|
The use of the words “this is” for emergency communications
nets to avoid doubling has to one of the stillest ideas ever. Let’s look at what
it really does:
“This is”. Most people say “this is” about the same length of
time. The exchange is like this:
(net control) “blah blah net control…..any check ins?”
(Several people wait just a little and say) “this is” (some
double, some don’t, but the transmissions are basically timed the same and all
have meaningless information for anyone.)
(pause)
“this is KA4XXX Bob in Bobland checking in good evening blah
blah” (which often covers someone else who also wasted air-time saying “this
is”)
Where did that silly idea of transmitting useless words start?
The proper way was always to just give the call sign and wait, for the following
reasons:
1.) The call sign has useful in formation that is
often unique throughout
2.) The call sign is almost always a slightly
different length
3.) Air time is not wasted with nonsense meaningless
words where everyone uses the same exact words
Let’s look at a proper example:
(net control) “blah blah net control…..any check ins?”
“KD4YYY”
“W3AA”
“WX2X”
None sound the same, none are likely to take the same time,
all have useful information. This goes on:
(net control) “OK I have KD4YY, W3, and a 2 xray. 4YY
station go ahead”
“KD4YYY good evening I’m me located here no traffic”
“KD4YYY thank you, W3 go”
The w3 goes.. and then net says…
“Thank you Chester, the 2 Xray go?”
The 2 Xray goes and then NCS says:
“Thank you Lester, any more check-ins?”
The process repeats…. Every transmission
has meaningful information, the NCS is in charge of all radio traffic instead of
the check in stations determining who gets to talk when and what they say. This
keeps things regimented and orderly with the NCS and others being trained to
catch brief information bits, give and follow snappy back and forth
instructions, recognize things, and make notes.
In a really big net with many check ins, things are split up
by area, call prefix or suffix, or some other critera.
|