Coast Guard to Discontinue HF Weather Broadcasts

[lazydawg]

Just found this on the KW NOAA Page

*********Here is what I don't know! Are these the broadcasts we receive over our VHF radios as weather channels or is that NOAA Weather Radio??***************
Since I'm currently in an area without receiving capability I DON'T KNOW if I'm sending up a flare for no reason!!!

Go to this site to follow links and you'll find the hyperlinks necessary to comment and review: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/key/


Coast Guard solicits comments on need to continue
HF radio weather broadcasts by Aug. 24, 2007




The United States Coast Guard is currently soliciting public comments on the need
to continue providing high frequency (HF) weather forecasts and warnings via radio
broadcast. Public comment is necessary to assess the demand for the HF radio
weather broadcasts in the following forms:

(1) Radio Facsimile.
(2) Voice.
(3) Simplex Teletype over Radio (SITOR),
also known as Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP).

Due to the significant costs associated with the continuance of HF radio services,
the U.S. Coast Guard is seeking further information that details the extent to which
these services are used by the public and what alternative services are being
used or are available to obtain weather forecasts and warnings.

Comments should go directly to the Coast Guard no later than August 24, 2007.
Responses should be sent by one of the following methods:

1. Web site: http://dms.dot.gov

2. Mail: Docket Management Facility
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, DC 20590-0001

3. Fax: 202-492-2251

4. Delivery: Room PL-401, Plaza Level, Nassif Building
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, DC, 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday except holidays

Click here to read the full text of the Coast Guard NOTICE
If you respond to the Coast Guard, please answer the 8 questions posed in the Notice.

LD

[Capt. G]

Specifically what is HF radio:
(1) Radio Facsimile.
(2) Voice.
(3) Simplex Teletype over Radio (SITOR),
also known as Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP).

Is this another ploy like Senator Santorum's(R-PA) proposal in 06 to privatize NOAA weather and allow a chosen company to charge for it?
As you know he was defeated last year

[Kamper]

HF/High Frequency is not VHF/Very High Frequency. And that's all I know for sure about that.

I believe what you receive on the weather channels on your VHF are the same as those little weather band radios. They are sent by NOAH/NWS (National Weather Service). I'm 99% sure ceasing the HF service will not affect those channels.

I'm under the impression weather info is available through mutiple services including multi-national programs so USCG might just be going through the formalities to shed load.