Open letter to Spotter Network

[Chris Novy]

With our WFO spotters do not use the NWS backbone (2 meter ham repeater system). They must put the report
into a local spotter group and that spotter group then goes on to the NWS backbone to submit the report. So not all spotters would have to have one. Just the spotter groups relay person.

spotter>relay person>WFO

Nets operate differently around the country. In some places the net ts run from the NWS office by local hams who come in whenever a watch is issued. Other places use a similar staffing plan for the NWS except the net is not actually run from the NWS office. Rather, NWS is just one node (albeit an important one) on the net. In some places NWS employees operate the radios themselves --no outsiders are needed. I like this system because there are no start-up delays when a watch or warning is issued.

Some nets use a tiered system. Spotters talk on one net and reports are passed to the NWS on another. Spotters therefore never speak directly with the NWS. I personally prefer a single net where everybody hears everybody else. This can be accomplished via repeater linking (in the case of wide coverage areas) and through good net discipline when there are a large number of hams on the air. The simpler and more direct the system is the faster reports can be transmitted and the better informed everyone is. Segmenting networks looks good on paper but in my experience it's often bureaucratic and inefficient.

..Chris..

 

[Andrew Herron]

Here in Wayne County we use the two tiered system because our CWA is large and widespread. It's not uncommon for our MICON net to be in red while other county nets are in green. We've found this system work very well though we do still have some dead spots in our repeater coverage.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Thanks for the constructive information.

I would think a single level system would work fine in areas of low severe weather probabilities or where the population
is wide spread and less dense.

With the number of hams our WFO deals with I would think running a "single level" net out of the WFO would find itself overwhelmed in an outbreak or widespread event.

Two levels allows for some added capacity, buffering and qualifying as well. Works well for us.

Also allows the WFO to put "all hands" on the weather related items.

Our WFO has a ham group that works the radios. They have a East, Central and West repeaters. They
can link or unlink as needed. Most of the time they link them all but have different net status levels they can use
on each repeater, if needed.

Works well for the number of hams and the cities/counties they cover.

But I do like the information on the single level as it is useful for local event logistics and coordination, etc.
Such as when we run a "damage net" out of the EOC and collect damage reports. That works best
as a single level net.


Tim