This topic was first touched on here at
UP and I thought it was important enough to start a thread on it. In essence, many of us focus on regional intelligence nets like
ERIN &
AmRRON during a drama. This is great and I always appreciate folks participating in these regional nets using digital, phone, and CW, however, do you have a SOI (Signal Operations Instructions) for a local net? Then once you develop a SOI for a local net, do you hold weekly or biweekly nets so folks become confident in their participation?
As stated by me many times, (
) do you belong to a MAG?. I belong to three MAG's (Mutual Assistance Group). We not only participate in group gettogethers and training seminars but in regional AND local amateur radio nets. Tuesday nets are for the
ERIN regional net where hams from Florida to Toronto check in with SITREPS. We also have a local net with Monday night being HF, and Wednesday being a VHF net.
With that written, I have not taken the lead to formalize a "When the Interwize Goes Down" SOI. Thanks to Sir John from here at
UP, and other local ham requests, it is time to come up with a formalized local SOI for these groups.
It would follow the same formatting outline as the
ERIN when the interwize goes dark SOI (See attached) and the PACE would look something like this,
P = Local Repeater (VHF)
A = Alternate local repeater (Usually UHF Don't overlook MURS repeaters if you have any in your area)
C = Phone HF Frequencies
E = Signal app or simplex or pony express rider
Your communications could be, digital, phone, or CW. This would be based on your local groups interest and proficiency level. I am a big fan of starting out by crawling and once I have that mobility down pat, move onto walking, then running. But that is me. Success breeds more success.
There could be two levels of a SOI too, one for just regular drama's, e.g. hurricane, tornado, blizzard and one that has more of a security element to it using Brevity codes. The most advanced form of encryption of course would be a OTP (One Time Pad) codes. Again, that would be very advanced and would take quite a bit of 1:1 training, however, it is unbreakable if you only use a code once.
It is important to state at this point in this post...
It Is Illegal To Use Any Type Of Coding When Transmitting On The Amateur Radio Bands.
In closing, do you have a local grid down (Internet or electrical) SOI for comms? Do you practice it? Do you see it as a valuable tool? What are your thoughts?
73 & God Bless
