occurred.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be severe.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G4 level are expected.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level are expected.
Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected.
HFDL System Table 30 is Current
As we noted a couple of weeks back, ARINC has been changing to winter frequencies for its High Frequency Data Link system. If you are using PC-HFDL, you might notice that it has changed back to the numbers. Leave it running long enough, and it will eventually acquire and load a system table off the air. At this point, it will start showing the frequencies again. Of course you have to know at least one active HFDL frequency to do this, but fortunately they don't change all of them.
The current system table is number 30 decimal, 1E in hex.
The current system table is number 30 decimal, 1E in hex.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Cool Utility Blog
UDXF members will know Manolis in Greece. He just started an English utility blog, Surfing the Radio Waves. There's already a lot on it, including recordings of oddities, and a CBV fax he received at his QTH, 12500 km from the Playa Ancha point of origin near Valparaiso, Chile.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Shuttle Count Proceeds
Tonight's launch time is 20:47 Eastern Standard Time, or 01:47 UTC. At this time, all weather parameters are Go. Crosswinds stand a good chance of violating constraints at time of launch, but at this time the count proceeds.
DOD Cape is calling Liberty Star on 7833.0 kHz.
DOD Cape is calling Liberty Star on 7833.0 kHz.
DSCDecoder Now Decodes DGPS
Those looking for an inexpensive program that allows identification of mediumwave Differential GPS beacons may be in luck. The latest version of DSCDecoder, a terrific little shareware program available for 25 Euros from the COAA observatory site, now includes decode of several DGPS message types such as the satellite corrections and the almanac.
The download works for 21 days before registration and payment are necessary, and new users are advised to tweak everything in and see if they like the rather minimal user interface before registering. Upgrade is free for current users.
A description of features and link for a download are available at COAA's DSCDecoder page.
The download works for 21 days before registration and payment are necessary, and new users are advised to tweak everything in and see if they like the rather minimal user interface before registering. Upgrade is free for current users.
A description of features and link for a download are available at COAA's DSCDecoder page.
Shuttle Will Attempt Launch Saturday Night
Latest dispatch from the KSC mailing list:
[See below for BRV/DOD Cape/Cape Radio comm reports]
Mission: STS-116 - 20th International Space Station Flight (12A.1) -
P5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Dec. 9, 2006, at 8:47 p.m. EST
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick, Fuglesang
and Williams
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
...
The orbiter's external fuel tank, which was drained of its liquid
hydrogen and liquid oxygen last night, will be re-filled on Saturday
at approximately 11 a.m., once the go-ahead is provided by the
Mission Management Team.
The current forecast for Saturday shows a 70 percent chance of weather
prohibiting the launch. The primary concerns are crosswinds at the
Shuttle Landing Facility, a low cloud ceiling and isolated showers.
The temperature at launch time is forecast to be 63 degrees, with 90
percent relative humidity.
There are two solid rocket booster recovery ships that are deployed
prior to each launch. The Freedom Star, which was positioned just off
the coast of Cape Canaveral, is back in port and will depart Saturday
at noon if the go-ahead is given for launch. The Liberty Star, which
is positioned 140 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, remains at sea
awaiting the Saturday launch attempt.
[See below for BRV/DOD Cape/Cape Radio comm reports]
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Magnetic Storms Likely
The K index has headed back up to 5 after a period where it settled down to 3. Weak magnetic storming is expected to continue. WWV:
Solar-terrestrial indices for 07 December follow.
Solar flux 96 and mid-latitude A-index 21.
The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 08 December was 5 (85 nT).
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level occurred.
Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be strong.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level are expected.
Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected.
Solar-terrestrial indices for 07 December follow.
Solar flux 96 and mid-latitude A-index 21.
The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 08 December was 5 (85 nT).
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level occurred.
Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be strong.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level are expected.
Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected.
Next Shuttle Try is Saturday Evening
Friday has only a 30% chance of favorable weather. Saturday is better, but not great. In fact the first really favorable forecast isn't until next week.
Be that as it may, NASA officials have set the next launch attempt for 8:47 p.m. EST on Dec. 9.
The STS-116 mission is the 33rd for Discovery and the 117th space shuttle flight. During the 12-day mission, the crew will continue construction on the International Space Station, rewiring the orbiting laboratory and adding a segment to its integrated truss structure.
Be that as it may, NASA officials have set the next launch attempt for 8:47 p.m. EST on Dec. 9.
The STS-116 mission is the 33rd for Discovery and the 117th space shuttle flight. During the 12-day mission, the crew will continue construction on the International Space Station, rewiring the orbiting laboratory and adding a segment to its integrated truss structure.
Cape Radio Now on 7665.0 & 7833.0 kHz
I am currently copying BRV Freedom star working Cape Radio on 7833.0, at 0208 UTC.
Weather Now Iffy at KSC
Nothing like that changeable Florida weather.
Maybe it will support a launch, and maybe it won't.
We'll find out pretty soon, since a ten-minute launch window starts at 0230 UTC, about 25 minutes from now. No extended waiting on this one.
Maybe it will support a launch, and maybe it won't.
We'll find out pretty soon, since a ten-minute launch window starts at 0230 UTC, about 25 minutes from now. No extended waiting on this one.
Shuttle Count Continues At 0130 UTC
With an hour to go before the middle of tonight's launch window, the weather has been cleared of any constraints on the Eastern Test Range or landing sites. At this time, about an hour before launch, the count continues. This is the first night launch since return to flight, and should be pretty spectacular if it goes.
Major Solar Storm Disrupts HF
Solar active region 930 has produced several large X-ray flares, including an X6 which caused an immediate Short Wave Fadeout in the United States. An S3 level solar radiation storm is in progress, and saturation of the sensor on the ACE spacecraft has made solar wind readings unreliable.
An S3-level event is deemed unsafe to astronauts. Further events could complicate space station EVAs that are planned for next week, but the major concern is for more X-level flares in the short term. The probability is around 50% for the next 24 hours.
These flares did eject coronal mass, so there is an enhanced possibility of a Sudden Storm Commencement followed by auroral activity. As always, though, we will have to wait and see if coronal mass hits or misses the Earth's magnetosphere.
So far, HF conditions have remained relatively good, despite a planetary A index of 22, at least after the bands recovered from the initial hit to the ionosphere.
It is obvious that Cycle 23, while nearly at an end, still has a few surprises before going spotnil long enough to allow marking the offical start of Cycle 24.
An S3-level event is deemed unsafe to astronauts. Further events could complicate space station EVAs that are planned for next week, but the major concern is for more X-level flares in the short term. The probability is around 50% for the next 24 hours.
These flares did eject coronal mass, so there is an enhanced possibility of a Sudden Storm Commencement followed by auroral activity. As always, though, we will have to wait and see if coronal mass hits or misses the Earth's magnetosphere.
So far, HF conditions have remained relatively good, despite a planetary A index of 22, at least after the bands recovered from the initial hit to the ionosphere.
It is obvious that Cycle 23, while nearly at an end, still has a few surprises before going spotnil long enough to allow marking the offical start of Cycle 24.
Possible Shuttle Launch Tonight
The first launch opportunity is Thursday, Dec. 7, with liftoff
targeted for 9:35 p.m. EST. This launch time is approximately in the
middle of a 10-minute launch window.
Booster Recover Vessels Freedom Star and Liberty Star are audible on the US West Coast on 10780 kHz, working Cape Radio at 1842 UTC. Closer to KSC, listeners heard them leave port. Range safety comms are likely on the same frequency as we get closer.
Weather does not look good for a launch today, but we'll have to wait and see.
targeted for 9:35 p.m. EST. This launch time is approximately in the
middle of a 10-minute launch window.
Booster Recover Vessels Freedom Star and Liberty Star are audible on the US West Coast on 10780 kHz, working Cape Radio at 1842 UTC. Closer to KSC, listeners heard them leave port. Range safety comms are likely on the same frequency as we get closer.
Weather does not look good for a launch today, but we'll have to wait and see.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
HFDL Winter Frequencies
ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Inc.) is changing some of its HFDL frequencies for the winter propagation season. We have reports that a new system table was broadcast last weekend, but we don't have it yet. PC-HFDL has been updating itself. The Barrow station has been reported on 8936 kHz.
More when the table becomes available.
More when the table becomes available.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
It's Antarctica Time!
This is a good time of year to listen for Antarctica, because it's spring down there, and various people and agencies are setting up for summer, or doing yearly maintenance of equipment.
Here's a cool, in fact probably downright cold, Antarctica blog. It's by David Ruth, a sculptor who has received an NSF grant to study ice textures and forms. He's a good writer/photographer, and this should be an outstanding blog all season.
A relatively up-to-date list of Antarctic HF frequencies is on the Utility World Web site.
Those who like to copy Chilean Navy FAX charts of the Antarctic zone just south of their country will recognize this one in the November 20 blog entry. The copy is sure better than what I get up here in California, but then they're a heck of a lot closer.
When I get them, they look like this, if I'm lucky:
Playa Ancha Radio broadcasts the weather faxes on 4228, 8677, and 17146.4 kHz. Here's the schedule as of 2003. Some times have shifted slightly:
1115 SURFACE ANALYSIS
1130 SATELLITE IMAGE
1630 SURFACE ANALYSIS
1645 SATELLITE IMAGE
1915 SIGNIFICANT WAVE MAP (MTS)
1930 SATELLITE IMAGE
2200 SURFACE ANALYSIS
2215 ICE REPORT
2230 12HR WINDS BARB ISOTACHS FORECAST
2310 12HR SURFACE FORECAST
2325 SATELLITE IMAGE
More info here (in Spanish)
Yes, one of the transmission periods has QRM from USCG COMMSTA New Orleans.
You can also download the Chilean Navy surface chart and satellite image here. The page is in Spanish, but it's intuitive. It's not as much fun as copying them off the air, but at least you'll finally see what's in all those itty bitty letters that never show up.
Here's a cool, in fact probably downright cold, Antarctica blog. It's by David Ruth, a sculptor who has received an NSF grant to study ice textures and forms. He's a good writer/photographer, and this should be an outstanding blog all season.
A relatively up-to-date list of Antarctic HF frequencies is on the Utility World Web site.
Those who like to copy Chilean Navy FAX charts of the Antarctic zone just south of their country will recognize this one in the November 20 blog entry. The copy is sure better than what I get up here in California, but then they're a heck of a lot closer.
When I get them, they look like this, if I'm lucky:
Playa Ancha Radio broadcasts the weather faxes on 4228, 8677, and 17146.4 kHz. Here's the schedule as of 2003. Some times have shifted slightly:
1115 SURFACE ANALYSIS
1130 SATELLITE IMAGE
1630 SURFACE ANALYSIS
1645 SATELLITE IMAGE
1915 SIGNIFICANT WAVE MAP (MTS)
1930 SATELLITE IMAGE
2200 SURFACE ANALYSIS
2215 ICE REPORT
2230 12HR WINDS BARB ISOTACHS FORECAST
2310 12HR SURFACE FORECAST
2325 SATELLITE IMAGE
More info here (in Spanish)
Yes, one of the transmission periods has QRM from USCG COMMSTA New Orleans.
You can also download the Chilean Navy surface chart and satellite image here. The page is in Spanish, but it's intuitive. It's not as much fun as copying them off the air, but at least you'll finally see what's in all those itty bitty letters that never show up.
You know you're a utility monitor if...
I've been adding to Tom Sevart's hilarious list, which is here.
So far I have:
You not only know what WUN stood for, but why it became UDXF.
You actually look for stations sending 9th-pulse LORAN-C.
You can identify particular Cuban numbers transmitters by their respective technical flaws.
You miss those voice loops that began "This is a test transmission for circuit adjustment purposes..."
You know that General Pacheco was not a character in an old western movie.
You've tried to track chirpsounders with the sweep function on the NRD-545.
You added the solar flux extension to Firefox within 24 hours of learning it existed.
You have an old audio cassette around somewhere from the last solar maximum.
You can tell the difference between military RF feedback and Globe Wireless spurs.
You know who to e-mail to get either of these fixed.
You routinely attract the interest of DX-Tuner site operators.
You remember when the WWV Geoalerts were in Morse code.
Your Google Earth placemarks are mostly antenna farms.
Your own antennas are visible on Google Earth.
You walk around gambling casinos looking for the slot machine that sounds most like XSL.
So far I have:
You not only know what WUN stood for, but why it became UDXF.
You actually look for stations sending 9th-pulse LORAN-C.
You can identify particular Cuban numbers transmitters by their respective technical flaws.
You miss those voice loops that began "This is a test transmission for circuit adjustment purposes..."
You know that General Pacheco was not a character in an old western movie.
You've tried to track chirpsounders with the sweep function on the NRD-545.
You added the solar flux extension to Firefox within 24 hours of learning it existed.
You have an old audio cassette around somewhere from the last solar maximum.
You can tell the difference between military RF feedback and Globe Wireless spurs.
You know who to e-mail to get either of these fixed.
You routinely attract the interest of DX-Tuner site operators.
You remember when the WWV Geoalerts were in Morse code.
Your Google Earth placemarks are mostly antenna farms.
Your own antennas are visible on Google Earth.
You walk around gambling casinos looking for the slot machine that sounds most like XSL.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Old Stuff - Remember These?
I was going through some old logs, and found some real Deep Vault Favorites from old utes which are now long gone. Does anyone remember some of these?
(Freqs kHz, dates/times UTC)
83.5: MKL, UK Royal Air Force, Scotland, CW weather codes 5/20/88 at 0625
139.5: TBA, Turkish Navy, CW marker (T13A) 9/8/85 at 1915
464.0: SVD, Athens Radio, Greece, CW marker, 1/12/86 at 1720
484.0: 4XO, Haifa Radio, Israel, CW traffic list, 1/16/86 at 0227
500.0: EAS, Cabo Penas Radio, Spain, CW CQ and XXX (Securite), 1/16/85 at 0148
500.0: SVA, Athens Radio, CW Navarea warnings, 1/25/86 at 1986
1620.0: WKND, "Weekend Radio," pirate AM broadcast, 5/7/89 at 0400
2310.0: Stn identifying "VL8A, Alice Springs, Australia" in USB, 4/9/89 at 1010
2325.0: 72JKL, Spanish Navy (13RG), calling 78EAL in CW, 12/4/85 at 1840
2614.0: DAM, Nordeich Radio, Germany, CW time signals, 3/14/85 at 2355
3000.0: Unid, Mexican Army AM traffic in Radiogramma format, 2/1/88 at 0433
3081.0: CUW, USAF Lajes Tower, working 8-L-F and J-9-0, 1/20/88 at 0750
3109.0: USN? Raspberry Pensacola working Spartan, 3/3/87 at 0038
3186.0: KWS78, US Embassy, Greece, CW markers, 7/4/85 at 2130
3191.0: CIA Counting Station (E5), callup 133 and 4F message, 6/27/85 at 1901
3287.0: CKN, Canadian Forces (C13E), NAWS marker, 7/14/87 at 0416
3366.0: "PUMA," Mexican Army radiogrammas, whistle roger, 2/1/88 at 0500
3379.0: WGY912, FEMA, VA, nightly coded msg in slow CW //4780.5, 7/14/87 at 0420
3977.3: RAN, Moscow, point-to-point USB circuit adjustment loop, 12/14/85 at 1044
4063.0: "Fairsea" cruise ship patching to KMI High Seas on 4357.4, 12/31/87 at 0649
4131.2: "Fairsea," patching to WOM High Seas, 11/10/87 at 0448
4268.0: CKN, Canadian Forces (C13E), CW marker, 11/10/87 at 0517
4623.0: NGR, CW NUKO DE NAR/NGR/NRK/GXH/AOK bcst, 6/30/85 at 1400
4765.0: Unid-Cuban AM "R. Mayak" relay in Russian, 1/5/88 at 0638
4902.7: KKN44, US State Dept/CIA, Liberia, CW marker, 8/19/88 at 0543
4910.0: Clandestine "V. of the People of Kampuchea," s/on, 5/14/89 at 1100
4956.5: KKN39, US State Dept, CW marker, 1/22/87 at 0711
5560.0: "R. Venceremos," FMLN clandestine, 4/11/85 at 0500
5565.0: "R. Quince de Septiembre," CIA clandestine, 4/24/85 0500
5744.0: VOA B8E feeder, Greenville, separate programs, 5/3/88 at 0345
6509.5: "Kamchatskiy" Phone patch operator 1/22/87 at 0646
6510.0: Unid Russian AM, lots of shouting, possible USSR railroad, 3/6/87 at 0602
6802.0: Lowest of old Russian cluster (MX), C, F, slow K, O, L
6890.0: USB Russian broadcast feeder, 2/11/89 at 0421
6925.4: KKN50, US State Dept, CW marker, 10/27/87 at 0711
6995.0: VOA B8E feeder, 5/3/88 at 0325
8989.0: Old GCCS, USN Goldeagle patch to USAF McClellan, 7/31/89 at 2232
9070.0: Australian School of the Air law lecture, USB, 10/28/87 at 0625
9940.0: "La Voz del CID," CIA clandestine, harmonic on 29820, 4/23/88 at 0000
10235.0: VOA B8E feeder, Greenville, 6/2/88 at 0020
10400.0: R. Free Europe B8E feeder, 4/16/88 0724
13267.0: "2V," Russian MI CW net, coded messages, probably Afghanistan, 3/9/89 0656
13372.5: NGR, CW "NUKO DE NMN/NAM/NRK/NGR/NAR/GXH/" 1/7/86 at 0900
13900.0: USAF Abnormal 10, working aircraft, 4/17/87 at 1721
14526.0: VOA B8E feeder, Dixon, 7/15/88 at 2121
14638.0: VOA daily RTTY NX "American Republic File," 1/8/88
14850.0: Russian B8E R. Orbita feeder, 5/11/88 at 0314
15623.5: Pago Pago, Samoa, point-to-point, 11/12/77 at 1810
18756.0: JPA24, INTERPOL, Tokyo, working HSG, Thailand, CW, 11/8/87 at 0023
29745.0: Mexican hotel private FM telephone circuit, whistle-idle, 7/4/88
29790.0: Mexican hotel private FM telephone circuit, whistle-idle, 7/4/88
29835.0: Mexican hotel private FM telephone circuit, whistle-idle, 7/4/88
(Freqs kHz, dates/times UTC)
83.5: MKL, UK Royal Air Force, Scotland, CW weather codes 5/20/88 at 0625
139.5: TBA, Turkish Navy, CW marker (T13A) 9/8/85 at 1915
464.0: SVD, Athens Radio, Greece, CW marker, 1/12/86 at 1720
484.0: 4XO, Haifa Radio, Israel, CW traffic list, 1/16/86 at 0227
500.0: EAS, Cabo Penas Radio, Spain, CW CQ and XXX (Securite), 1/16/85 at 0148
500.0: SVA, Athens Radio, CW Navarea warnings, 1/25/86 at 1986
1620.0: WKND, "Weekend Radio," pirate AM broadcast, 5/7/89 at 0400
2310.0: Stn identifying "VL8A, Alice Springs, Australia" in USB, 4/9/89 at 1010
2325.0: 72JKL, Spanish Navy (13RG), calling 78EAL in CW, 12/4/85 at 1840
2614.0: DAM, Nordeich Radio, Germany, CW time signals, 3/14/85 at 2355
3000.0: Unid, Mexican Army AM traffic in Radiogramma format, 2/1/88 at 0433
3081.0: CUW, USAF Lajes Tower, working 8-L-F and J-9-0, 1/20/88 at 0750
3109.0: USN? Raspberry Pensacola working Spartan, 3/3/87 at 0038
3186.0: KWS78, US Embassy, Greece, CW markers, 7/4/85 at 2130
3191.0: CIA Counting Station (E5), callup 133 and 4F message, 6/27/85 at 1901
3287.0: CKN, Canadian Forces (C13E), NAWS marker, 7/14/87 at 0416
3366.0: "PUMA," Mexican Army radiogrammas, whistle roger, 2/1/88 at 0500
3379.0: WGY912, FEMA, VA, nightly coded msg in slow CW //4780.5, 7/14/87 at 0420
3977.3: RAN, Moscow, point-to-point USB circuit adjustment loop, 12/14/85 at 1044
4063.0: "Fairsea" cruise ship patching to KMI High Seas on 4357.4, 12/31/87 at 0649
4131.2: "Fairsea," patching to WOM High Seas, 11/10/87 at 0448
4268.0: CKN, Canadian Forces (C13E), CW marker, 11/10/87 at 0517
4623.0: NGR, CW NUKO DE NAR/NGR/NRK/GXH/AOK bcst, 6/30/85 at 1400
4765.0: Unid-Cuban AM "R. Mayak" relay in Russian, 1/5/88 at 0638
4902.7: KKN44, US State Dept/CIA, Liberia, CW marker, 8/19/88 at 0543
4910.0: Clandestine "V. of the People of Kampuchea," s/on, 5/14/89 at 1100
4956.5: KKN39, US State Dept, CW marker, 1/22/87 at 0711
5560.0: "R. Venceremos," FMLN clandestine, 4/11/85 at 0500
5565.0: "R. Quince de Septiembre," CIA clandestine, 4/24/85 0500
5744.0: VOA B8E feeder, Greenville, separate programs, 5/3/88 at 0345
6509.5: "Kamchatskiy" Phone patch operator 1/22/87 at 0646
6510.0: Unid Russian AM, lots of shouting, possible USSR railroad, 3/6/87 at 0602
6802.0: Lowest of old Russian cluster (MX), C, F, slow K, O, L
6890.0: USB Russian broadcast feeder, 2/11/89 at 0421
6925.4: KKN50, US State Dept, CW marker, 10/27/87 at 0711
6995.0: VOA B8E feeder, 5/3/88 at 0325
8989.0: Old GCCS, USN Goldeagle patch to USAF McClellan, 7/31/89 at 2232
9070.0: Australian School of the Air law lecture, USB, 10/28/87 at 0625
9940.0: "La Voz del CID," CIA clandestine, harmonic on 29820, 4/23/88 at 0000
10235.0: VOA B8E feeder, Greenville, 6/2/88 at 0020
10400.0: R. Free Europe B8E feeder, 4/16/88 0724
13267.0: "2V," Russian MI CW net, coded messages, probably Afghanistan, 3/9/89 0656
13372.5: NGR, CW "NUKO DE NMN/NAM/NRK/NGR/NAR/GXH/" 1/7/86 at 0900
13900.0: USAF Abnormal 10, working aircraft, 4/17/87 at 1721
14526.0: VOA B8E feeder, Dixon, 7/15/88 at 2121
14638.0: VOA daily RTTY NX "American Republic File," 1/8/88
14850.0: Russian B8E R. Orbita feeder, 5/11/88 at 0314
15623.5: Pago Pago, Samoa, point-to-point, 11/12/77 at 1810
18756.0: JPA24, INTERPOL, Tokyo, working HSG, Thailand, CW, 11/8/87 at 0023
29745.0: Mexican hotel private FM telephone circuit, whistle-idle, 7/4/88
29790.0: Mexican hotel private FM telephone circuit, whistle-idle, 7/4/88
29835.0: Mexican hotel private FM telephone circuit, whistle-idle, 7/4/88
Friday, November 10, 2006
Auroral Storm in Progress 11/10
Enhanced solar wind and a southward Bz have caused aurora and attendant K indices of 6. Aurora has been bright in the Northern US. Pictures of this and the recent Transit of Mercury are at SpaceWeather.com.
Pacific Joint Task Force Exercise Begins
Two US Navy carrier strike groups are joining a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) that began November 8 off Southern California. For a real good description of the exercise, with participating units, go to our MT Milcom Blog.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
KSM Granted RTTY Frequencies
Forward from MRHS list:
KSM, the coast station of the Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS), has been granted two RTTY frequencies by the FCC.
The frequencies, known officially as narrow band direct printing (NBDP) channels, are:
8.4330 Mc
12.6310 Mc
Authorized power is 5kW.
The MRHS will use these channels for broadcasting weather, press and other information to the maritime community using RTTY (Baudot) and SITOR FEC modes.
It will take a while for the MRHS Transmitter Department to bring transmitters on line for these frequencies. But now that we have FCC approval we can begin work on this new project. An announcement will be made when we are ready to begin transmission on these frequencies.
VY 73,
Richard Dillman
Chief Operator, KSM
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Propagation numbers for Firefox
N0HC Propfire is a slick little Firefox extension that unobtrusively and silently puts the "WWV" propagation numbers for solar flux, A index, and K index in the status line of your browser. It updates periodically, and you get to watch it change. Clicking the numbers gives a menu and a nifty little chart of recent K indices.
You can get it from the Firefox extension page or the direct link above. It's compatible with Firefox 2.
You can get it from the Firefox extension page or the direct link above. It's compatible with Firefox 2.
Fall '06 Neptune Warrior Exercise in Progress
Reception reports have noted HF traffic on 4030-4031 kHz from the annual fall Neptune Warrior exercise which started on 24 Oct and will run until 04 Nov.
Exercise Neptune Warrior, formerly known as the Joint Maritime Course is a major UK led maritime training course held three times a year around the coast of Scotland. The US Navy is participating in the current exercise.
Exercise Neptune Warrior, formerly known as the Joint Maritime Course is a major UK led maritime training course held three times a year around the coast of Scotland. The US Navy is participating in the current exercise.
Friday, October 27, 2006
New PC-ALE Version Is Out
PC-ALE version 1.062G is now available from the new HF-Link site, in their beta-testing area.
As always, PC-ALE remains a rather amazing program, originally written by Charles Brain, G4GUO, ostensibly to teach himself DSP. I would say he learned fast, because this was an amazing programming breakthrough when it first came out. It rather seamlessly implemented most of a hardware Automatic Link Establishment controller, sticking close to one of the most complicated communication standards ever devised, while using only a PC and sound card. This was at a stage of the game when most other programmers were having enough trouble with sound-card RTTY and FAX.
In the seven or so years since, PC-ALE has lost some of its rough edges, improved greatly "under the hood," and in general made a good thing better. It remains ham software, meaning it is intended for use by technically sophisticated people, with the controls visible and with documentation that does not always tell you much about what to do with them. Like most great ham software, it also remains free.
The "G" version is in the line of evolution that began with the "MARS version" of PC-ALE. "G" has resolved some of the issues with this version, and greatly improved ease of use. It is coming close to the unthinkable - an intuitive ALE interface!
It remains a beta, of course. I've been giving it a good thrashing out on the NRD-545. There are some major differences from the older and better known "K" series of the program, which is still available on Charles' site, and as simple and reliable as ever.
For example, the QRG (frequency list) file is completely different, and incompatible. On the NRD-545, the G series no longer loads the QRG into your bottom 100 memories, meaning that you don't lose the data in these. Most NRD-545 users have become used to leaving 0-99 empty for PC-ALE to do with as it will, but this is apparently no longer necessary.
The grouping of frequencies is also different, far more intuitive, and generally better. The QRG that comes with the program on the HFLINK site is for use in amateur autolinking experiments, which due largely to the effort of this group have become far more common than before. However, it's easy to modify the file by hand and save it back out.
This particular release fixes a couple of little things. The receiver volume control, which was extremely clunky, is now as good as on the K. There's a new sound card setup screen, though the general interface to the sound card seems buggy. Closing the options screen sets the receive volume to 0 until this new setup is opened, at which point it goes back to where you had set it and you can close the dialogue without doing anything. A little thing, but irritating.
Trace mode is also greatly improved, with its own setup menu. One can now choose to trace every ALE word received without activating the more general debugging trace. This allows insight into the workings of the ALE mode, and can also uncover a few little hidden commands buried in some of the signals.
The program comes with transmit sounding enabled. Unless you want your shack to be a rather noisy place, you'll want to turn this off for receive-only.
ALE is a hobby within a hobby, largely due to Charles' efforts, and we thank him for his contributions to utility DXing.
As always, PC-ALE remains a rather amazing program, originally written by Charles Brain, G4GUO, ostensibly to teach himself DSP. I would say he learned fast, because this was an amazing programming breakthrough when it first came out. It rather seamlessly implemented most of a hardware Automatic Link Establishment controller, sticking close to one of the most complicated communication standards ever devised, while using only a PC and sound card. This was at a stage of the game when most other programmers were having enough trouble with sound-card RTTY and FAX.
In the seven or so years since, PC-ALE has lost some of its rough edges, improved greatly "under the hood," and in general made a good thing better. It remains ham software, meaning it is intended for use by technically sophisticated people, with the controls visible and with documentation that does not always tell you much about what to do with them. Like most great ham software, it also remains free.
The "G" version is in the line of evolution that began with the "MARS version" of PC-ALE. "G" has resolved some of the issues with this version, and greatly improved ease of use. It is coming close to the unthinkable - an intuitive ALE interface!
It remains a beta, of course. I've been giving it a good thrashing out on the NRD-545. There are some major differences from the older and better known "K" series of the program, which is still available on Charles' site, and as simple and reliable as ever.
For example, the QRG (frequency list) file is completely different, and incompatible. On the NRD-545, the G series no longer loads the QRG into your bottom 100 memories, meaning that you don't lose the data in these. Most NRD-545 users have become used to leaving 0-99 empty for PC-ALE to do with as it will, but this is apparently no longer necessary.
The grouping of frequencies is also different, far more intuitive, and generally better. The QRG that comes with the program on the HFLINK site is for use in amateur autolinking experiments, which due largely to the effort of this group have become far more common than before. However, it's easy to modify the file by hand and save it back out.
This particular release fixes a couple of little things. The receiver volume control, which was extremely clunky, is now as good as on the K. There's a new sound card setup screen, though the general interface to the sound card seems buggy. Closing the options screen sets the receive volume to 0 until this new setup is opened, at which point it goes back to where you had set it and you can close the dialogue without doing anything. A little thing, but irritating.
Trace mode is also greatly improved, with its own setup menu. One can now choose to trace every ALE word received without activating the more general debugging trace. This allows insight into the workings of the ALE mode, and can also uncover a few little hidden commands buried in some of the signals.
The program comes with transmit sounding enabled. Unless you want your shack to be a rather noisy place, you'll want to turn this off for receive-only.
ALE is a hobby within a hobby, largely due to Charles' efforts, and we thank him for his contributions to utility DXing.
Monday, September 25, 2006
NATO Mediterranean Exercise Brilliant Midas, Oct. 06
Exercise Brilliant Midas 06
29 September – 13 October 06
Between France and Corsica
Purpose:
To train and certify the eight rotation of the NATO Response Force, which 4 Norwegian missile torpedoboats are part of. Support elements for the MTBs will also participate in the exercise, as well as a NCAGS team (Naval Coordination and Guidance to Shipping).
NATO Exercise Brilliant Midas 06 (BRMS 06).
BRMS 06 is a NATO live exercise in a Crisis Response Operation setting. The exercise takes place 29 Sep – 13 Oct 2006 and the exercise area will cover those parts of the Western Mediterranean Sea that lie between Port Vendres, France to the West and Corsica island to the East. This area includes French territorial waters, Gulf of Lyon and land training areas at South France.
In BRMS 06 NCAGS will be exercised to monitor the movement of merchant shipping approaching, passing through and sailing within the NCAGS Area (see Annex A). One Shipping Co-operation Point (SCP) will be established at Marseille (FR). The NATO Shipping Centre (in Northwood, UK) will compile and maintain a live merchant shipping plot for the NCAGS area. Merchant ships voluntary reporting their position may be invited to participate in interaction with military forces. Masters and crews of participating ships hereby gain experience with this interaction. The co-operation of merchant ships will be of significant value for the exercise and ships are invited to participate in one or more of the following levels of co-operation, on a no-cost/ no delay basis:
Level 1: Communication Interrogation
Level 2: Close approach by naval units
Level 3: Accompaniment (Escorting)
Level 4: Simulated attacks by aircraft, helicopters and ships
Level 5: Simulated boarding
Level 6: Live boarding
Additionally, it will be of great interest for the naval units, if you are willing to make your ship available for live boarding (level 6). Supporting life boardings enables ship masters and crew to gain experience in being boarded by naval teams. A live boarding may be executed by boat or helicopter. All ship masters should be informed by their Ship owners about this possibility by promulgating attached Notice to Mariners (see Annex D).
Prior to the exercise each participating nation should inform ship owners, operators, masters and port authorities of the exercise and the intention to involve live shipping.
A NAVWARN will be promulgated prior to the exercise. Individual merchant vessels will be encouraged to report directly to the NATO Shipping Centre when approaching or sailing within the NCAGS Area (Annex A) by sending initial version of Format ALFA – Ship Data Card (see Annex B). The NATO Shipping Centre will then may request further information in accordance with the short version of Format ALFA (see Annex C). Reporting to the NATO Shipping Centre reduces in many cases unnecessary VHF calls between naval units and merchant ships.
To avoid additional costs, merchant ships can use the allocated ‘Freephone’ number for sending their reports. Alternatively, ships may complete the Format ALFA – Ship Data Card and use the allocated ‘Freefax’ number. Furthermore, the SCP MARSEILLE may contact merchant vessels passing through the NCAGS area.
Freephone: + 44 19 23 84 35 74
Freefax: + 44 19 23 84 35 75
E-Mail: shippingcentre@manw.nato.int
Your co-operation is most sincerely appreciated.
Annexes:
A: NCAGS AREA – Exercise Brilliant Midas 06
B: Format ALFA – Ship Data Card (initial version)
C: Format ALFA (short version)
D: Notice to Mariners
EXERCISE BRILLIANT MIDAS 06
FORMAT ALFA – Ship Data Card (short version)
For timings please indicate the use of local or UTC/Zulu
Section A – Ship Data
1. Ships Name
2. International Call Sign
3. IMO Number
4. General Nature of Cargo
Section B – Voyage Data
5. Last Port of Call, departure date and time
6. Current Position, date and time
7. Next Port of Call, arrival date and time
8. Additional ports of call, dates and times
9. Additional Information as Required
29 September – 13 October 06
Between France and Corsica
Purpose:
To train and certify the eight rotation of the NATO Response Force, which 4 Norwegian missile torpedoboats are part of. Support elements for the MTBs will also participate in the exercise, as well as a NCAGS team (Naval Coordination and Guidance to Shipping).
NATO Exercise Brilliant Midas 06 (BRMS 06).
BRMS 06 is a NATO live exercise in a Crisis Response Operation setting. The exercise takes place 29 Sep – 13 Oct 2006 and the exercise area will cover those parts of the Western Mediterranean Sea that lie between Port Vendres, France to the West and Corsica island to the East. This area includes French territorial waters, Gulf of Lyon and land training areas at South France.
In BRMS 06 NCAGS will be exercised to monitor the movement of merchant shipping approaching, passing through and sailing within the NCAGS Area (see Annex A). One Shipping Co-operation Point (SCP) will be established at Marseille (FR). The NATO Shipping Centre (in Northwood, UK) will compile and maintain a live merchant shipping plot for the NCAGS area. Merchant ships voluntary reporting their position may be invited to participate in interaction with military forces. Masters and crews of participating ships hereby gain experience with this interaction. The co-operation of merchant ships will be of significant value for the exercise and ships are invited to participate in one or more of the following levels of co-operation, on a no-cost/ no delay basis:
Level 1: Communication Interrogation
Level 2: Close approach by naval units
Level 3: Accompaniment (Escorting)
Level 4: Simulated attacks by aircraft, helicopters and ships
Level 5: Simulated boarding
Level 6: Live boarding
Additionally, it will be of great interest for the naval units, if you are willing to make your ship available for live boarding (level 6). Supporting life boardings enables ship masters and crew to gain experience in being boarded by naval teams. A live boarding may be executed by boat or helicopter. All ship masters should be informed by their Ship owners about this possibility by promulgating attached Notice to Mariners (see Annex D).
Prior to the exercise each participating nation should inform ship owners, operators, masters and port authorities of the exercise and the intention to involve live shipping.
A NAVWARN will be promulgated prior to the exercise. Individual merchant vessels will be encouraged to report directly to the NATO Shipping Centre when approaching or sailing within the NCAGS Area (Annex A) by sending initial version of Format ALFA – Ship Data Card (see Annex B). The NATO Shipping Centre will then may request further information in accordance with the short version of Format ALFA (see Annex C). Reporting to the NATO Shipping Centre reduces in many cases unnecessary VHF calls between naval units and merchant ships.
To avoid additional costs, merchant ships can use the allocated ‘Freephone’ number for sending their reports. Alternatively, ships may complete the Format ALFA – Ship Data Card and use the allocated ‘Freefax’ number. Furthermore, the SCP MARSEILLE may contact merchant vessels passing through the NCAGS area.
Freephone: + 44 19 23 84 35 74
Freefax: + 44 19 23 84 35 75
E-Mail: shippingcentre@manw.nato.int
Your co-operation is most sincerely appreciated.
Annexes:
A: NCAGS AREA – Exercise Brilliant Midas 06
B: Format ALFA – Ship Data Card (initial version)
C: Format ALFA (short version)
D: Notice to Mariners
EXERCISE BRILLIANT MIDAS 06
FORMAT ALFA – Ship Data Card (short version)
For timings please indicate the use of local or UTC/Zulu
Section A – Ship Data
1. Ships Name
2. International Call Sign
3. IMO Number
4. General Nature of Cargo
Section B – Voyage Data
5. Last Port of Call, departure date and time
6. Current Position, date and time
7. Next Port of Call, arrival date and time
8. Additional ports of call, dates and times
9. Additional Information as Required
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
NHC Drops Gordon, MeteoFrance Picks It Up
000
WTNT42 KNHC 202015
TCDAT2
TROPICAL STORM GORDON DISCUSSION NUMBER 40
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072006
500 PM EDT WED SEP 20 2006
AFTER NEARLY 10 DAYS TRAVELING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC...TENACIOUS
GORDON IS FINALLY BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL AS A STRONG COLD FRONT
INTERACTS WITH THE CYCLONE'S CIRCULATION. THE EXTRATROPICAL STORM
WILL CONTINUE RACING ON A GENERAL EAST TO EAST-NORTHEAST TRACK
UNTIL IT BECOME ABSORBED BY THE COLD FRONT. THIS WILL BE THE LAST
ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON GORDON.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM CAN BE FOUND IN HIGH SEAS
FORECASTS ISSUED BY METEOFRANCE UNDER WMO HEADER FQNT50 LFPW.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INITIAL 20/2100Z 39.2N 16.6W 45 KT...BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL
12HR VT 21/0600Z 42.0N 12.0W 45 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
24HR VT 21/1800Z...DISSIPATED
$$
FORECASTER AVILA
Monday, September 18, 2006
Two Months in the Life of Cuban Numbers
This is the result of lengthy examination of reception reports available in several places on the Internet. Where duplicates appear, they are different skeds the same day with the same problem. Some days, the transmissions with reported problems greatly outnumber the ones without any.
July
2 -- M8a -- wrong freq, QSY after 5 minutes, still carrier here
3 -- M8a -- started as V2a, changed
5 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
7 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
7 -- V2a -- wrong freq, sudden QSY
7 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
8 -- M8a -- cuts off early, no 3rd message
10 -- M8a -- comes up over V2a carrier, cut after 5 minutes
16 -- M8a -- wrong freq
16 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
16 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
17 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
18 -- V2a -- early end
19 -- V2a -- early start
19 -- V2a -- distortion, rough copy
19 -- V2a -- early start
20 -- M8a -- off-air for 2 minutes
20 -- V2a -- dropouts, early end
21 -- M8a -- transmitter malfunction, no copy
21 -- M8a -- repeat of above, still bad tx
21 -- V2a -- low modulation
21 -- V2a -- came up in LSB mode, early end
21 -- V2a -- noisy between groups
21 -- V2a -- garbled
21 -- V2a -- early start
21 -- V2a -- carrier, no modulation
22 -- V2a -- early end
24 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
24 -- V2a -- early end
24 -- V2a -- news for 30 sec, then no callup, then early end
25 -- V2a -- buzz and dead air
25 -- V2a -- wrong time, only up 9 seconds
25 -- M8a -- should have been V2a
26 -- V2a -- off air 4 minutes
26 -- M8a -- late start, lost some of callup
26 -- M8a -- repeat started late, also lost some of callup
27 -- V2a -- bad audio
27 -- M8a -- garbled callup
27 -- V2a -- wrong freq, quick QSY
27 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
27 -- V2a -- early end
27 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
28 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
28 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod, early end
28 -- M8a -- wrong freq
28 -- V2a -- wrong freq, QSY after 15 minutes
28 -- V2a -- no carrier, sent in DSSC mode
28 -- V2a -- early start
29 -- V2a -- false start, noisy
29 -- V2a -- false start
29 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
29 -- V2a -- dropping out
29 -- V2a -- dropping out
30 -- V2a -- 60 second dropout
30 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
31 -- V2a -- sent in LSB mode, early end
31 -- M8a -- false start
31 -- V2a -- started as M8a, switched after 5 min, no callup
31 -- V2a -- early end
31 -- M8a -- mix with another freq's V2a program, no copy
31 -- V2a -- mix with another freq's V2a, no copy
31 -- V2a -- mix with M8a, no copy
31 -- V2a -- mix with another freq's V2a, no copy
31 -- V2a -- brief mix with another freq's V2a
31 -- V2a -- wrong freq, wrong callup, switched to right callup
31 -- V2a -- brief mix with M8a at end
August
1 -- V2a -- mix: two V2a's, one M8a - no copy!
1 -- V2a -- dropout, then mix with unid SS
1 -- V2a -- mix of 2 V2s, no copy
2 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
3 -- M8a -- early end
3 -- M8a -- early end
3 -- M8a -- very late start
3 -- V2a -- distorted, early end
3 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
4 -- M8a -- should have been V2a
4 -- V2a -- bad audio
4 -- V2a -- mix: two V2a's, one M8a
4 -- V2a -- mix: two V2a's, one M8a, no copy, early end
4 -- V2a -- distorted
4 -- V2a -- mix with M8a, no copy
4 -- M8a -- false start
4 -- v2a -- early end
4 -- V2a -- carrier up late, no mod
5 -- V2a -- false start
5 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
5 -- V2a -- buzz and distortion
5 -- V2a -- severe distortion
5 -- V2a -- 3 seconds of SS talk first
6 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
6 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
6 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
7 -- V2a -- 7 minute dropout
7 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
8 -- V2a -- 30 second dropout
9 -- V2a -- wrong program, changes
9 -- V2a -- distorted
9 -- V2a -- wrong program, changes
9 -- V2a -- distorted, loud second harmonic
9 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, dropout
9 -- V2a -- distorted, loud second harmonic
10 -- V2a -- 4 minute dropout
10 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
10 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
11 -- V2a -- wrong frequency, QSY after 3 minutes
11 -- M8a -- audio test tones, then to MCW
11 -- V2a -- 1 minute dropout
11 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
11 -- V2a -- buzzy carrier before sked
11 -- V2a -- buzz
11 -- V2a -- distortion
11 -- V2a -- sent in USB mode
12 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
12 -- M8a -- carrier, no keying
12 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
12 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, mix w/M8a, distorted
12 -- V2a -- false start
12 -- V2a -- 2 minute dropout
12 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
14 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
14 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
14 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
14 -- V2a -- late start, cut off end
15 -- V2a -- early start, dropout
15 -- V2a -- early end
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
15 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
16 -- V2a -- early start, mix with M8a
16 -- V2a -- buzz, comes up between groups
16 -- V2a -- low mod, mix with M8a
15 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, dropouts
17 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
17 -- M8a -- very distorted
17 -- M8a -- early start
17 -- V2a -- late start, cut off ending
18 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, dropouts
18 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
18 -- V2a -- restart, mix with M8a, early end
19 -- M8a -- late start, no callup, early end
19 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, 9 minute dropout
19 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
19 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
19 -- V2a -- distorted
19 -- M8a -- cut after 1 minute
19 -- V2a -- mix with M8a, early end
20 -- V2a -- late start, missed callup
20 -- V2a -- late start, missed callup
21 -- V2a -- 15 second dropout
21 -- V2a -- early end
22 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
22 -- V2a -- false start
22 -- M8a -- false start
22 -- M8a -- false start
22 -- V2a -- very late start as M8a, no callup, distorted
22 -- V2a -- distorted
22 -- M8a -- mix with V2a
22 -- M8a -- wrong freq, QSY, then mix with V2a
22 -- V2a -- Radio Nacional del Venezuela for 2 minutes
22 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
23 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
24 -- V2a -- cut after 1 minute
24 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
24 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
26 -- V2a -- only number "ocho"
28 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
28 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
28 -- M8a -- completely garbled, no copy
29 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
31 -- V2a -- low modulation, no copy
July
2 -- M8a -- wrong freq, QSY after 5 minutes, still carrier here
3 -- M8a -- started as V2a, changed
5 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
7 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
7 -- V2a -- wrong freq, sudden QSY
7 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
8 -- M8a -- cuts off early, no 3rd message
10 -- M8a -- comes up over V2a carrier, cut after 5 minutes
16 -- M8a -- wrong freq
16 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
16 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
17 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
18 -- V2a -- early end
19 -- V2a -- early start
19 -- V2a -- distortion, rough copy
19 -- V2a -- early start
20 -- M8a -- off-air for 2 minutes
20 -- V2a -- dropouts, early end
21 -- M8a -- transmitter malfunction, no copy
21 -- M8a -- repeat of above, still bad tx
21 -- V2a -- low modulation
21 -- V2a -- came up in LSB mode, early end
21 -- V2a -- noisy between groups
21 -- V2a -- garbled
21 -- V2a -- early start
21 -- V2a -- carrier, no modulation
22 -- V2a -- early end
24 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
24 -- V2a -- early end
24 -- V2a -- news for 30 sec, then no callup, then early end
25 -- V2a -- buzz and dead air
25 -- V2a -- wrong time, only up 9 seconds
25 -- M8a -- should have been V2a
26 -- V2a -- off air 4 minutes
26 -- M8a -- late start, lost some of callup
26 -- M8a -- repeat started late, also lost some of callup
27 -- V2a -- bad audio
27 -- M8a -- garbled callup
27 -- V2a -- wrong freq, quick QSY
27 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
27 -- V2a -- early end
27 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
28 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
28 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod, early end
28 -- M8a -- wrong freq
28 -- V2a -- wrong freq, QSY after 15 minutes
28 -- V2a -- no carrier, sent in DSSC mode
28 -- V2a -- early start
29 -- V2a -- false start, noisy
29 -- V2a -- false start
29 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
29 -- V2a -- dropping out
29 -- V2a -- dropping out
30 -- V2a -- 60 second dropout
30 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
31 -- V2a -- sent in LSB mode, early end
31 -- M8a -- false start
31 -- V2a -- started as M8a, switched after 5 min, no callup
31 -- V2a -- early end
31 -- M8a -- mix with another freq's V2a program, no copy
31 -- V2a -- mix with another freq's V2a, no copy
31 -- V2a -- mix with M8a, no copy
31 -- V2a -- mix with another freq's V2a, no copy
31 -- V2a -- brief mix with another freq's V2a
31 -- V2a -- wrong freq, wrong callup, switched to right callup
31 -- V2a -- brief mix with M8a at end
August
1 -- V2a -- mix: two V2a's, one M8a - no copy!
1 -- V2a -- dropout, then mix with unid SS
1 -- V2a -- mix of 2 V2s, no copy
2 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
3 -- M8a -- early end
3 -- M8a -- early end
3 -- M8a -- very late start
3 -- V2a -- distorted, early end
3 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
4 -- M8a -- should have been V2a
4 -- V2a -- bad audio
4 -- V2a -- mix: two V2a's, one M8a
4 -- V2a -- mix: two V2a's, one M8a, no copy, early end
4 -- V2a -- distorted
4 -- V2a -- mix with M8a, no copy
4 -- M8a -- false start
4 -- v2a -- early end
4 -- V2a -- carrier up late, no mod
5 -- V2a -- false start
5 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
5 -- V2a -- buzz and distortion
5 -- V2a -- severe distortion
5 -- V2a -- 3 seconds of SS talk first
6 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
6 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
6 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
7 -- V2a -- 7 minute dropout
7 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
8 -- V2a -- 30 second dropout
9 -- V2a -- wrong program, changes
9 -- V2a -- distorted
9 -- V2a -- wrong program, changes
9 -- V2a -- distorted, loud second harmonic
9 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, dropout
9 -- V2a -- distorted, loud second harmonic
10 -- V2a -- 4 minute dropout
10 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
10 -- V2a -- mixing with M8a
11 -- V2a -- wrong frequency, QSY after 3 minutes
11 -- M8a -- audio test tones, then to MCW
11 -- V2a -- 1 minute dropout
11 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
11 -- V2a -- buzzy carrier before sked
11 -- V2a -- buzz
11 -- V2a -- distortion
11 -- V2a -- sent in USB mode
12 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
12 -- M8a -- carrier, no keying
12 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
12 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, mix w/M8a, distorted
12 -- V2a -- false start
12 -- V2a -- 2 minute dropout
12 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
14 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
14 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
14 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
14 -- V2a -- late start, cut off end
15 -- V2a -- early start, dropout
15 -- V2a -- early end
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
15 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
15 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
16 -- V2a -- early start, mix with M8a
16 -- V2a -- buzz, comes up between groups
16 -- V2a -- low mod, mix with M8a
15 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, dropouts
17 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
17 -- M8a -- very distorted
17 -- M8a -- early start
17 -- V2a -- late start, cut off ending
18 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, dropouts
18 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
18 -- V2a -- restart, mix with M8a, early end
19 -- M8a -- late start, no callup, early end
19 -- V2a -- late start, no callup, 9 minute dropout
19 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
19 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
19 -- V2a -- distorted
19 -- M8a -- cut after 1 minute
19 -- V2a -- mix with M8a, early end
20 -- V2a -- late start, missed callup
20 -- V2a -- late start, missed callup
21 -- V2a -- 15 second dropout
21 -- V2a -- early end
22 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
22 -- V2a -- false start
22 -- M8a -- false start
22 -- M8a -- false start
22 -- V2a -- very late start as M8a, no callup, distorted
22 -- V2a -- distorted
22 -- M8a -- mix with V2a
22 -- M8a -- wrong freq, QSY, then mix with V2a
22 -- V2a -- Radio Nacional del Venezuela for 2 minutes
22 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
23 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
24 -- V2a -- cut after 1 minute
24 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
24 -- V2a -- carrier, no mod
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- M8a -- late start, no callup
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
25 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
26 -- V2a -- only number "ocho"
28 -- V2a -- late start, no callup
28 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
28 -- M8a -- completely garbled, no copy
29 -- V2a -- mix with M8a
31 -- V2a -- low modulation, no copy
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Recent Cuban Numbers Frequencies
These have been reported in the past three months as being used by the Spanish language "Atencion" station in AM (V2a), or the Cut Number Morse code station (M8a and M8d). M8d had a different callup format, but only lasted a week or so. M8a is usually straight CW, but recently it is appearing as tones over an AM transmitter with rather poor modulation. Finally, M8 achieves higher transmission speeds by substituting letters for numbers on the formula ANDUWRIGMT = 1234567890.
0000
None at present
0100
3389.0 4028.0 6768.0 12119.0
0200
3292.0 5417.0 10714.0 12165.0 12180.0 12215.0
0300
4017.0 4027.0 4479.0 5800.0
6855.0 10125.0 10446.0 11566.0 12214.0
0400
3292.0 4479.0 5117.0 5762.0 6768.0 9330.0
10235.0 11566.0
0500
3245.0 3389.0 4028.0 4479.0 5883.0 8096.0
9062.0 10235.0 10446.0
0600
3360.0 4028.0 7887.0 8010.0 8097.0 9331.0
0700
9063.0 9112.0 9153.0 9238.0
0800
7862.0 7975.0 8010.0 10236.0
0900
6786.0 7482.0 7520.0 7527.0 8010.0 8136.0
8630.0 9040.0 9323.0 10126.0
1000
3025.0 4035.0 4045.0 7527.0 7681.0 7726.0
7862.0 7887.0 7975.0 7981.0 8136.0 8173.0
8630.0 9153.0 9240.0 9323.0 8136.0
1100
4478.0 4507.0 8136.0 9238.0 10126.0 10344.0
10345.0 10446.0
1200
9152.0 10446.0 10566.0 10715.0 11566.0
1300
5761.0 7519.0 9153.0 10446.0 10566.0
10715.0 11566.0
1400
10125.0
1500
None at present
1600
6867.0 7975.0
1700
8010.0 10446.0 10715.0
1800
8097.0 11566.0 13374.0 13419.0
1900
6783.0 7680.0 8097.0
2000
7554.0 7887.0 8009.0 7554.0 7887.0
2100
6855.0 6932.0 7975.0
2200
6854.0 7480.0 7519.0 7526.0 8009.0
2300
8009.0 8135.0
0000
None at present
0100
3389.0 4028.0 6768.0 12119.0
0200
3292.0 5417.0 10714.0 12165.0 12180.0 12215.0
0300
4017.0 4027.0 4479.0 5800.0
6855.0 10125.0 10446.0 11566.0 12214.0
0400
3292.0 4479.0 5117.0 5762.0 6768.0 9330.0
10235.0 11566.0
0500
3245.0 3389.0 4028.0 4479.0 5883.0 8096.0
9062.0 10235.0 10446.0
0600
3360.0 4028.0 7887.0 8010.0 8097.0 9331.0
0700
9063.0 9112.0 9153.0 9238.0
0800
7862.0 7975.0 8010.0 10236.0
0900
6786.0 7482.0 7520.0 7527.0 8010.0 8136.0
8630.0 9040.0 9323.0 10126.0
1000
3025.0 4035.0 4045.0 7527.0 7681.0 7726.0
7862.0 7887.0 7975.0 7981.0 8136.0 8173.0
8630.0 9153.0 9240.0 9323.0 8136.0
1100
4478.0 4507.0 8136.0 9238.0 10126.0 10344.0
10345.0 10446.0
1200
9152.0 10446.0 10566.0 10715.0 11566.0
1300
5761.0 7519.0 9153.0 10446.0 10566.0
10715.0 11566.0
1400
10125.0
1500
None at present
1600
6867.0 7975.0
1700
8010.0 10446.0 10715.0
1800
8097.0 11566.0 13374.0 13419.0
1900
6783.0 7680.0 8097.0
2000
7554.0 7887.0 8009.0 7554.0 7887.0
2100
6855.0 6932.0 7975.0
2200
6854.0 7480.0 7519.0 7526.0 8009.0
2300
8009.0 8135.0
Hurricane Lane Discussion #12
Hurricanes don't listen to us telling them where they're supposed to go, and Lane listened even less than most:
000
WTPZ43 KNHC 161538
TCDEP3
HURRICANE LANE DISCUSSION NUMBER 12...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP132006
800 AM PDT SAT SEP 16 2006
...CORRECTED TO ADD INLAND AT 12 HR...
SATELLITE IMAGERY AND DATA FROM THE MEXICAN RADARS AT LOS CABOS AND
GUASAVE SHOW THAT LANE HAS AN EYE ABOUT 8-10 N MI WIDE. ON
SATELLITE...THE EYE IS EMBEDDED IN CLOUD TOPS OF -70 TO -80C AND
HAS BECOME BETTER DEFINED IN THE PAST FEW HOURS. SATELLITE
INTENSITY ESTIMATES ARE 115 KT FROM SAB...AND 102 KT FROM TAFB AND
AFWA. THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS INCREASED TO 110 KT BASED ON THESE
ESTIMATES AND THE INCREASED EYE DEFINTION SINCE 12Z. THE LOS CABOS
RADAR SUGGESTS THAT LANE IS ABOUT TO START AN EYEWALL REPLACEMENT
CYCLE...SUGGESTING THAT THE HURRICANE IS CLOSE TO PEAKING IN
INTENSITY EVEN IF IT REMAINS OVER WATER LONGER THAN CURRENTLY
FORECAST. WEAKENING IS EXPECTED OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN
MEXCIO AFTER LANDFALL...AND THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION IS FORECAST
TO DISSIPATE COMPLETELY BY 72 HR.
THE INITIAL MOTION IS 350/9. LANE IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF A
MID/UPPER-LEVEL RIDGE OVER NORTHERN MEXICO...AND IS MOVING TOWARD A
DEEP-LAYER TROUGH OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. IF OVER
WATER...THIS WOULD PROBABLY RECURVE LANE TO THE NORTHEAST AND EAST
AS SUGGESTED BY THE GFDN MODEL. HOWEVER...THE LOWER- AND UPPER-
LEVEL CIRCULATIONS OF LANE ARE LIKELY TO DE-COUPLE OVER THE
MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MEXICO...WITH THE LOW-LEVEL CENTER DISSIPATING
AND THE UPPER CIRCULATION TURNING EASTWARD. THE FORECAST TRACK
CALLS FOR A NORTHWARD TO NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION BEFORE
DISSIPATION ALONG AND WEST OF THE MAIN MOUNTAIN RANGES OF WESTERN
MEXICO.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INITIAL 16/1500Z 23.5N 107.1W 110 KT
12HR VT 17/0000Z 24.8N 107.4W 90 KT...INLAND
24HR VT 17/1200Z 25.9N 107.6W 60 KT...INLAND
36HR VT 18/0000Z 26.8N 107.9W 35 KT...INLAND
48HR VT 18/1200Z 27.8N 108.2W 25 KT...INLAND DISSIPATING
72HR VT 19/1200Z...DISSIPATED
$$
FORECASTER BEVEN
Friday, September 15, 2006
T.S. Lane Forecast/Advisory #8
000
WTPZ23 KNHC 151434
TCMEP3
TROPICAL STORM LANE FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 8
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP132006
1500 UTC FRI SEP 15 2006
AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A
HURRICANE WARNING FOR SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF AGUA BLANCA
ON THE PACIFIC COAST AND SOUTH OF BUENA VISTA ON THE GULF OF
CALIFORNIA COAST. A HURRICANE WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
THE ISLAS MARIAS. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24
HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED
TO COMPLETION.
AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A
HURRICANE WATCH FROM CABO CORRIENTES TO LA CRUZ. A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE NOW IN EFFECT FROM MANZANILLO TO
LA CRUZ. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A
TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HURRICANE WARNINGS COULD BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THIS AREA
LATER TODAY.
AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A
HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA NORTH
OF LA CRUZ TO HUATABAMPITO....AND FOR THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA COAST
OF BAJA CALIFORNIA NORTH OF BUENA VISTA TO LORETO.
AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS DISCONTINUED
ALL WATCHES AND WARNINGS SOUTH OF MANZANILLO.
TROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 19.7N 106.2W AT 15/1500Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 25 NM
PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTHWEST OR 325 DEGREES AT 9 KT
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 990 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 60 KT WITH GUSTS TO 75 KT.
50 KT....... 30NE 30SE 30SW 30NW.
34 KT....... 75NE 75SE 90SW 60NW.
12 FT SEAS.. 75NE 120SE 120SW 75NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 19.7N 106.2W AT 15/1500Z
AT 15/1200Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 19.3N 106.0W
FORECAST VALID 16/0000Z 20.9N 107.0W
MAX WIND 70 KT...GUSTS 85 KT.
64 KT... 20NE 20SE 20SW 20NW.
50 KT... 45NE 45SE 45SW 45NW.
34 KT... 90NE 90SE 90SW 75NW.
FORECAST VALID 16/1200Z 22.3N 108.0W
MAX WIND 80 KT...GUSTS 100 KT.
64 KT... 30NE 30SE 30SW 30NW.
50 KT... 60NE 60SE 60SW 60NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 100SW 100NW.
FORECAST VALID 17/0000Z 23.4N 108.8W
MAX WIND 85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.
64 KT... 30NE 30SE 30SW 30NW.
50 KT... 60NE 60SE 60SW 60NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 100SW 100NW.
FORECAST VALID 17/1200Z 24.3N 109.0W
MAX WIND 85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.
50 KT... 60NE 60SE 60SW 60NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 100SW 100NW.
FORECAST VALID 18/1200Z 25.5N 109.0W...INLAND
MAX WIND 85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.
50 KT... 45NE 60SE 60SW 60NW.
34 KT... 90NE 120SE 100SW 100NW.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 200 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 225 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY
OUTLOOK VALID 19/1200Z 26.5N 109.0W...INLAND
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
OUTLOOK VALID 20/1200Z 28.0N 108.5W...INLAND DISSIPATING
MAX WIND 25 KT...GUSTS 35 KT.
REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 19.7N 106.2W
NEXT ADVISORY AT 15/2100Z
$$
FORECASTER BEVEN
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Useful Searches
We'd be lost without these at Utility World:
Airliners.net
Put in a registration, get back photos of the airplane. They have just about every aircraft flown by major airlines. Good for finding out type of aircraft heard on the air, or just to see who's talking.
AirNav
Searchable database of navaids and aiports.
Selcalweb
Searchable database allowing lookup of aircraft registration from selcal, or vice versa. Won't let you download the whole database and search it at home, but those who want to manage a file of 19,000+ entries can do that at another UK site.
NOAA Weather Theme Page
Gateway into the vast amount of weather product made daily at NOAA.
FCC AM Query
Useful for IDing AM DX, or finding source of co-channel interference. Searchable on a number of fields, returns either a little or a lot of highly technical information.
ITU Ship Particulars
Not the best database of ships, but the only free one. Search on vessel name, radio callsign, or MMSI. A different database maintained by a private party specializes in Russian merchant ships.
QRZ Amateur Database
The free search on this commercial site simplified ham radio QSLing and general IDing of stations by about 1000%. However it's also good for IDing amateurs only heard on the air. Put in a callsign, get back the FCC record.
Airliners.net
Put in a registration, get back photos of the airplane. They have just about every aircraft flown by major airlines. Good for finding out type of aircraft heard on the air, or just to see who's talking.
AirNav
Searchable database of navaids and aiports.
Selcalweb
Searchable database allowing lookup of aircraft registration from selcal, or vice versa. Won't let you download the whole database and search it at home, but those who want to manage a file of 19,000+ entries can do that at another UK site.
NOAA Weather Theme Page
Gateway into the vast amount of weather product made daily at NOAA.
FCC AM Query
Useful for IDing AM DX, or finding source of co-channel interference. Searchable on a number of fields, returns either a little or a lot of highly technical information.
ITU Ship Particulars
Not the best database of ships, but the only free one. Search on vessel name, radio callsign, or MMSI. A different database maintained by a private party specializes in Russian merchant ships.
QRZ Amateur Database
The free search on this commercial site simplified ham radio QSLing and general IDing of stations by about 1000%. However it's also good for IDing amateurs only heard on the air. Put in a callsign, get back the FCC record.
Here we go again: Lane predicted to move up Baja
000
WTPZ33 KNHC 150556
TCPEP3
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM LANE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 6A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP132006
1100 PM PDT THU SEP 14 2006
...LANE GRADUALLY GETTING BETTER ORGANIZED...
A HURRICANE WATCH AND A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAIN IN EFFECT
ALONG THE COAST OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA FROM BUENA VISTA
SOUTHWARD ALONG THE EAST COAST...AND FROM AGUA BLANCA SOUTHWARD
ALONG THE WEST COAST. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36
HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24
HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
OF MEXICO FROM LAZARO CARDENAS NORTHWARD TO EL ROBLITO...INCLUDING
THE ISLAS MARIAS.
A HURRICANE WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST OF
MEXICO FROM MANZANILLO NORTHWARD TO CABO CORRIENTES...AND FOR THE
ISLAS MARIAS.
INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA AND ALONG THE COAST
OF NORTHWESTERN MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF LANE.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 1100 PM PDT...0600Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM LANE WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 105.4 WEST OR ABOUT 70
MILES...115 KM...SOUTHWEST OF MANZANILLO MEXICO AND ABOUT 425
MILES...685 KM...SOUTHEAST OF CABO SAN LUCAS MEXICO.
LANE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR. THIS
GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON
THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF LANE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFF
THE COAST OF MEXICO. HOWEVER...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA TODAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED AND LANE COULD BECOME A
HURRICANE LATER TODAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM
FROM THE CENTER.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 997 MB...29.44 INCHES.
TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE
WEST CENTRAL COAST OF MEXICO...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 6
INCHES POSSIBLE OVER THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS. THIS RAINFALL COULD
CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES.
REPEATING THE 1100 PM PDT POSITION...18.4 N...105.4 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
200 AM PDT.
$$
FORECASTER RHOME/KNABB
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Shuttle Countdown Well Underway
Mission: STS-115 -
19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean, Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
At Launch Pad 39B, preparations for Wednesday's launch are under way.
The launch countdown began on Sunday at 8 a.m. The pressurization of
the orbital maneuvering system, the reaction control system and the
main propulsion system is complete. The aft confidence test is
complete. This test involves power-up and testing of all aft systems,
such as the main propulsion system circuits. The power reactant
storage and distribution system fuel loading is complete.
Weather officials are predicting favorable conditions for Wednesday's
launch attempt, with a 20 percent chance of weather prohibiting the
launch. Dryer conditions are expected to arrive on Wednesday, and the
early launch time should avoid the afternoon thunderstorms. The
primary concerns for launch are cumulus clouds within 10 nautical
miles of the launch pad, and isolated showers within 20 nautical
miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.
(KSC Public Affairs Office)
Russian Military Exercises Continue
PROJECT 677 LADA
Testing of new Sankt Petersburg class submarine near Finland. Usual Russian naval beacons and stations are active. All skeds up and running on 18.1 kHz, yes, kHz. Weird Russian FSK mode preceded by N0N open carriers for 10 seconds. Activity reported on the Russian ELF submarine comm station (like the one the US closed down last year), on 82 Hz. Yes that's HERTZ!
UNKNOWN NAME 9/3-8
Joint combat anti-aircraft firing exercise by Russian and Ukrainian troops in Chita Region in Siberia involving S-200 and S-300 systems (Interfax-Ukraine)
[Look for those Russian Morse code air defense stations to be active, with time stamped tracking data. These are kept as a backup for training, and used during these exercises yearly. -Hugh]
COSSACK STEPPE 2006 9/2-15
Military exercise on Zhytomyr training ground (Interfax-Ukraine)
Frequencies worth trying (various modes, all kHz):
18.1
3261.0
3755.0
4079.0
4479.0
5213.0
6779.0
7657.0
7801.0
8345.0
11064.0
11155.0
12832.0
14664.0
16123.0
16912.0
Testing of new Sankt Petersburg class submarine near Finland. Usual Russian naval beacons and stations are active. All skeds up and running on 18.1 kHz, yes, kHz. Weird Russian FSK mode preceded by N0N open carriers for 10 seconds. Activity reported on the Russian ELF submarine comm station (like the one the US closed down last year), on 82 Hz. Yes that's HERTZ!
UNKNOWN NAME 9/3-8
Joint combat anti-aircraft firing exercise by Russian and Ukrainian troops in Chita Region in Siberia involving S-200 and S-300 systems (Interfax-Ukraine)
[Look for those Russian Morse code air defense stations to be active, with time stamped tracking data. These are kept as a backup for training, and used during these exercises yearly. -Hugh]
COSSACK STEPPE 2006 9/2-15
Military exercise on Zhytomyr training ground (Interfax-Ukraine)
Frequencies worth trying (various modes, all kHz):
18.1
3261.0
3755.0
4079.0
4479.0
5213.0
6779.0
7657.0
7801.0
8345.0
11064.0
11155.0
12832.0
14664.0
16123.0
16912.0
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Tropical Storm John Discussion
000
WTPZ41 KNHC 022033
TCDEP1
TROPICAL STORM JOHN DISCUSSION NUMBER 22
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP112006
200 PM PDT SAT SEP 02 2006
RADAR DATA FROM GUASAVE INDICATES THAT THE CENTER OF JOHN IS IN THE
NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE WEAKENING DEEP CONVECTION SEEN ON
SATELLITE. THE TROPICAL CYCLONE HAS SPENT AT LEAST 12 HOURS OVER
LAND AND IT IS LIKELY TO HAVE DIMINISHED TO A TROPICAL STORM... SO
THE INITIAL INTENSITY WILL BE REDUCED TO 60 KT. STEADY WEAKENING IS
FORECAST AS THE CENTER SHOULD REMAIN OVER OR CLOSE TO BAJA
CALIFORNIA FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THEREAFTER... COLDER WATERS
SHOULD KILL THE SYSTEM QUICKLY AFTER THE SEVERELY WEAKENED CYCLONE
EMERGES INTO THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. REGARDLESS OF THE EXACT
TRACK... MIDDLE TO UPPER-LEVEL MOISTURE FROM JOHN IS LIKELY TO
ENHANCE RAINFALL IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST MONSOON AREAS.
THE INITIAL MOTION HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE MORE TO THE LEFT... NOW
315/7. THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN SYNOPTIC REASONING WITH A WEAK
RIDGE PERSISTING OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. MODEL
GUIDANCE HAS NOT BEEN CONSISTENT ON HOW MUCH OF A WESTWARD TURN...
IF ANY... TO EXPECT AFTER THE SYSTEM DEPARTS BAJA CALIFORNIA. THE
GFDL AND GFS IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN FLIP-FLOPPING FROM A MORE
NORTHERLY TO A WESTERLY TRACK FROM RUN-TO-RUN. LITTLE CHANGE HAS
BEEN MADE TO THE OFFICIAL FORECAST... WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE SOUTH
OF THE MODEL CONSENSUS.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INITIAL 02/2100Z 25.0N 111.2W 60 KT...INLAND
12HR VT 03/0600Z 25.8N 112.1W 50 KT...INLAND
24HR VT 03/1800Z 26.8N 113.2W 40 KT...INLAND
36HR VT 04/0600Z 27.8N 114.3W 30 KT...INLAND
48HR VT 04/1800Z 28.7N 115.3W 25 KT...DISSIPATING
72HR VT 05/1800Z 29.5N 117.0W 20 KT...REMNANT LOW
96HR VT 06/1800Z 29.5N 119.0W 20 KT...REMNANT LOW
120HR VT 07/1800Z...DISSIPATED
$$
FORECASTER BLAKE/AVILA
Friday, September 01, 2006
Shuttle on for Sep 6
08.31.06
Grey Hautaluoma
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0668
Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
RELEASE: 06-308
NASA ANNOUNCES SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS LAUNCH DATE
Following a detailed inspection of NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis at
the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., the six-member crew has a new launch
date to begin the STS-115 mission to the International Space Station.
The lift-off from Kennedy is set for 12:29 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept.
6.
Shuttle managers decided on the launch date after assessing conditions
at Kennedy following Tropical Depression Ernesto. The center's
facilities and Atlantis, which sits on Launch Pad 39-B, sustained no
damage during the storm.
If weather or other issues prevent Atlantis' launch on Sept. 6,
opportunities are available on Sept. 7 and 8. All dates allow for
completion of the mission's objectives and allow for shuttle
undocking from the station by Sept. 17. This is necessary so the
Russian Soyuz taking the next space station crew up to the orbiting
laboratory can launch Sept. 18.
Many of the standard launch preparations were completed before the
shuttle's partial move to the center's landmark Vehicle Assembly
Building and return to the launch pad on Tuesday. During the next
several days, teams will focus on completing pre-launch tasks, so an
official countdown can begin Sunday at 8 a.m. EDT.
The STS-115 crew, Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and
mission specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper
and Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean, is in Houston conducting launch
simulations. The astronauts will return to Kennedy on Saturday
morning. They already have begun adjusting their sleep cycles to
match their timeline in orbit that changed due to the new launch
time.
During STS-115, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the
17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station.
The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries
and associated electronics. The P3/P4 truss segment will provide
one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed
station.
For information about the STS-115 crew and mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Hurricane John Nears Baja in Pacific
000
WTPZ31 KNHC 011811
TCPEP1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE JOHN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 17A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP112006
1100 AM PDT FRI SEP 01 2006
...DANGEROUS HURRICANE JOHN NEARING BAJA CALIFORNIA...
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN BAJA
PENINSULA FROM SAN EVERISTO SOUTHWARD ON THE EAST COAST...AND FROM
BAHIA MAGDALENA SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAJA
CALIFORNIA PENINSULA FROM PUNTA ABREOJOS SOUTHWARD TO BAHIA
MAGDALENA ON THE WEST COAST...AND NORTHWARD FROM SAN EVERISTO
TO LORETO ON THE EAST COAST.
A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ALONG THE WEST COAST OF
THE BAJA PENINSULA FROM BAHIA MAGDALENA TO PUNTA ABREOJOS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ALONG THE EAST COAST OF
THE BAJA PENINSULA FROM LORETO NORTHWARD TO MULEGE.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 1100 AM PDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JOHN WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 22.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 109.0 WEST OR ABOUT 85 MILES...
135 KM...SOUTHEAST OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA.
JOHN HAS RECENTLY BEEN MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 8
MPH...13 KM/HR... BUT A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED
WITHIN 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK JOHN WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO SOUTHERN
BAJA CALIFORNIA LATER TODAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 110 MPH...185 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. JOHN IS A STRONG CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. LITTLE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS
FORECAST FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS BUT ONLY A SMALL INCREASE IN WINDS
WOULD BRING JOHN BACK TO CATEGORY THREE STATUS BEFORE LANDFALL.
JOHN IS A RELATIVELY SMALL TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES...40 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM.
THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE MEASURED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 958 MB...28.29 INCHES.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF UP TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE
EXPECTED IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW NEAR THE PATH OF THE CENTER OF
THE HURRICANE.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM
TOTALS UP TO 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BAJA
PENINSULA. THE WEST COAST OF CENTRAL MEXICO COULD RECEIVE AN
ADDITIONAL 3 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN WITH MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 18
INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH
FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES OVER AREAS OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
REPEATING THE 1100 AM PDT POSITION...22.3 N...109.0 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...958 MB.
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
200 PM PDT.
$$
FORECASTER BLAKE/AVILA
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Ernesto Weakens, John Strengthens (in E. Pacific)
Tropical Depression Ernesto:
Category 4 Hurricane John:
000
WTNT35 KNHC 301507
TCPAT5
BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION ERNESTO ADVISORY NUMBER 24...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL052006
1100 AM EDT WED AUG 30 2006
...CORRECTED RAINFALL STATEMENT...
...ERNESTO WEAKENS AS IT MOVES FARTHER INLAND...
AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FROM SOUTH OF
SEBASTIAN INLET SOUTHWARD AROUND THE FLORIDA PENINSULA TO BONITA
BEACH ON THE WEST COAST INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND THE FLORIDA
KEYS HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
AT 11 AM EDT...THE HURRICANE WATCH FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER NORTHWARD
TO CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
AT 11 AM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED NORTHWARD
AND IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM SEBASTIAN INLET FLORIDA NORTHWARD AND
NORTHEASTWARD ALONG THE COAST TO CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 1100 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION ERNESTO
WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.9 WEST OR
ABOUT 55 MILES... 85 KM...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA
AND ABOUT 115 MILES...190 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SARASOTA FLORIDA.
THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 10 MPH AND THIS
GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY ALONG THE FLORIDA
PENINSULA. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER SHOULD MOVE OVER THE ATLANTIC
WATERS LATE TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. NO CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST WHILE ERNESTO IS OVER LAND
BUT SOME INTENSIFICATION COULD OCCUR ON THURSDAY AS THE SYSTEM
MOVES OVER THE ATLANTIC.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1003 MB...29.62 INCHES.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS
CAN BE EXPECTED IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA TODAY
AND TONIGHT.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THE TRACK OF
ERNESTO OVER THE FLORIDA PENINSULA...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 10
INCHES POSSIBLE. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM
COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA NORTHWARD INTO THE MID ATLANTIC REGION
WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ADDITIONAL
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 4
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.
REPEATING THE 1100 AM EDT POSITION...26.4 N...80.9 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTH NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003 MB.
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 200 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500
PM EDT.
$$
FORECASTER AVILA
Category 4 Hurricane John:
000
WTPZ31 KNHC 301435
TCPEP1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE JOHN ADVISORY NUMBER 9
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP112006
800 AM PDT WED AUG 30 2006
...HURRICANE JOHN NOW A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE...NEW WATCHES AND
WARNINGS ISSUED...
AT 8 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS EXTENDED THE
HURRICANE WARNING NORTHWARD TO CABO CORRIENTES. A HURRICANE
WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM LAZARO CARDENAS WESTWARD TO CABO
CORRIENTES.
AT 8 AM PDT...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH
FOR THE ISLAS MARIAS.
AT 8 AM PDT...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM
WATCH FROM CABO CORRIENTES TO EL ROBLITO.
AT 8 AM PDT...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS DISCONTINUED THE TROPICAL
WARNING EAST OF ACAPULCO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN
EFFECT FROM ACAPULCO TO LAZARO CARDENAS.
A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TECPAN DE GALEANA TO LAZARO
CARDENAS.
A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 800 AM PDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JOHN WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 16.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 102.3 WEST OR ABOUT 160 MILES
...260 KM...WEST OF ACAPULCO MEXICO AND ABOUT 95 MILES...155 KM...
SOUTH OF LAZARO CARDENAS MEXICO.
JOHN IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR...AND
THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MPH...215 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. JOHN IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS. WHILE THE CENTER OF JOHN IS FORECAST TO REMAIN JUST
OFFSHORE...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE STILL EXPECTED TO REACH THE
COAST WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES...85 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140
MILES...220 KM.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...BASED ON RECENT RECONNAISSANCE
DATA...IS 948 MB...27.99 INCHES.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS UP TO
12 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO WITHIN
THE WARNING AREAS. THESE AMOUNTS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING
FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES OVER AREAS OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF UP TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE
EXPECTED IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW NEAR THE PATH OF THE CENTER OF THE
HURRICANE.
REPEATING THE 800 AM PDT POSITION...16.6 N...102.3 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...135 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...948 MB.
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 1100 AM PDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 200
PM PDT.
$$
FORECASTER MAINELLI/FRANKLIN
ZCZC MIAPWSEP1 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
HURRICANE JOHN WIND SPEED PROBABILITIES NUMBER 9
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP112006
1500 UTC WED AUG 30 2006
AT 1500Z THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JOHN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.6
NORTH...LONGITUDE 102.3 WEST WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 115
KTS...135 MPH...215 KM/HR.
CHANCES OF SUSTAINED (1-MINUTE AVERAGE) WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST
...34 KT (39 MPH... 63 KPH)...
...50 KT (58 MPH... 93 KPH)...
...64 KT (74 MPH...119 KPH)...
FOR LOCATIONS AND TIME PERIODS DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS
PROBABILITIES FOR LOCATIONS ARE GIVEN AS IP(CP) WHERE
IP IS THE PROBABILITY OF THE EVENT BEGINNING DURING
AN INDIVIDUAL TIME PERIOD (INDIVIDUAL PROBABILITY)
(CP) IS THE PROBABILITY OF THE EVENT OCCURRING BETWEEN
12Z WED AND THE FORECAST HOUR (CUMULATIVE PROBABILITY)
PROBABILITIES ARE GIVEN IN PERCENT
X INDICATES PROBABILITIES LESS THAN 0.5 PERCENT
LOCATIONS SHOWN WHEN THEIR TOTAL CUMULATED 5-DAY
PROBABILITY IS AT LEAST 2.5 PERCENT
Z INDICATES COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME (GREENWICH)
PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME (PDT)...SUBTRACT 7 HOURS FROM Z TIME
HAWAIIAN STANDARD TIME (HST)...SUBTRACT 10 HOURS FROM Z TIME
- - - - WIND SPEED PROBABILITIES FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS - - - -
FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM
TIME 12Z WED 00Z THU 12Z THU 00Z FRI 12Z FRI 12Z SAT 12Z SUN
PERIODS TO TO TO TO TO TO TO
00Z THU 12Z THU 00Z FRI 12Z FRI 12Z SAT 12Z SUN 12Z MON
FORECAST HOUR (12) (24) (36) (48) (72) (96) (120)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LOCATION KT
P ABREOJOS 34 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 9(10) 10(20) 2(22)
P ABREOJOS 50 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 4( 5) X( 5)
CABO SAN LUCAS 34 X 1( 1) 12(13) 30(43) 25(68) 4(72) 1(73)
CABO SAN LUCAS 50 X X( X) 2( 2) 15(17) 21(38) 2(40) 1(41)
CABO SAN LUCAS 64 X X( X) 1( 1) 8( 9) 13(22) X(22) 1(23)
SAN JOSE CABO 34 X 1( 1) 13(14) 30(44) 26(70) 3(73) 1(74)
SAN JOSE CABO 50 X X( X) 2( 2) 17(19) 21(40) 2(42) 1(43)
SAN JOSE CABO 64 X X( X) 1( 1) 7( 8) 14(22) 1(23) X(23)
LA PAZ 34 X X( X) 3( 3) 20(23) 34(57) 6(63) X(63)
LA PAZ 50 X X( X) 1( 1) 7( 8) 19(27) 3(30) X(30)
LA PAZ 64 X X( X) X( X) 3( 3) 10(13) 2(15) X(15)
LORETO 34 X X( X) 1( 1) 4( 5) 17(22) 8(30) 1(31)
LORETO 50 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 4( 5) 3( 8) X( 8)
LORETO 64 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 2( 2) 1( 3) X( 3)
HERMOSILLO 34 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 2( 2) 2( 4) X( 4)
BAHIA KINO 34 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 2( 2) 3( 5) 1( 6)
GUAYMAS 34 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 5( 6) 4(10) X(10)
HUATABAMPO 34 X X( X) 1( 1) 3( 4) 10(14) 4(18) X(18)
HUATABAMPO 50 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 1( 2) 1( 3) X( 3)
LOS MOCHIS 34 X X( X) 2( 2) 8(10) 16(26) 3(29) 1(30)
LOS MOCHIS 50 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 4( 5) 1( 6) X( 6)
CULICAN 34 X X( X) 4( 4) 18(22) 22(44) 4(48) 1(49)
CULICAN 50 X X( X) 1( 1) 5( 6) 10(16) 2(18) 1(19)
CULICAN 64 X X( X) X( X) 3( 3) 5( 8) 1( 9) X( 9)
MAZATLAN 34 X 3( 3) 21(24) 15(39) 8(47) 1(48) X(48)
MAZATLAN 50 X X( X) 5( 5) 7(12) 3(15) 1(16) X(16)
MAZATLAN 64 X X( X) 1( 1) 4( 5) 2( 7) X( 7) X( 7)
SAN BLAS 34 2 18(20) 28(48) 4(52) 4(56) X(56) 1(57)
SAN BLAS 50 X 2( 2) 12(14) 3(17) 1(18) 1(19) X(19)
SAN BLAS 64 X X( X) 4( 4) 2( 6) X( 6) X( 6) X( 6)
P VALLARTA 34 2 52(54) 18(72) 2(74) 2(76) X(76) X(76)
P VALLARTA 50 X 14(14) 19(33) 2(35) 1(36) X(36) X(36)
P VALLARTA 64 X 4( 4) 11(15) 1(16) X(16) X(16) X(16)
BARRA NAVIDAD 34 25 64(89) 2(91) X(91) X(91) 1(92) X(92)
BARRA NAVIDAD 50 2 58(60) 5(65) X(65) X(65) X(65) X(65)
BARRA NAVIDAD 64 X 37(37) 3(40) 1(41) X(41) X(41) X(41)
MANZANILLO 34 42 46(88) 2(90) X(90) X(90) X(90) X(90)
MANZANILLO 50 4 55(59) 2(61) X(61) 1(62) X(62) X(62)
MANZANILLO 64 1 29(30) 1(31) X(31) 1(32) X(32) X(32)
L CARDENAS 34 93 1(94) X(94) X(94) X(94) X(94) X(94)
L CARDENAS 50 42 1(43) X(43) X(43) X(43) X(43) X(43)
L CARDENAS 64 10 X(10) X(10) X(10) X(10) X(10) X(10)
ZIHUATANEJO 34 99 X(99) X(99) X(99) X(99) X(99) X(99)
ZIHUATANEJO 50 6 X( 6) X( 6) X( 6) X( 6) X( 6) X( 6)
ACAPULCO 34 3 X( 3) X( 3) X( 3) X( 3) X( 3) X( 3)
ISLA SOCORRO 34 X X( X) 4( 4) 3( 7) 6(13) 2(15) X(15)
ISLA SOCORRO 50 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 1( 2) 1( 3) X( 3)
ISLA CLARION 34 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 2( 2) 3( 5) 1( 6)
ISLAS MARIAS 34 1 21(22) 47(69) 8(77) 4(81) X(81) X(81)
ISLAS MARIAS 50 X 3( 3) 36(39) 8(47) 3(50) X(50) X(50)
ISLAS MARIAS 64 X 1( 1) 19(20) 8(28) 2(30) X(30) X(30)
- - - - WIND SPEED PROBABILITIES FOR FORECAST POSITIONS - - - -
FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM
TIME 12Z WED 00Z THU 12Z THU 00Z FRI 12Z FRI 12Z SAT 12Z SUN
PERIODS TO TO TO TO TO TO TO
00Z THU 12Z THU 00Z FRI 12Z FRI 12Z SAT 12Z SUN 12Z MON
FORECAST HOUR (12) (24) (36) (48) (72) (96) (120)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HR POSITIONS KT
12 176N 1036W 34 97 2(99) X(99) X(99) X(99) X(99) X(99)
12 176N 1036W 50 81 8(89) X(89) X(89) X(89) X(89) X(89)
12 176N 1036W 64 60 11(71) X(71) X(71) X(71) X(71) X(71)
24 193N 1056W 34 9 74(83) 6(89) X(89) X(89) 1(90) X(90)
24 193N 1056W 50 1 56(57) 12(69) X(69) 1(70) X(70) X(70)
24 193N 1056W 64 X 36(36) 12(48) X(48) 1(49) X(49) X(49)
36 210N 1073W 34 1 21(22) 52(74) 9(83) 3(86) X(86) X(86)
36 210N 1073W 50 X 4( 4) 41(45) 12(57) 4(61) 1(62) X(62)
36 210N 1073W 64 X 1( 1) 27(28) 10(38) 3(41) X(41) X(41)
48 223N 1087W 34 X 3( 3) 32(35) 29(64) 14(78) 2(80) X(80)
48 223N 1087W 50 X X( X) 12(12) 25(37) 11(48) 2(50) X(50)
48 223N 1087W 64 X X( X) 6( 6) 15(21) 8(29) 1(30) X(30)
72 235N 1115W 34 X X( X) 2( 2) 15(17) 32(49) 10(59) 1(60)
72 235N 1115W 50 X X( X) X( X) 3( 3) 19(22) 6(28) X(28)
72 235N 1115W 64 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 11(12) 3(15) X(15)
96 240N 1150W 34 X X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 11(12) 21(33) 4(37)
96 240N 1150W 50 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 2( 2) 8(10) 2(12)
96 240N 1150W 64 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 3( 4) X( 4)
120 240N 1190W 34 X X( X) X( X) X( X) 1( 1) 7( 8) 5(13)
120 240N 1190W 50 X X( X) X( X) X( X) X( X) 2( 2) 2( 4)
120 240N 1190W 64 X X( X) X( X) X( X) X( X) 1( 1) X( 1)
- - - - FORECAST INTENSITIES - - - -
FCST MAX WIND 125 125 125 120 105 90 75
FORECAST HOUR (12) (24) (36) (48) (72) (96) (120)
$$
FORECASTER MAINELLI/FRANKLIN
NNNN
Shuttle Back on Pad
NASA TV showed the crawler marching toward the VAB. The NASA press conference spoke of arranging a new schedule with the Russians if they missed September 7. The news reported what they had.
However, back in the real world, the crawler was reversed, and went back to the pad, after Tropical Depression Ernesto's forecast winds were below critical velocities.
Tom Sundstrom sends these useful links for hurricanes in Florida:
Our own 2006 hurricane list is here.
However, back in the real world, the crawler was reversed, and went back to the pad, after Tropical Depression Ernesto's forecast winds were below critical velocities.
Tom Sundstrom sends these useful links for hurricanes in Florida:
In poking around the 'net I found CBS4 streaming
continous live video of its news broadcasts. Grab the Real or the freeware
VLC (made for Mac, Win, Linux, Unix) player and tune to http://cbs4.com to
watch breaking stories.
=====================
I have other hurriicane links at
http://trsc.com/links_weather.html#hurricane if you would like to use them.
Our own 2006 hurricane list is here.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Ernesto Forecast & Advisory #20
000
WTNT25 KNHC 291432
TCMAT5
TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 20
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL052006
1500 UTC TUE AUG 29 2006
AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS EXTENDED
NORTHWARD ALONG THE U.S. EAST COAST NORTH OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH
FLORIDA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA.
AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS CHANGED TO A
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM NORTH OF
BONITA BEACH NORTHWARD TO ENGLEWOOD...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS
ISSUED FROM NORTH OF ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FROM
NEW SMYRNA BEACH SOUTHWARD ON THE EAST COAST...INCLUDING LAKE
OKEECHOBEE...FROM BONITA BEACH SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST...AND
FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM OCEAN REEF TO THE DRY TORTUGAS.
AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS HAS
DISCONTINUED THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR RAGGED ISLAND AND
GREAT EXUMA IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
ANDROS ISLAND...THE BERRY ISLANDS... THE BIMINIS AND GRAND BAHAMA
ISLAND IN THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.
INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS SHOULD MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF ERNESTO.
TROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 23.3N 79.5W AT 29/1500Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 20 NM
PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTHWEST OR 315 DEGREES AT 11 KT
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 1005 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 40 KT WITH GUSTS TO 50 KT.
34 KT....... 75NE 0SE 0SW 40NW.
12 FT SEAS.. 90NE 0SE 0SW 60NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 23.3N 79.5W AT 29/1500Z
AT 29/1200Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 23.0N 79.2W
FORECAST VALID 30/0000Z 24.4N 80.6W
MAX WIND 55 KT...GUSTS 65 KT.
50 KT... 40NE 40SE 20SW 30NW.
34 KT... 90NE 90SE 40SW 75NW.
FORECAST VALID 30/1200Z 26.3N 81.2W...INLAND
MAX WIND 55 KT...GUSTS 65 KT.
50 KT... 30NE 30SE 20SW 20NW.
34 KT... 90NE 90SE 40SW 40NW.
FORECAST VALID 31/0000Z 28.5N 81.1W...INLAND
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 40SW 75NW.
FORECAST VALID 31/1200Z 30.9N 80.5W
MAX WIND 60 KT...GUSTS 75 KT.
50 KT... 40NE 40SE 30SW 50NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 60SW 100NW.
FORECAST VALID 01/1200Z 36.0N 79.0W...INLAND
MAX WIND 30 KT...GUSTS 40 KT.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 225 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 300 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY
OUTLOOK VALID 02/1200Z 39.5N 79.5W...INLAND
MAX WIND 25 KT...GUSTS 35 KT.
OUTLOOK VALID 03/1200Z 43.0N 80.0W...EXTRATROPICAL
MAX WIND 25 KT...GUSTS 35 KT.
REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 23.3N 79.5W
NEXT ADVISORY AT 29/2100Z
$$
FORECASTER PASCH
Hurricane Aircraft Taskings for 8/30
643
NOUS42 KNHC 291500
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1100 AM EDT TUE 29 AUG 2006
SUBJECT: TROPICAL STORM PLAN OF THE DAY (TSPOD)
VALID 30/1100Z TO 31/1100Z AUG 2006
TSPOD NUMBER.....06-091
I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO
FLIGHT ONE FLIGHT TWO
A. 30/1800,31/0000Z A. 31/0000Z
B. AFXXX 2105A ERNESTO B. NOAA9 2205A ERNESTO
C. 30/1500Z C. 30/1800Z
D. 27.4N 81.2W D. NA
E. 30/1700Z TO 31/0000Z E. NA
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT F. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT
FLIGHT THREE
A. 31/0600,1200Z
B. AFXXX 2305A ERNESTO
C. 31/0330Z
D. 29.6N 80.8W
E. 31/0530Z TO 31/1200Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: BEGIN 3-HRLY FIXES AT 31/1500Z.
A P-3 MISSION FOR 31/1500Z.
II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.
JWP
Shuttle Goes Back Into Building
NASA TV shows STS-115 on the crawler, headed back for the assembly building. This is due to the predicted path of Tropical Storm Ernesto, which might become a hurricane. Launch will most likely be delayed beyond the September 7 close of the window. If this happens, the delay will last many weeks.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Ernesto Postpones Shuttle Launch
Concern over the forecast path of Tropical Storm Ernesto has put the STS-115 count on indefinite hold. Managers face a tough decision whether to move the vehicle back indoors, which is a minimum 9-day turnaround. This would endanger an important launch deadline in early September.
Latest Ernesto advisory:
Latest Ernesto advisory:
000
WTNT25 KNHC 281433
TCMAT5
TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 16
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL052006
1500 UTC MON AUG 28 2006
AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN EXTENDED
ALONG THE FLORIDA EAST COAST TO NEW SMYRNA BEACH AND A HURRICANE
WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. ALSO...THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE BAHAMAS HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE BIMINI ISLANDS
AND GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND.
A HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM NEW SMYRNA BEACH SOUTHWARD
ON THE FLORIDA EAST COAST...AND FROM SOUTH OF CHOKOLOSKEE SOUTHWARD
ALONG THE WEST COAST...FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE...AND FOR ALL OF THE
FLORIDA KEYS...FROM OCEAN REEF TO THE DRY TORTUGAS. A HURRICANE
WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR ANDROS ISLAND...THE BIMINIS...AND GRAND
BAHAMA ISLAND IN THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS
THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH
AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
HURRICANE WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THE HURRICANE
WATCH AREAS LATER TODAY.
AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS CHANGED THE
HURRICANE WARNING TO A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE CUBAN
PROVINCES OF GUANTANAMO...SANTIAGO DE CUBA...GRANMA... HOLGUIN...
LAS TUNAS...AND CAMAGUEY.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR RAGGED ISLAND AND GREAT
EXUMA IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS SHOULD
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF ERNESTO.
TROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 20.3N 75.7W AT 28/1500Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 25 NM
PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE NORTHWEST OR 325 DEGREES AT 9 KT
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 1006 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 35 KT WITH GUSTS TO 45 KT.
34 KT....... 60NE 60SE 0SW 0NW.
12 FT SEAS..100NE 150SE 60SW 90NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 20.3N 75.7W AT 28/1500Z
AT 28/1200Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 19.9N 75.5W
FORECAST VALID 29/0000Z 21.5N 76.8W
MAX WIND 35 KT...GUSTS 45 KT.
34 KT... 75NE 75SE 20SW 60NW.
FORECAST VALID 29/1200Z 22.9N 78.5W
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
34 KT...100NE 75SE 30SW 75NW.
FORECAST VALID 30/0000Z 24.6N 80.0W
MAX WIND 55 KT...GUSTS 65 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 40SE 25SW 30NW.
34 KT...120NE 100SE 50SW 75NW.
FORECAST VALID 30/1200Z 26.6N 80.4W...INLAND
MAX WIND 70 KT...GUSTS 85 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 50SE 25SW 25NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 50SW 50NW.
FORECAST VALID 31/1200Z 31.0N 80.0W
MAX WIND 75 KT...GUSTS 90 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 50SE 30SW 50NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 75SW 90NW.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 225 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 300 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY
OUTLOOK VALID 01/1200Z 34.0N 77.5W
MAX WIND 75 KT...GUSTS 90 KT.
OUTLOOK VALID 02/1200Z 36.0N 75.0W
MAX WIND 70 KT...GUSTS 85 KT.
REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 20.3N 75.7W
NEXT ADVISORY AT 28/2100Z
$$
FORECASTER PASCH
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