I received the following email from Brian ZS6YZ relating to the weekly topic question on the NSN Net #5 dated Thursday, 10 March 2022.
"Thanks for the welcome letter.
I thought
that I would be able to listen in last night via ZS6JPL-R, but it seems
that Johan did not make the connection. I also tried Zello, but no luck
and then resorted to installing Echolink on the phone.
I
sadly missed the bulk of the discussion last night and logged out early
as I remember seeing that you said that you provided feedback on the
blog.
Thanks for the links that you also placed
in the blog as well. I'm in the process of reviewing them and I in
particular enjoyed the link
- Disaster communications and leadership imperatives for radio amateurs https://vimeo.com/594836183
I
feel that HAMNET and Amateur Radio Emergency Communications will always
be relevant, even though we may not be used very often for real
disasters and gain most of our experience through exercises and sports
activities.
There are a lot of organisations
who rely on all the internet based systems around and who believe they
can provide communications. They effectively compete with HAMNET instead
of focussing on their core skills.
Any Tom, Dick and Harry
can talk on a VHF/UHF radio and/or repeater and pass a voice message or
even use a V-SAT terminal to make a call. The internet based systems are
great and they work great, but how do they perform when a critical link
that is carried over an IP network or a cellular link is down?
They
are not resilient. This is where the problem lies that these
organisations do not realise. The Starlink system that lost 40 odd
satellites due to a solar flare should also get one thinking about the
resilience of satellite systems.
These
organisations totally miss the point of the communications skills that
we radio amateurs have. Radio amateurs can do a lot more and have a lot
more tools (modes and methods) at their disposal that DOES NOT RELY ON ANY EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
that can and will fail in a real disaster. The other point is that we
here in South Africa have no experience of any disasters of the
magnitude experienced in other parts of the world, yet we do not want to
listen to the lessons learnt from those that have the experience.
I
recently had an EMS professional based at Provincial level tell me that
TETRA is fail safe because if the TETRA network is unavailable then the
system will fall back on the cellular system and that they had tested
the system in an area here in Gauteng that I personally have knowledge
of the weak cellular systems in the area that are non existent when
there is no power i.e. loadshedding. What does an EMS person know about
radio and telecommunications? He is spreading the sales pitch of a
Salesman who will sell anything they can to make a profit and
commission. We experienced this in Mozambique in 2019 as well at a
conference to which we were invited representing the IARU to talk about
what can be done differently after the experience of the devastation
caused by cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Due to the severe weather
conditions associated with the cyclones, there was no satellite comms,
but there was a salesman from a reputable company trying to sell them
another satellite system!
So we need to
continue practising our skills and doing exercises and one day when all
else fails we will have the opportunity to step up and do what we do
best. Even if it is not to pass disaster related operational messages,
we can pass on a humanitarian message to a loved one that will be
greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your blog as well. There are really interesting topics that you have posted.
Regards,
Brian ZS6YZ.
Wearing my other hat as SARL HAMNET Deputy National Director."
Ed. Brain thank you so much for your email and your response to the question that was asked as well as general comments relating to amateur radio emergency communications. It is great to see that the Deputy National Director of HAMNET tried his utmost best to join the discussion. I apologise for the bad Internet connection, audio and technical issues that we experienced as a result of loadshedding and thunderstorms during the Net. We as radio amateurs know that the Internet is surely not the best platform for emergency communications when plagued by loadshedding and other issues.
