Clash between Chasers and Spotters

[J Holder]

So I went chasing today and we have a local net that has a station at the local NWS office. Every time we have an event near my home town I check in and I pretty much get chastised every time. The net operator always tells me "This net doesn't send people out, go find another net that does"

WTF? I'm 23 and he talks to me like I'm a kid. Who cares if I'm mobile! I still consider it spotting if I stay within my City Limits and when I go out of the City then its chasing.

This has happened several times and I really don't know what to make of it. I like the repeater and the net because the net talks directly to the NWS office but I feel like I'm being pushed away.

What should I do?

Brian,

I haven't kept up with how the KC area runs Skywarn or know which area you're calling from, but I'd get a hold of Brian Short (KC0BS) and talk to him. IIRC he's the EC for Johnson county, KS and of anyone in the area could tell you the lay of the land, as it were. Every county runs a different net and each NCS relays reports to NWS Pleasant Hill via the 82 machine, last I knew. Some will send folks out, some won't.

 

[Dave Rennie]

Reading the posts here, I'm wondering if there is any reason to equip my vehicle with a 2-meter radio other than to run the risk of stepping on the toes of some NCO's kingdom. Comments about Spotter Network, etc., taking the place of the traditional ham radio nets, etc., make me wonder if its worth shelling out the bucks for a radio and the time and effort to get a license.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Reading the posts here, I'm wondering if there is any reason to equip my vehicle with a 2-meter radio other than to run the risk of stepping on the toes of some NCO's kingdom. Comments about Spotter Network, etc., taking the place of the traditional ham radio nets, etc., make me wonder if its worth shelling out the bucks for a radio and the time and effort to get a license.

Don't let one persons bad experience put you off. Check with your local spotter group and the local WFO to see how they handle things.
I also recommend a dual band, UHF/VHF. It just gives you more options.

The more tools you have available the better.

Tim

 

[Brian Davidson]

Thanks again for the support. I'm going to have to contact some of the local operators that people have recommended. I could be completely in the wrong. I just feel like if a net operates and has a radioman inside the NWS office they should allow chasers. But that is my personal opinion.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Thanks again for the support. I'm going to have to contact some of the local operators that people have recommended. I could be completely in the wrong. I just feel like if a net operates and has a radioman inside the NWS office they should allow chasers. But that is my personal opinion.

I agree. As long as the person and the report is creditable is should be taken. Our WFO does as does our spotter groups NCO's.

We have so many tools we can use, SN, Cell phones, Web and radio. It is good to have them all available to us in case one or the other fails.
Check with your local WFO to see what they do prefer and use.

Tim

 

[Jim Hunt]

I have always associated mobile operations as an integral part of spotting. Locally we have designated spotter locations which we feel have good visibility and offer 4 ways of escape. Some still prefer their own spot. Sometimes we are asked by the NCO to relocate and occasionally he will ask we hold tight. Net control does its best to position spotters safely using radar and other reports but the decision to leave due to unsafe conditions is always up to the spotter.

Any report with information is always welcome. Of course as more serious conditions occur, the NCO will ask we limit traffic. However we find locally that reports not necessarily welcomed or needed by the NWS can still help us practice proper net procedures when not much is happening.

 

[Skip Talbot]

WTF? I'm 23 and he talks to me like I'm a kid.

Of the hams on that net, you're probably younger than most of their kids. I'm not saying you're a kid, but this is the perspective they are going to have when you talk to them. These are clique-ish clubs that aren't as welcoming or patient with those unfamiliar with the intricacies and routines of how the net operates, or those who are still learning the basics of severe weather reporting.

What should I do?

Forget 'em. Just go chase. Use Spotter Network when you've got a few chases under your belt and are sure of what you're seeing.

 

[Jason Foster]

Wait until FEMA / NHC start "encouraging" hurricane chaser reports. Then the arm chair liability lawyers are going to come out in droves.

Oh...liability is already a growing issue for hurricane chasers more so than plain chasers. Reporting to some degree too. I tend to go direct to NHC via echolink hams there. Well...did...not sure if NHC will use SN. It's been two years since a decent landfalling cane...and Earl didn't really have enough to report.

Some days I can't tell any more if I am on the StormTrack forums, or the QRZ forums.

QRZ...LOL! Avoid that place like the plague.

...ARES....

Now there is a useless thing except to self promote the ARRL and an excuse for whackers everywhere to pretend they are important.

Reading the posts here, I'm wondering if there is any reason to equip my vehicle with a 2-meter radio other than to run the risk of stepping on the toes of some NCO's kingdom. Comments about Spotter Network, etc., taking the place of the traditional ham radio nets, etc., make me wonder if its worth shelling out the bucks for a radio and the time and effort to get a license.

If you are not already ham...don't waste the time or money unless you have abundance of both. If you are a ham...it's worth keeping for now.

Of the hams on that net, you're probably younger than most of their kids. I'm not saying you're a kid, but this is the perspective they are going to have when you talk to them....<snip>

More like young enough to be their grand kids...well that HF actually. The whole old, ultra conservative, inability to change mentality of hams (especially those at the helm) is the big reason I gave up on the whole thing. Only keep it for car to car ops while chasing with friends (who are hams). I'm sure that'll be overtaken soon w/ cell tech. soon too.

 

[J Holder]

Now there is a useless thing except to self promote the ARRL and an excuse for whackers everywhere to pretend they are important.

Careful how you wield that brush, junior. My ARES group ran out all the whackers, now the whackers just post sanctimonious comments about ARES on Internet forums.

We may not be all that important, but the counties my group volunteers for seems to think we are. I guess that's why they bought us all new pagers toned off the rural fire dispatch network, are replacing our older 800Mhz trunked radios with new XTS2500's and set up our own console in the 911 center, as well as NWS...

It probably has something to do with the fact that we maintain the county's mobile Comm vehicle (on top of weather spotting AND post-storm damage assessment) and whenever the cities or the county has a major incident we also roll and set up their communications for them. A few of our folks also have NCIC clearances and could sit in for an actual dispatcher if they had to for whatever reason.

But that's all just self promotion from a bunch of whackers, right?

If you are not already ham...don't waste the time or money unless you have abundance of both. If you are a ham...it's worth keeping for now.More like young enough to be their grand kids...well that HF actually. The whole old, ultra conservative, inability to change mentality of hams (especially those at the helm) is the big reason I gave up on the whole thing. Only keep it for car to car ops while chasing with friends (who are hams). I'm sure that'll be overtaken soon w/ cell tech. soon too.

You know, if you hate ham radio so much, you don't have to wait for the ticket to expire. Feel free to turn it in at any time.

 

[Steve Miller]

Haha, Jason, that new guy called you "Junior"

 

[Justin Reed]

Brian, If you're in N.C. or Central Kansas, we'll be glad to take your reports via K-Link when we have ICT NWS talking to us taking reports. I've never heard them turn anybody away.
I'd advise having a dual band (2m/70cm) in our area, as most of the repeaters are 70cm.

Justin N0UJQ
Minneapolis, KS

 

[Brian Davidson]

Brian, If you're in N.C. or Central Kansas, we'll be glad to take your reports via K-Link when we have ICT NWS talking to us taking reports. I've never heard them turn anybody away.
I'd advise having a dual band (2m/70cm) in our area, as most of the repeaters are 70cm.

Justin N0UJQ
Minneapolis, KS

Do I need a general license for 70cm?

 

[Ryan Davis]

The best nets out there are those that find ways to bring all types of weather observers together and get their info. Whether they be fixed spotters, mobile spotters, chasers, even yahoos, whatever. It's obvious they are more interested in serving the true mission of NWS & Skywarn instead of serving their net. They see their net as a tool to bring people together and get the info rather than seeing the net as the primary mission. Unfortunately, these nets are few and far between. And because of this, I haven't participated in ham spotter nets for a long time. I chase as a hobby, because it's something I enjoy. I'm not going to sully my experience by arguing with some misdirected net.

Thank you SN. You give me the freedom to enjoy my hobby while contributing to public safety.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Do I need a general license for 70cm?

Nope, a tech license works fine. We use 70cm (UHF) for our spotters here. Works well and less lightning crash static.
Also penetrates walls better.

Tim

 

[Jason Foster]

Haha, Jason, that new guy called you "Junior"

Gotta love it.

You know, if you hate ham radio so much, you don't have to wait for the ticket to expire. Feel free to turn it in at any time.

You should look at my marketplace thread....lots of stuff an ARES group might like ;-)

I don't understand, why folks seem to think just because I don't blow kisses up ham radio (or the ARRL's) butt...I automatically hate ham radio. It's not that...it's a fun hobby...AT TIMES. There is just a ton of garbage in the hobby now. I think think this thread is an example of part of that.