More reasons to be mad at the Spotter Network

[Andrew Herron]

I've never really bothered with SpotterNetwork, and probably never will. You know, there's a service out there that can do just this sort of thing that a lot of areas are now implementing: APRS + Skywarn.

I'd rather help build up a system that is directly affiliated with the NWS than use one that imposes their own rules, for good or bad, that I might eventually complain about.

 

[Zach Borst]

You may want to look at the board of directors and advisory committees for Spotternetwork, there is a lot of NWS affiliation, not to mention SN is fully integrated into many NWS offices. APRS is ham radio, so your suggesting that every spotter needs to be a HAM? It's not all that difficult to get a license but the trend nationally is that it's disappearing. I wouldn't be all that surprised to see public safety start to take some bandwidth back from amateur unless something drastic happens where people get interested in ham again. I have my ticket and rarely if ever use it because there are just so many other ways to communicate now that are reliable and quick, IP communications being the most obvious one.

 

[Tyler Allison]

I'd rather help build up a system that is directly affiliated with the NWS than use one that imposes their own rules, for good or bad, that I might eventually complain about.

In the reworking of SKYWARN 2.0 (currently in development), Spotter Network is the only third party organization actively involved. Can't get more "affiliated" then that. We will also be listed as an "official" reporting method.

At least at the moment

 

[Tyler Allison]

Except those that are not hams. The NWS recognized our tactical call signs as well. MidWest 122 is mine.

Actually the _NWS_ does not recognize your tactical call sign. Your local office does. If you call the Alaska NWS office and say "MidWest 122 here" will they say "Hold on a second [click, click, click] Oh..Tim from Wisconsin. Yeah...what you got?".

Correct me if I'm wrong though!...but in doing so...please point me to the NWS run public database/website where I can type in "MidWest 122" and it spits back Tim Shriver. Think nationally please. We can't, and shouldn't, be supporting 122 custom solutions.

We allow the use of ham callsign because the FCC has a national standard and an open database like I describe above. You can quickly and easily identify the person. In fact I can pull full contact information directly from the FCC database as a synchronization. Wouldn't that be awesome for NWS spotters?!?

So. This will now be limited to hams only?

What? Displaying a ham callsign? Yes, it will be limited to hams. Not sure what you are asking. Only hams can have an officially recognized amateur radio call sign. Therefor the "amateur radio callsign" field is limited to those that have one.

Looks optional right?

Having a ham callsign is always optional.

-Tyler

 

[Tim Shriver]

Actually the _NWS_ does not recognize your tactical call sign. Your local office does. If you call the Alaska NWS office and say "MidWest 122 here" will they say "Hold on a second [click, click, click] Oh..Tim from Wisconsin. Yeah...what you got?".
Correct me if I'm wrong though!...but in doing so...please point me to the NWS run public database/website where I can type in "MidWest 122" and it spits back Tim Shriver. Think nationally please. We can't, and shouldn't, be supporting 122 custom solutions.


You know what I meant, you really think I am that dumb?



Tim



Tim

 

[Joe Dorn]

Several comments related to this thread...

Many WFO's have little need for the services spotters deliver on a regular basis and probably make a decision about the use of SN based on that; it is hard to keep a spotter group active if they only get to make a report once every four or five years.

FTW uses it extensively...

Also some WFO's find EchoLink a very valuable tool; others chose to use the less direct telephone system.

FTW prefers Echolink to telephones for the boonies out of range of the DFW repeaters.

As far as SN and chat rooms go, I monitor three chat rooms (FTW, EWX, and SJT) and and seldom see SN referenced except to pass along a report from it. There is reference to the spotter locations and video streaming on occasion.

BTW, one of my pet peeves is video streaming without a position location, either APRS or SN.

Some one made reference to decreasing numbers of amateur radio operators; last year had the biggest increase in number of new hams in recent history. If you care for the numbers you can probably find the article on the ARRL web site... It appeared in one of the Recent QSTs...

I could fill up several Technician classes if I chose to come out of teaching retirement. I limit my classes to twenty when I teach them; so far the eight session classes have had no dropouts and no failures... Yes, I am proud of that.. (over a hundred students).

 

[Tyler Allison]

No I don't think you are that dumb. But I think you should be supporting the push for a national system so you _can_ use MidWest 122 and people will know who you are. It can be done, people just haven't tried hard enough....until now.

 

[John Wetter]

All I can say is *finally* a national system! Something I've been talking about for years and get asked about constantly... Now getting closer and closer to reality.

 

[Tyler Allison]

Tyler...

Would it be possible to either/or the amateur radio call sign into the mix. There are two storm chasing Steve Miller's but only one WX5RFD...

The NWS also relates to the call signs since that is tagged on every Radio/EchoLink report.

I assume i will still be able to display the ham calls off of the APRS Allisonhouse feeds...


I did a mouse-over on the few SN displays at 4:00am and did not see the amateur radio calls in any of them but at this time of day most of the hams are probably asleep.

Joe. I just updated the SN contact page for Hams...give it a try and let me know if you find any bugs. It validates your first/last name against the FCC database.

-Tyler

 

[Joe Dorn]

Tyler...

I might not understand what you mean by 'Contact Page'. I bounced around on the SN site and could see no difference in the displays.

The Icons on GRLx shows just names and no calls... I will play around a little more in the morning; the old man's eyes have had a busy day and need to close down for awhile...

 

[Stuart Robinson]

Tyler

FYI:

I can't enter my UK Ham licence - M3JNU into Spotternet contact info

"Not a Valid Callsign " is the response...

 

[Zach Borst]

Also, if you have a different name on your account page from the FCC database it won't let you put your callsign in. I have Zachary on the license but generally go by Zack but had to change it in order to add the callsign. Not a big deal but I couldn't figure out why I kept getting a "name does not match FCC database" error and that was the reason.

 

[Tim Shriver]

No I don't think you are that dumb. But I think you should be supporting the push for a national system so you _can_ use MidWest 122 and people will know who you are. It can be done, people just haven't tried hard enough....until now.

I am not sure why you think I am against a national system.

Your reporting system is fine, I like the test.

I also said I would present it to our group. The email to the group
went out two days ago.

The original comment I was making was they I didn't think it fair
to loose the ability to track someone, a person or group of persons
working with a well structured network. Most. if not all would not
submit a report via SN, but rather through one of the multiple systems we have in place.

They would have the option of sending in reports via SN:

1. If they have lost radio contact with our bases or any other
active base.
2. Their cell phone is not working for one reason or another.
3. eSpotter is not available.

But chances are if eSpotter is down then they have no Internet
connectivity thus SN would not be an option.

These are the protocols we use. These are also the protocols
the local WFO wishes us to use. They only receive SN via NWSChat
and do not have the full SN system installed.

With that in mind, you can see I have no issue with a national system that helps folks without such a support structure in place.
Yes, it would be great to have the national database so that we
and the WFO's could look up a spotters background instantly.

If you or anyone else wants us to drop all the other means of
submitting a report and go with SN exclusively, that is just not going to happen.
But I don't think thats what your getting at or asking.


I am not sure what else I can say. It is what it is.

Tim

 

[rdale]

They only receive SN via NWSChat and do not have the full SN system installed.

Sigh... It amazes me that anyone with severe weather monitoring requirements would not be running GR2AE during an event.

 

[Tyler Allison]

Tyler

FYI:

I can't enter my UK Ham licence - M3JNU into Spotternet contact info

"Not a Valid Callsign " is the response...

Doh! guess I need to change that to "Not a Valid FCC Callsign".

Sorry Stuart! I don't have anyway of checking UK Ham licenses..that I know of.