It should be noted that the Net Control Station was operating ‘barefoot’ and was weak, even to my station which is within 60 miles of his QTH. I know he couldn’t hear any relay stations, and/or they could not hear him. Bad conditions all around, unfortunately. It’s kinda sad that, in order to be a NCS, an operator needs at least some amplification on his radio; 100 watts just doesn’t seem to be enough. I didn’t stay on to get on the rolls precisely because I wasn’t sure I’d be heard.This should NOT be viewed as a criticism of the NCS operator. The operator was doing the best he could under the situation at the time. I wish I knew what would remedy the situation and enable anyone to operate as NCS whether or not they had an amplifier for their station.
Please check with AA5AF to see if they received my digital Winlink checkin. I had others copied on the same Winlink message that received my transmission and apparently mine was accidentally overlooked. My call sign is KI5EYI. You have been receiving my checkin every week for the past 3 months and only overlooked it once. Thank you for looking into this matter. Clark Ross. KI5EYI District 14 NE
To Jeff and all,
It should be noted that the Net Control Station was operating ‘barefoot’ and was weak, even to my station which is within 60 miles of his QTH. I know he couldn’t hear any relay stations, and/or they could not hear him. Bad conditions all around, unfortunately. It’s kinda sad that, in order to be a NCS, an operator needs at least some amplification on his radio; 100 watts just doesn’t seem to be enough. I didn’t stay on to get on the rolls precisely because I wasn’t sure I’d be heard.This should NOT be viewed as a criticism of the NCS operator. The operator was doing the best he could under the situation at the time. I wish I knew what would remedy the situation and enable anyone to operate as NCS whether or not they had an amplifier for their station.
There may be situations that could warrant watts over 100. When District 6 was NC few weeks back 100 watts and a couple of well placed relay stations was all
It took. If the NCO’s for future nets will set up strategic relay stations ahead of time it is a time saver and may fill the gaps the NCO might hear. Look at the weekly recaps and you should have a good idea of what Districts you have trouble hearing and coordinate a relay station there abouts that can hear them.
You do not have to be a dedicated relay station to relay for a station and nobody else here, just say relay and the NC should be able to call on you and let you perform the relay process and that way everybody has a chance to get in.
However, if you do not stay for the entire net and leave before it ends, you may not be able to gleen the information on which of the districts that you cannot hear and therefore will continue to have trouble hearing them without a relay that could help you out.
My station is in Lakehills about 35 miles west of San Antonio, with the ground wave I could barely hear him but he heard my call sign and I’m on the list but it took an effort.
Please everybody try to be patient give everybody a chance to try to get in and relay when you can. Like I states, you do not have to be a designated relay, just say relay and then the Net control should be able to get to you and as always it’s all for emergency exercise training.
Gentlemen, while you search for my digital contact which was made using VARA-FM, node was N5TRS-12, frequency was 145.090 MHz, it came to my attention that the 3 other received digital contacts from District 14 N.E. were made on packet. One of the three may have been made on VARA-HF, not sure. About 2-3 weeks ago the preliminary report came out not showing my call sign and again I brought this to “your” attention and my contact was found and included in the “final” report. My question is this, is there a different reporting mechanism for each mode of digital checkin?
Another way of putting it, are there separate buckets for packet, vara-fm, vara-hf checkins? Being it is all WinLink I would think not. I’m just trying to understand why some folks on my transmissions receive them and you folks don’t. I always include several folks on my transmissions as a control and observation mechanism.
Thank you for investigating this issue.
Clark Ross. KI5EYI. 73
Please check with AA5AF to see if they received my digital Winlink checkin. I had others copied on the same Winlink message that received my transmission and apparently mine was accidentally overlooked. My call sign is KI5EYI. You have been receiving my checkin every week for the past 3 months and only overlooked it once. Thank you for looking into this matter. Clark Ross. KI5EYI District 14 NE
To Jeff and all,
It should be noted that the Net Control Station was operating ‘barefoot’ and was weak, even to my station which is within 60 miles of his QTH. I know he couldn’t hear any relay stations, and/or they could not hear him. Bad conditions all around, unfortunately. It’s kinda sad that, in order to be a NCS, an operator needs at least some amplification on his radio; 100 watts just doesn’t seem to be enough. I didn’t stay on to get on the rolls precisely because I wasn’t sure I’d be heard.This should NOT be viewed as a criticism of the NCS operator. The operator was doing the best he could under the situation at the time. I wish I knew what would remedy the situation and enable anyone to operate as NCS whether or not they had an amplifier for their station.
Thank you. Will it be included in the “official final report “? Is there anything I can do on my end to be more obvious or was it just human error?
Clark. KI5EYI
Thank you. Will it be included in the “official final report “? Is there anything I can do on my end to be more obvious or was it just human error?
Clark. KI5EYI
Hello Mark, Your message has me confused. Maybe I’m reading it wrong? If you were not acknowledged by net control when you tried to check in, wouldn’t that indicate that you were not heard by net control? If you were not heard by net control or acknowledged, then you didn’t complete the test. Did you try to call net control again or get a relay to net control? Just asking. 73, John K2WJ
Unfortunately, you cannot. We used to have a spreadsheet with formulas that did that, but it stopped being maintained with the latest ARES database a long time ago…
Additionally, the weekly report is of voice check ins via net control or a relay to net control plus WinLink sent to the proper target via RF, no telnet allowed.
New net control tonight from Victoria. He should do well.
Sorry to hear that. This next week I have volunteered to net control for dist 5…was hoping could type letters only, but guess will have to to scribble. Is the database available in a convenient form?
Tom Talley Progress every day*…even if just a little…* is a good thing…!
