Current Net Status – Open
The State Emergency Operations Center (State EOC) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for SARNETTM. The State EOC is now the custodian of the SARNETTM service and the FDOT will continue to host the network that links SARNETTM repeaters together. This is a significant event and we thank the FDOT and the state EOC for their support and recognition of this important communications service. With the state EOC at the helm, SARNETTM will continue to support emergency events that impact the state of Florida.
THERE IS NO LINKING PERMITTED WITH SARNETTM
FOR ALL SARNETTM USERS: PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SARNETTM IS A STAND ALONE STATEWIDE REPEATER SYSTEM. IT IS ANALOG ONLY! DUE TO OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE NETWORK, PLEASE DO NOT LINK ANY CROSSBAND REPEATERS OR SERVICES LIKE ECHOLINK TO SARNETTM. PLEASE ALSO DISABLE ANY DIGITAL SIGNALLING ON YOUR RADIO SO THAT IT IS NOT TRANSMITTED ON SARNETTM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FROM USERS.
SARNETTM IS NOT AN OFFICIAL WEATHER SERVICE
SARNETTM is not an official weather dissemination outlet. Please limit weather announcements to only identifying that a warning has been issued, the hazzard and areas affected. Then direct interested parties to monitor announcements from their trusted weather authorities. SARNETTM is monitored in many of the state’s NOAA weather offices and also at the National Hurricane Office in Miami. There are times when a meteorologist may be calling for hams in a defined area to provide “ground truth” on what may be indicating on their instruments, please respond only if you can provide accurate information, otherwise, please keep the channel clear for others.
SARNETTM REPEATER TRUSTEES MAY BE AT RISK FROM BAD ACTORS
We are experiencing some bad actors on specific SARNETTM sites. A few years ago it was in the northern part of Florida, but more recently it has occurred in southern Florida. It is easy to disconnect these sites from SARNETTM temporarily (and we do) but that does not resolve the issue for the local repeater experiencing the bad actor. Since SARNETTM repeaters are no different than any other repeater, their trustees may decide to shutdown and remove their repeater permanently if bad actors put their FCC license at risk.
SARNETTM MAY NOT BE USED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITITES
Just in case anyone was not aware, or forgot, the FCC released an announcement today stating that amateur radio, (which includes SARNETTM) may not be used for criminal activities. You can read the announcement here.
THERE IS AN EXCELLENT SARNETTM VIDEO ON YOUTUBE PRODUCED BY HAMRADIOCONCEPTS VIDEO BLOGGER ERIC! HERE IS THE LINK.
We have received many requests for a set of bullet points on what SARNETTM is. To see them, follow thislink.
To see how FDOT benefits from SARNETTM follow this link.