Firstly a big thank you to the following radio amateurs that reported into the Net last night. We had a very fruitful and informative discussion about Amateur Radio Emergency Communications!! As stated before, those that participated in the Net ensure the continuation of the Net. The Net is not a one person en-devour but belongs to every radio amateur that participate. However it does not belong to listeners as they do not contribute to the Net in any way. I therefor ask listeners to report in by just telling us that you will be listening or to actively participate. Just a reminder the net is not a club affiliated net and is open to all radio amateurs.
The following radio amateurs, repeaters and links were logged:
- Marco ZS1NEU
- Thys ZS1TBP
- Johan ZS1I
- Arnaldo ZS5ADS
- Tony ZS5GR
- Koos ZS5KDK
- Willem ZS5WA
- GRHub Link ZS1I-L
- Weskus Link ZS1FC-L
- Chris ZS1FC
- Peter ZS5PL
- Deon ZS1ZL
- Majorke ZS5V
- Theunis ZS2EC
- Charl ZS3LAM
- Lem ZS1LEM
- Brian ZS6YZ
- Pietermaritzburg Repeater ZS5PMB-L
Apologies:
None
Weekly Topic Question:
Every week we choose a topic question and ask it to each participant.
This weeks topic:
"Does Amateur Radio Emergency Communications still have a place in the World and in Amateur Radio?"
"Het Amateur Radio Nood Kommunikasie nog 'n bestaansreg in die Wereld en in Amateur Radio?"
Why asking this question?
This question is more relevant than any time before. The deployment of Starlink Satellites by SpaceX changed the way people will communicate during disasters and emergencies. And not only the Starlink Satellites. There are many other systems used to replace traditional amateur radio emergency communications.
This question lead to some interesting comments from all the participants.
The links underneath provide the basis of the discussion that took place last night:
- Amateur radio emergency communications - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_emergency_communications - Disaster communications and leadership imperatives for radio amateurs https://vimeo.com/594836183
- Successful QO-100 ham radio emergency communications exercise http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/march/successful-qo-100-ham-radio-emergency-communications-exercise.htm#.YirH27uxWUk
- Critical Disaster Communications Benefit from Latest Satellite Service - Risk and Resilience Hub
https://www.riskandresiliencehub.com/critical-disaster-communications-benefit-from-latest-satellite-service/ - Mobile cell sites - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_cell_sites - Tesla vehicles might be able to call 911 in the future - Roadshow
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-911-calls-elon-musk-twitter/ - Elon Musk Donates Starlink Kits to New South Wales - CleanTechnica
https://cleantechnica.com/2022/03/09/elon-musk-donates-starlink-kits-to-new-south-wales/ - Elon Musk's SpaceX team in Fiji to establish Starlink Gateway to restore internet in Tonga https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/elon-musks-spacex-team-in-fiji-to-establish-starlink-gateway-to-restore-internet-in-tonga-articleshow.html
- Washington emergency responders use SpaceX Starlink satellite internet https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/09/29/washington-emergency-responders-use-spacex-starlink-satellite-internet.html
- Two shipments filled Elon Musk’s Starlink internet kits have now arrived in Ukraine https://thewall.fyi/two-shipments-filled-elon-musks-starlink-internet-kits-have-now-arrived-in-ukraine/
- SpaceX's Starlink establishes emergency ground station in Fiji - DCD
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/starlink-establishes-emergency-ground-station-in-fiji/
Unfortunately I cannot provide full details about the comments and suggestions. I would like to encourage you to join the Net in future to find out more about the weekly
topic question being discussed. I can however report that the majority of participants including yours truly were of the opinion that amateur radio emergency communications still has a place in the World and in Amateur Radio and that we play and still can play an important part/ roll during emergencies and disasters.
I know that some radio amateurs experience erratic connections to the internet last night and could not participate in the discussion. Unfortunately this happens from time to time due to load-shedding, thunderstorms and other internet connecting issues. Thankfully this is seldom the case when there is no loadshedding or thunderstorms. Like they say in the classics there will always be another NSN - Net in future. However we would like to have everybody on board during the net and we trust that connection issues will be minimal in future.
There you have it. A short summary of events that took place last night during the NSN - Net. Once again a wide variety of amateur radio activities, something for everybody. Can you provide more activities? Please join us. Your presence will be most welcome. We need you expertise!!
If there is any questions you can contact me via email by clicking HERE.
All that remains is the next date for "The NSN Net" gathering which will take place on Thursday, 17 March 2022 @ 19h30 on the ZS-Link Network. Please diarize the date and time as to ensure that you can join us for another interesting Net. A big thank you to those that reported in last night.. Highly appreciated!!
73
Mossel Bay
