KD8TUT
10-07-2016, 05:23 AM
Well- ok. I hunkered in for my first experience of amateur radio emergency operations.
Not that it would be needed, but I tested my station, checked everything out, and was ready to monitor the emergency and net frequencies. With the goal of being informed, and perhaps relaying if needed (however unlikely).
What I experienced was listening to the Hurricane Watch Net reading and re-reading the national weather service and NOAA reports. There were few if any observations from the the affected areas, QRMers tuning and whistling over the lonely guy running the net. Even though it was a directed net... many jackasses from North America wanted to check in.
That was on 40 meters.... Meanwhile on 20 meters.....
20 meters was a different story. Event though the procedures for the net were published on the organizations web site, the op on 20 meters was not following the procedures. Although- one station checked in with actual weather measurements and net control new how to document them.
So in a period of 18 hours of monitoring that is my observation. The two net controllers on 20 and 40 were trying. But not many other hams were involved in passing information. Perhaps if the hurricane had become a real disaster (which could still possibly happen) then these nets would have become active.
I'm disappointed and the low numbers of hams participating. Maybe I was on the wrong frequencies.
I remember hearing emergency traffic nets as a kid which were far more active and useful.
Not that it would be needed, but I tested my station, checked everything out, and was ready to monitor the emergency and net frequencies. With the goal of being informed, and perhaps relaying if needed (however unlikely).
What I experienced was listening to the Hurricane Watch Net reading and re-reading the national weather service and NOAA reports. There were few if any observations from the the affected areas, QRMers tuning and whistling over the lonely guy running the net. Even though it was a directed net... many jackasses from North America wanted to check in.
That was on 40 meters.... Meanwhile on 20 meters.....
20 meters was a different story. Event though the procedures for the net were published on the organizations web site, the op on 20 meters was not following the procedures. Although- one station checked in with actual weather measurements and net control new how to document them.
So in a period of 18 hours of monitoring that is my observation. The two net controllers on 20 and 40 were trying. But not many other hams were involved in passing information. Perhaps if the hurricane had become a real disaster (which could still possibly happen) then these nets would have become active.
I'm disappointed and the low numbers of hams participating. Maybe I was on the wrong frequencies.
I remember hearing emergency traffic nets as a kid which were far more active and useful.