Dear Fellow SEC's,
I wanted to advise you
that I have completed my NTS evaluation that I discussed in my initial email to you.
As you know, we
have served agencies that count on us and our members to get
messages through to its destination.
As I stated before, I am an NTS traffic
handler as well as SEC and I have seen differing opinions on the
viability of the NTS during incidents. I am also an Official Relay Station for the Southern Florida Section. I have observed that many
times I have not received delivery receipts for messages (Handling Instructions HXC on Radiograms) that I have
sent, which is crucial to knowing that the message did or did not make
it to its destination. I was not bashing the system, just evaluating its
effectiveness for EMCOMM if we would need to utilize it or if we refer others to utilize it for welfare traffic. My analysis of the evaluation follows as I had promised that I would do in my initial email and I offer it as food for thought on the topic as a way to guide your decisions in future incidents.
Between the dates of March 23 and March 26, 2020 I sent each of you a Radiogram via the NTS using the same initial traffic net and operator to move it. In total I sent 16 Radiograms, because I accidentally sent one to a SM in addition to an SEC randomly selected from each Division. I discovered that 50% of the messages ultimately were delivered to the recipients and that means that 50% were never delivered to their destination. The messages were delivered between the day that they were sent on to 12 days later. The average days needed for delivery was 4 days. I received 8 service messages indicating that they had delivered messages, but 2 of those were sent by the recipient via email and not by the delivering station.
My opinion of the results follows. I was disappointed with the results based on the fact that I had spread the messages over several days to not overwhelm any one handler and the fact that many people are home due to the COVID-19 stay at home orders. Based on my analysis, there are better options for moving our mission essential messages and even welfare traffic, but welfare traffic is not our primary mission in most incidents until we are no longer needed to move tactical and priority traffic. If the recipient never receives the message that is an obvious problem or if it is delivered well after the incident that is not effective either. I believe that I would consider finding an efficient traffic handler who has access to HF and VHF/UHF Winklink (RMS Express) modes who may not be an ARES member who could help move welfare messages. I also believe that the Red Cross Safe and Well system if active in the area where the incident occurs would be my first choice since it would keep pressure off of our Amateur Radio operations. There are other methods to consider as well.
I appreciate your cooperation and I
hope that all of you, your families and your ARES members are doing
well and not infected with the virus that is impacting us all.
--
John Wells W4CMH
Section Emergency Coordinator
ARRL Southern Florida Section