TO:    ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
       ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM:  KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
       WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED

WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 15.04          DATE: January 25, 2015
SUBJECT: WHERE SHOULD THE NCS BE LOCATED?

Networks, or NETs, whether they are voice, code, packet, radio teletype, or other mode, needs to have an NCS, or Net Control Station.  The NCS is like a Traffic Cop at an intersection that doesn't have any traffic control lights.  He instructs which vehicles are to proceed through the intersection, so that traffic can flow smoothly.  Without a Traffic Cop, or a NCS, things would get boggled up and the traffic will take longer to proceed.

The question now is, where should the NCS of a network be located.  Since the NCS needs to make decisions as to which traffic is more important, and where it is going, the NCS should be in a quiet environment without the hustle and bustle of other radio operators, or emergency officials interrupting his operations.  The NCS should have other communication facilities at his disposal, such as a telephone, cell phone, and digital access such as Packet Radio, or the Internet.

It would be nice to have a helper to operate some of the other communication facilities when needed.  If the NCS doesn't have a helper at the same location, then he/she should have an alternate NCS to control the Net while the regular NCS is busy. Of course the alternate NCS needs to pay attention to the net and try to keep the same records the regular NCS, so they can pick up NCS duties in a moment’s notice.

Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV