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Hurricane Watch Net activates for Sandy

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:38 PM PDT
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?365819-Hurricane-Watch-Net-activ...

The Hurricane Watch Net is being activated for Hurricane Sandy.    The net  
will activate on  14.325 MHz  to report observed conditions to the National  
Hurricane Center.  Net operations will begin at 0700 Eastern (1100 UTC)  
Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Operation on lower frequencies (40 or 80  
meters) will be considered depending on propagation during evening and  
night hours.  We will try to monitor Cuban stations, but would appreciate  
your helping us on 14.325.

Amateur stations in the affected area should be aware of the storm, and be  
prepared to operate from a place of safety. We will be looking for  
condition reports from stations in the affected area.  We do appreciate the  
consideration of Amateur Operators in keeping our frequency clear, and  
listening for possible relays.   For information on the storm and the  
Hurricane Watch Net, go to http://www.hwn.org

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UK to phase-out IRC's

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 01:03 AM PDT
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?365774-UK-to-phase-out-IRC-s&got...

Phil, G3SWH, has received the following info from the   Royal  
Mail:            "Due to declining international mail volumes and  
electronic               substitution, customer demand for International  
Reply Coupons has been               falling dramatically over the last few  
years.

"Overall sales of International Reply Coupons have been very low indeed -  
on average just 4               per annum bought from each Post Office  
branch. Therefore, it was no               longer commercially viable to  
maintain the sale of coupons and Royal             Mail has taken the  
decision to withdraw them from sale.

"International Reply Coupons have not been withdrawn  globally from sale.  
Under UPU regulations Royal Mail through Post Office  
Counters               is obliged to redeem International Reply Coupons  
presented  having been purchased overseas, but we are not obliged to sell  
them.  However, I can confirm that customers have up to December 2013 to  
redeem  IRCs."

Phil states, "This seems to be much more in line with the Royal Mail's  
responsibilities under their UPU membership. Looks like they're safe  until  
31st December 2013. It may be that the UPU will change their rules  after  
that date (which would be no bad thing IMHO)."