I use the weekly area 2m net to help others understand what a repeater is, the proper way to announce your call, unkey, then continue when checking in on a net, or in Simplex operations.
It is integrated into the script, and there is always time set aside for questions, additions or corrections to the script. Some folks, no matter how hard you try to explain, just won't ever grasp the concept of what a repeater does, and how it does it; but we keep hammering at it in an attempt to lessen their numbers. Self-Policing is a good policy. Promoting proper operation; both routine and emergency oriented is also a great use of spare time. I try to use the net to explain every aspect of the script, what the purpose is. Same in a drill. While announcing that it is only a drill, I try to explain why the check-ins are valuable, and what we would expect in an actual situation. We also have used 3rd party traffic to try to give others in the community (Fire Chief, Hospital Security, Red Cross, etc...) the chance to actually check in to out drill net via roving hams dispatched to provide a 2-way link direct from agency to agency. In actual emergency, a mobile rig in 2 key locations could restore some form of communications just using 3rd party traffic. It is a death blow to those yellow tablets of NTS sheets, and much more efficient for inter agency communications restoration. We already have a number of sites within our area that can be a link in a dual-crossband repeater on a moment's notice; on back-up power, capable of restoring local communications in the event of repeater failure. Some of the new hams have never taken part in any net or drill other than the official ARES weekly, and some of those nets that I have heard have been a bit dry and mechanical. The local ARES net here gets 5 or 6 check-ins and lasts 10 minutes. On the same repeater, at the same exact time, on a different night, I get 15 to 20 check-ins on a simple area net that usually last over an hour. Each check-in gets a chance to comment, ask questions, make suggestions. We also set aside a time in the script for Simplex and Crossband check-ins I am getting over 25% in Simplex check-ins, and over 50% on emergency, or backup power. And the most important thing is that those making their station efficient enough to use simplex and operate on backup power understand why they are doing so. David KD4NUE -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kris Kirby Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 2:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] dumb as mud On Thu, 16 Feb 2006, Nate Duehr wrote: > It's rampant. I'd easily estimate that 1/4 of our members don't > really > "get" how a repeater works. > > "You're 20 over 9 here!" I think I've heard something similar on the air here; one station was doing the drawn-out calling that you'd do for a contest working a station in the mud over a repeater. I hope someone clues him in.. If I get a chance next time, I'll pull him off-line and chat with him. Self-policing... I know that I probably violate a lot of what I was taught, but there is something to using a little procedure; it makes things a little more professional, even if the professional radio operator is a endangered species. -- Kris Kirby, KE4AHR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!" This message brought to you by the US Department of Homeland Security Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
