The new ARES/NTS system (Was: RE: [FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES)

Fri, 15 Aug 2003 08:44:56 -0400

Dave, et.al.,

Note: I'm offering a change in the thread title.

It's time to enter into a brainstorming session of laying down the
desires/needs of ARES regarding a traffic system.

Dave's pointed out something here in the form of FILE TRANSFER.

Let's start listing ideas then we can refine a raw list to include more
details.  Many or most of these will have branches within the main idea
that may require new modes or information transfer systems.  List them
now or don't...if you don't please keep notes so that it can be
added/detailed later.

What we (ARES) still can bring to the EMCOMM table:
	Personnel
	Communications equipment on more frequencies and modes, broadly
accessible
	Proven ability to get communications systems up and running
fairly quickly 	in emergency field situations
	Personnel (did I mention that already)
	Technical "savvy" - with many, the ability to flatten the
"learning curve"
	Portability/flexibility/adaptability
	Innovation - (?)
	Personnel - enough manpower to handle communications needs
(think outside 	the "radio" box) is always a problem in EMCOMM
situations

This is just a start to the list from my mind.  Let's brainstorm.

73,
Keith, KF4BXT
Seminole Co. ARES/RACES EC

"An ARES/NTS system for the New Millennium" 

	File Transfer - text, pictures, audio/video?
	"Instant" messaging - very time critical (both long and short
haul)
	"Casual" messaging - not so time critical
	Email style
	Digital modes - more use of
	Ability to communicate directly with the non-ham served agency
or 	individual - maybe tied in with email via amateur radio
capability

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Armbrust
Subject: RE: [FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES

Either NTS needs to adapt to handle ARES need or ARES needs to
have it own traffic system/network.

Sometimes
it has little or nothing to do with amateur radio.  We live in an
information age and the demand for instant communication has never been
higher.

This critical, time sensitive, information may be in the form of a Excel
spread sheet.  

I can not tell you today exactly what form an ARES traffic
system/network
will take but I can assure you there is a need to do more then what we
are
already doing.  I can also assure you that it needs to include computers
and
computer networks as well.  What has not been decided, by the ARRL
board, is
if NTS can be evolved or enhanced to handle this need or if we need to
start
with a clean slate.  At least at the moment the VRC thinks the clean
slate
is the way to go.

73,
Dave Armbrust, AE4MR
ARRL WCF Section Manager
3024 Salem Ave
Sarasota, FL 34232-5120
Tel: 941-685-2081
Internet: [email protected]
Web: http://www.wcfarrl.org

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and future generations to enjoy.

| -----Original Message-----
| From: [email protected]
| [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Ron Wetjen
| Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 10:06 AM
| To: 'Florida ARES'
| Subject: Re: [FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES
|
|
| Evans Mitchell kd4efm / afa2th fl wrote:
|
| >>The job of ARES is not to generate "H&W" traffic (which
| would be the job
| >>of the NTS to forward).  The job of ARES is to support
| and/or supplement
| >>local communications efforts and pass any messages directly between
| >>local or state officials and agencies.
| >
| >
| > might not be but how would you suggest we handle this if we
| do not have an
|  > established nts traffic net on a certain frequency and at a
|  > certain time...??
|
| Why even worry about that?  Any "traffic" ARES generates, is either
| "local" point-to-point traffic (i.e., EOC to Red Cross)
| section-to-section (i.e., SFL to WCF), or statewide traffic
| (i.e., State
| EOC to sections).  We're talking DIRECTLY to who we need to talk to.
| Where is the need for NTS in this situation?
|
| Local ARES "traffic" is usually a status report, request for
| supplies,
| bulletins, etc.  This is handled as everyday talk on the
| radio or simply
| handing the microphone to the Emergency Management director
| to talk with
| the Red Cross director.  No need for NTS here either, since the two
| people who need to talk, are talking DIRECTLY to each other!
|
| Going back to your question, "how would you suggest we handle
| this if we
| do not have an established nts traffic net on a certain
| frequency and at
| a certain time...??"
|
| For what purpose?
|
| If you're worried about how we'll all talk to each other,
| we've already
| got that part covered.  When a section is activated, you can
| find nets
| on the following frequencies:
|
| West Central Florida ARES 3911 or 7281 kHz
| South Florida ARES 3940 kHz
| North Florida ARES 3950 or 7275 kHz
| State RACES 3990.5 or 7253.5 kHz
|
| These nets are well established and well known.  If someone needs to
| talk to Sarasota County, the EOC (and/or Red Cross) is on
| 3911 or 7281
| ... just give us a call!  No need for NTS.
|
| (If you're really worried about sending NTS traffic, Florida
| Midday Net
| 7247 kHz.)
|
|  > I sure I can give the turtle net the H&W and then the intercomm's
|  > would be routed through ARES.
|
| Simply answer this.  What kind of ARES traffic are you
| generating that
| would need NTS?  Look at it this way.  To send NTS traffic,
| you're going
| from point A, to point A1, to point A2, to point A3, to point
| A4, before
| finally getting to point B.  ARES traffic is going directly
| from point A
| to B!  Why add the extra steps (and time) if you don't have to?  It
| makes no sense to operate that way in an ARES situation.
|
| It seems like we have a solution (NTS) ... but no problem (traffic to
| send using NTS).  From what I've read the ARRL wants to know
| ... how can
| we tie ARES into NTS?  If ARES operates as I describe above (which I
| think is the norm), then there is no need for NTS in an ARES
| situation,
| and that's exactly what the ARRL report concludes.  When the
| ARRL asked
| the NTS folks what they can offer ARES ... they couldn't come
| up with an
| answer.  That should tell you plenty.
|
| Ron
|
| _______________________________________________
| FLARES mailing list
| [email protected]
| http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/flares
|

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