TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 17.09 DATE: February 26, 2017
SUBJECT: LOOK AROUND
One advantage, and disadvantage, of Amateur Radio is the amount of frequencies that we have to choose from. The advantage is that we are not locked to only one frequency like a lot of Public Safety agencies. If the frequency that we normally communicate on gets busy, we can just up and move to another one that's not in use.
The disadvantage of going to another frequency is during the operations of a controlled net. If the normal net frequency that is used is busy, the net needs to move to another one, hoping that everyone has read this bulletin, and will go looking for it.
Most of the time Amateurs Radio operators use a particular frequency for nets, know there is one coming on, and will either standby until the net is over, or will move off the frequency. There is no FCC Rule that says if there are operators using a particular frequency, when a net is due to start, that they have to move from that frequency, or to standby while the net does its business.
If the frequency stays busy, or is just noisy, when it's net time, the Net Control Operator can just more to another frequency. The problem comes when other participants of a net are waiting for the net to start. A good operator, who knows the net is normally on time, will look around for the net on another frequency.
That's why it's very important to have controlled nets start on time. There should also be alternate frequencies to choose from. Those participating in nets will know if the net is, or is not, on the regular frequency, and will know to start looking for it somewhere else.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV