Just listened most of the day as hurricane sally hit the panhandle. Good reports and info passed along all day. And K4NRD was working tirelessly the whole day.

Thanks for putting the info on SARNET out there. I'm guessing not alot of Floridian operators know about it. Great vid! W2TMS

Man that was the best knowledge build about the SARNET!! Thank you from talking about it.. 73 KN4NWY, from TALLY!!

Thanks for putting this! I live in South Florida (Broward) and it's highly effective. Plus, many people us it.

Just started listening to SarNet recently. Got on once to check my connection to the closest repeater, Skyway bridge at 21 miles from Largo, FL - solid signal. Good to know.

So tonight I am going to have put this into the radio. Especially with Dorian coming. Thanks for the info, I had not heard of this

Excellent information ! This is the type of information people are looking for ! Thank You, PEACE

Just recently discovered this network while visiting my mom in Manatee County. Awesome.

Thanks, Eric. I didn’t know about this net. Just programmed in Palm Beach and Stuart repeaters and I am able to hit both!

This is awesome. I wish VA would do this. Florida boy born and raised. Nice to know for when I travel home once or twice a year.

If more hams were a little more like you it would be a much happier place. Thank you for touching on the subject during your presentation. :-)

People in Miami love your videos! Thanks for the info on SARnet. Im usually monitoring when mobile. Its a great resource to have and thankful for the guys who keep it going. Hope to hear you on it one day. 73 K4ABX

Wow! What an impressive system! Thanks for the great explanation.

Thanks for the information!!! I had all the SARNet programmed in the dmr code plug I emailed you but never used the system.

This video is right on time. I've been learning repeater building. I'm checking locally to see if any large network like this exist. Washington State. I do know there is one for our cost. Thank you for sharing this. You just added some fuel to the fire.

@BlackHorseMilitia

5 жыл бұрын

If you get a chance check out BeachNet Washington coast. This is one of the networks I'm currently studying. These are some Wouxan repeaters in a box lol. This the major league. Gotta start somewhere though.

I didn’t know SARNET had so much coverage. I will have to steal my Igate antenna and get on. Thank you for the PSA.

SC has a state wide repeater system called SC HEART links most hospitals and other medical facilities. A lot of the repeaters are on SCETV Towers.

@kenthufford743

5 жыл бұрын

The SC SCHEART system is tied together via NON internet microwave for most of its links. The sites have backup generators also.

@matthewlyon8886

5 жыл бұрын

Yes

Excellent video Eric. In this day and age all 50 states in the union should have, or develop a system similar to Florida’s SARNET.

Great information...thank you for sharing from New York.

Thanks Eric, great video as usual.

I love SARNET! It has great coverage all over the state and the only place I couldnt hear it was in the middle of Everglades National Park. Hope to hear you on the air! KZ4FLA

I live in farm country and have several active repeaters including a linked system. I can't see how more populated areas wouldn't have a bunch of people using repeaters. I think people just like to complain. Great video, as always.

I have spoken with Sarasota and in Largo, and I am in Escambia. SARnet is awesome and yes, it is not meant for rag chewing.

Right on with the analog! Thanks for the video. My nephew was a FM two-way radio tech and he worked for a company that setup FM repeaters and systems for commercial use. The company he worked for also did comms for a pro football team and he was able to go to the home games for free. Back a few years ago when DMR came out he was asked by a farmer if his FM analog two-way radios would stop working when these new radios came out. I know it was just ignorance by the person who asked but he told them this simplex system is about as simple as it gets and yes it will continue to serve you well for years to come. I really hope that most areas in the country can keep this going. As a new tech and general soon after I have started programming analog repeaters and simplex frequencies into my digital radios just in case I need them. I find that a lot of the repeaters around me are broken and this really concerns me.

Jealous in Texas. We have many networks but I don't think that anyone wants everyone on a single system. Great video!!

My first ever contact was on SARNET. I had no idea where I was, but the guy I talked to informed me (very nicely) and told me about the website for info. I am going to take your advice and program in more of the network repeaters for future emergency preparedness. I originally just got into HAM radio for the "Prepper" aspect, but lately my interest in it is exploding. I am hoping to get a HF system some time in the not so distant future. I have a Yaesu 2980 for my truck, so maybe one day I'll go sit on a parking garage in the Tampa area or something and see if I can catch you. lol

Thank you for this very informative video. Great job.!

Sweet jesus.. I have friends in Del Ray, Fort Myers and near Cocoa Beach and family friends of a silent key in Venice who I used to work with in Michigan. Thank you Eric for the info. Kb8qlz.

Works great. Used it after Hurricane Michael in Panama City,Fl

@shaneorion8396

3 жыл бұрын

I know it's quite randomly asking but does anyone know a good place to watch new tv shows online ?

@ernestkamdyn6028

3 жыл бұрын

@Shane Orion i would suggest flixzone. Just search on google for it =)

@kv4atv

Жыл бұрын

Ditto.. I'm in Panama City and was on when Michael Hit. Been here since 1961.. in and out when I was in the NAVY and 10 yrs in Europe "Germany". This is home and I'm staying come hell or high water.

we have something similar in Eastern Washington that also covers parts of North Idaho, Northern Oregon and parts of British Columbia. The only downside to a VHF/UHF network is that each access point can go down and one or more can disrupt the network if not completely disabling it. it's simply another wireless network dependent upon the entire network to function. This is why true emergency hams will incorporate HF, thus eliminating the need for a repeater network. If the repeaters go down, HF nets are still functioning.

That is really cool and I'm sure it's well used with hurricanes.

New Mexico has a great linked repeater system called the Megalink. There's not much of NM, some of TX, and AZ that can't be reached on the Megalink. There's another linked system in TX that is not extensive as the Megalink but it's good from SE TX to Corpus Christi, to San Antonio, and a few other places. It's called the Saltgrass Linked System

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

Sweet. Thank you for enlightening me

@MichaelLloyd

5 жыл бұрын

@@HamRadioConcepts Back at you. I didn't know Florida had a linked system but I do now 73 NE5U

@Opalvet

5 жыл бұрын

Alternative Grids 7 Utilities Down! 73” 😎

I’m new to ham radio thanks for the info.

Awesome video man!

Cool video, thanks for sharing. In the Pacific Northwest, we have something similar called the Evergreen Intertie Network. Its almost 30 linked repeaters from Washington through Oregon to northern California. DTMF codes open or close "RF switches" to change the network configuration.

@jesselannigan2300

5 жыл бұрын

Cinder Blue that's on the West side of Washington. on the East side the SRG system covers everything East of the Cascades and most of North Idaho is in range or interconnected, along with Northern Oregon . There has been plans of interconnecting through the Cascades to have statewide coverage.

@cinderblue3251

5 жыл бұрын

@@jesselannigan2300 Please let me know if you hear of anything. I just submitted an application to join WORC which has access to the Evergreen Intertie with the updated DTMF access codes for each repeater controller. There is a yahoo group for it, but its not very active. Its hard to find info on any updates to the system. There is a weekly net on Wednesdays at 7pm, but I haven't tuned in yet.

Thanks Erick, great job, AG4UU

Thanks For Video , Very Good ...

Thanks man, new sub from Alabama.

Wow, I never realized we had this network either! I just tried contacting the Stuart repeater, and that's about one of the few UHF repeaters I can hit from my apartment with my HT. Good to know in case I need to access it! 73 de KJ4CKR

Thank you for uploading! I’ve heard some of the activity of SARnet on a Broadcastify.com stream. Here in Michigan, we have the W8IRA all-analog linked repeater system covering nearly the entire state and into parts of northern Indiana and Ohio and parts of Canada. The only place that the system doesn’t cover is the Detroit area. There’s a separate linked repeater system in the area called the Central Michigan Emergency Network that also covers Detroit, but that utilizes digital modes in addition to analog, and I’m not a fan of the guys who run the system. They remind me of the 435 repeater in LA, or the W2IBC repeater in Indy. A friend and I started the Southern Michigan Repeater Network a few years ago, and we have an analog-only linked repeater system along with separate digital repeaters. We don’t have nearly as much coverage in total as the other linked systems around here, but my friend’s repeater in particular has amazing coverage. I can hit it nearly full scale on an HT from 35 miles away. I decided to link my repeater to his, and that’s how we started the system. Keep up the amazing videos, Eric! 73 de W8SRC

@williambetzelberger6128

3 жыл бұрын

The W8IRA is fantastic and I'm glad to see a fellow Michigander here. 73 de KE8JMD

@sammiller6631

Жыл бұрын

Why doesn't it cover Detroit?

@KD8LWR

Жыл бұрын

@@sammiller6631 The IRA linked system’s repeaters mainly cover western lower Michigan, so the eastern half doesn’t have as much coverage. I think the easternmost repeater is the Onondaga one which is what I get into from my QTH.

Howdy from down the road in Port St. Lucie. Future hammer here.

SARNET is like the living room furniture my parents had when I was growing up that we weren't allowed to play on so it would be clean and orderly when adult guests visited. You can't really use it for normal stuff daily without bothering folks, but it's invaluable to many when there's a disaster. Living in the Daytona Beach area means I don't mind so much not having coverage here but I keep the memories for SARNET towers I'd be near when evacuating programmed in my radios.

What a great video I live Escambia county and was looking for a way to hear emergency info when power gose out or the nuclear bomb hits

There is the WIN System with linked repeaters mostly on the US West coast, but is expanding to a few other places around the world.

@Opalvet

5 жыл бұрын

Ryan Toomey yup! AG7UD

I always monitor this repeaters when I go visit family in south Fl and drive from Orlando area. During last years hurricane. It was excellent as people from other ares wanted to know about the conditions in different cities. De kv4op

Great information 73s from W5DPV

Mega Ditto's Pal! You've got my attention!

Soon, I will get back on 70cm from central Florida and I plan to add all the SARnet repeaters. 73 de AI4I

it is all used in our area, very active. don't give up. those of us that live outside the city's and get poor cell service use the repeaters and use them allot

Great video Ke4mwz Titusville Florida

Very Nice to Know! I don't know Ham Radios, but know of them. =] Thanks! S Polk near Highlands, I don't see range - besides Lakeland [too far?] No matter - no radio. but - This is Cool!

Hey Eric, I'm in the Orlando area and monitor SARNet quite a bit. Maybe I'll catch you on there some day.

@kv4atv

Жыл бұрын

Call for me if you hear me in there. I'm normally on when there is any weather in Florida that is critical especially from Jacksonville to Mobile area. I'm usually relaying info to Pat K4NRD in Madison. He's watching the NE area of Fla and I'm watching the NW from Tallahassee to Mobile. A team of operators has kinda grown together over the years. We know each other not just by their call but we know their voice when we hear them.

Beautiful!

That's freakin' awesome.

Listening to SARNET radio checks as I watch this.

Great system !!

This video is awesome, I thank you Erick/Eric for making it, I am studying for my ham technician license and have been part of public safety and never new this SARNEt was here, Can SARNET be joined does anyone know? as if they need help for specific projects..

Great to discover this network, thanks for explaining! 73 de Burt AG8OJ/FG8OJ

MANY THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT

Great video , so true repeaters not used much anymore. K4KWF

Thank you for the video. Keith N4TRN.

Florida DOT announced that as of August 15, 2019, they will no longer support SARNET with equipment, repairs, etc. Such a shame!!!

@TomE74

5 жыл бұрын

Which is really sad, hope the volunteers can keep it maintained.

@EvergreenOG

4 жыл бұрын

So this was announced 6 months ago. Who’s supporting sarnet?

@ChatGPT1111

4 жыл бұрын

On The Flats by the sound of discussions on the net, the individual repeater operators are still maintaining it. The microwave links are still operational and I hear K4NRD is quite active on it with weather alerts, radio checks, etc.

@kv4atv

2 жыл бұрын

@@ChatGPT1111 I'm also very active on SARNET with K4NRD.. I'm KV4ATV Panama City - Bay Co.

@chrissewell1608

2 жыл бұрын

Its 2022. How is it going now? I have used the network. It rocked!

Good Job :)

"If you want to have a conversation, use another system," and that right there is why repeaters don't get used.

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

We had conversations alkl day today on SARNET, what I mean is, there are some that like to sit there and constantly talk as if they are broadcasting, not caring if someone else wants to talk.. That happens on 30c, and it pisses people off when they dont want to hear an hour long rant about their Donald Trump hate speech.

@AA5SA

5 жыл бұрын

@@HamRadioConcepts well, if you're going to rant about something, that's a pretty worthy topic. I get--and agree with, what you're saying in your comment here, but I quoted you directly from the video. So many repeater owners and network administrators have the attitude that "this is a calling channel, you should have a conversation somewhere else," which just leads to dead air--I can only ask someone's name and QTH so many times before that gets boring and I move on to do something else. And you need only look at pretty much every talk group on the Brandmeister network to see it in action.

@kv4atv

Жыл бұрын

@@HamRadioConcepts Eric, we met at the 2023 HamCation. As a Certified and Trained SKYWARN station I'm also a well equipped and experienced Storm Chaser. I've tried to get critical information out on SARNET from the NWS and could not get a word in edge wise. Some operators where hot keying the system and talking about car shows and I've heard some get on there and talk for nearly an hour about how they do CW.. SARNET isn't to talk about non emergency and non HAM radio topics. It is a valuable communications link. When we have a Tornado Warning "Alert" put out by the NWS we let the stations monitoring it know. Some ppl do not have the instant information from the NWS but they are monitoring SARNET. K4NRD, myself KV4ATV and other stations who have backgrounds in Meteorology get in there so provide information and assistance. I have called in countless flash flood watch and warnings to our NWS Tallahasse office and they sound the WX advisory in a matter of seconds.

Outstanding

I recently moved here from the King County area of Washington State. We had something similar to this using just Amateur Radio to tie hospitals in the region together. Our repeaters were located at specific hospitals and could be easily reached by mobile and transceivers located at other hospitals. When you hit one of the repeaters the system would relay your transmission to all the other repeaters on a separate frequency. All using UHF/VHF, no microwaves were needed. There was some discussion before I left on using HamWan, hamwan.org/ as an alternative communications method, again using amateur radio, but at microwave frequencies. The eventual goal was to tie all the hospitals together. Unfortunately all of this was done on limited budgets.

Great Video. If I may ask, how are the repeaters funded, amateur radio club provided or individuals (I assume no state funding), and how did they get to ride along on the state microwave system. Did hams ask or did the state volunteer?

This will probably be put to good use before and after Dorian

SARNet in the upper keys is in Islamorada, MM 84.

Very nice system. N2ELS

Yep. Simplex is my first love and from there... I know these yowers vary well. They are maintained %100. Point to point is my 2nd.

Great overview. 73 AB1FL

KN4RBO, Largo FL, I can hear the Skyway SARNET repeater from my place, just don't have the power to connect myself.

@kv4atv

Жыл бұрын

Try a Yagi, What type of radio and antenna are you using?

I guess the way they could be more resilient would be to have "multiple paths" in some way capable of being switched to bypass/bridge a gap across a failed linking repeater.

Good Morning! Thank you for the video! This was part of the dilemma I had been facing- whether to get a straight analog radio as my first or an analog/digital capable radio. In the back of my mind I always had the question about whether digital would survive a disaster. Do you know how I would find out if Texas has such a thing as what FLDOT has set up? 73 KI5FRK

It's odd to hear people say analog & 2m/440 is dead. TN didn't get the memo ;). Not only are they active here, I would venture to say it's utilized as much if not significantly more than all digital modes combined. Your mileage may vary depending on location but from my experience, only the larger cities have much digital activity. While in more rural areas we sometimes struggle to even get a digital footprint. Also, here in TN (lots of cellular dead zones), we utilize a similar system called MTEARS (Middle Tennessee Emergency Amateur Repeater System) for emergencies, weather reports, & Agency Nets. It's an incredible asset to the NWS, Amateurs, & EOCs across all 94 counties. Albeit fewer nodes, & microwave connections, it's basically the same thing. KUDOS to the FL DOT for funding & maintaining SARNET as TNs MTEARS is almost completely upheld by Amateurs, with limited (or no) funding from the state. I could be mistaken, but I believe that's the case, a few grants etc aside. Good video!

Interesting, I would have really appreciated to have a technical insight of how the repeater are networked together via SHF.

@HamRadioConcepts

2 жыл бұрын

I can’t mix work and KZread videos about amateur radio that’s why I didn’t do it

A good idea but On a daily basis the repeater noise is non stop. It’s so annoying that I don’t monitor Sarnet. Maybe one of these days I’ll record a video of the noise. Yes, I hear the noise on my mobile, ht and scanner.

Gret video. Wish we had this here in Maine, perhaps soon. DE WA1KLI

when are you doing the 6 meter rundown

Great info, thanks! 73 N4ANO

220 is pretty quiet here in San Diego CA KG6VVO

Any way to find other states, or list of states tht use a similar system? Thanks

We use our repeaters in Az

Do you have any thoughts or ideas about the best way to order these in radio memory? I had thought about putting them in order that I'd travel on the Interstate, but you almost have two parallel routes (I-10/I-95, South Panhandle/I-75). Alphabetical order seems nice and simple, but if I'm driving down the interstate, I'd rather not have to consult a map every 30 miles or so.

@IanWard

3 жыл бұрын

Helps if I read the FAQ; the next-to-last question (about files with repeater frequencies) has a recommendation about creating a list for each interstate www.sarnetfl.com/faq.html

Hey i cant find a way to contact you so ill just ask here, if i buy one of those Marine/Boat shortwave radio with the walkietalkie/mic. How far will it reach? And can i use it to talk to other people in diffrent countries? Im asking because they are fairly cheap (around 300-400USD) I live in an apartment so i cant really use big antennas in my backyard.

Do you know the current status of SARNET funding by FDOT? Is there any current funding?

Hi Eric... Without getting into too much information.... Can you make a list (if you have already a link to your video) of the best radio to buy for the road/overland/home, such as CB, 10 meter, or whatever, Yes, i'm an old newbie that grew up with a cb in my truck.... Also, what cobra models or other brands have FM on them, and what else should this radio have...Also, power mic's. I'm preparing for a long haul across the country. Is there anyway you have time to talk on the phone without publishing a cell number.

@HamRadioConcepts

Жыл бұрын

I'm already working on this video, stay tuned brotha

Hate to see this system go away its been solid for years

On Wednesday it's a NOAA weather radio test day

We got something similar here in Wisconsin

@cthomps

4 жыл бұрын

Just getting into HAM and I'm in Wisconsin. Where can I get more info on the similar net?

@N9IBZED

4 жыл бұрын

Casey Thompson go to wecomm.org that’s what I am seeing here the system is a series of repeaters linked together across the state and is used for nets as well as normal use and if you keybup on one you will be heard on all that are connected

@cthomps

4 жыл бұрын

N9IBZED will check it out, thanks!

can someone link the exact license we need to get to use sarnet legally?

Any way to monitor this network from out of state? Are any of the repeaters on via live audio on radio reference/broacastify?

@kv4atv

2 жыл бұрын

Broadcastify has a link to SARNET.

I'm so new. I'm licensed and have never transmitted. Scanning, virtually all activity I encounter is through a SARnet repeaters.

Is there an equivalent to SARNET in other states? Texas?

Can the individual states have the ability to connect state SARNET together for National coverage?

@kv4atv

Жыл бұрын

They can start their own SARNET but the Fla SARNET doesn't allow any repeaters except the ones approved by the State EOC to connect on link to the system.

I love it when everyone says "don't ask for a radio check" on a repeater. Someone, please. Tell me another way. I'd love it if I had 10 friends that lived 1.5 miles apart each. Then I could test a new radio or antenna in perfect 1.5 miles increments.

Sarnet also known as the "Big Stick"

Great video Eric! Do you know if there's a code plug that can be downloaded? Thanks! 73

@norm_sueb122

5 жыл бұрын

I can send you one for an anytone 868 or 878.

@1996sjn

5 жыл бұрын

@@norm_sueb122 I've got the HD1 and a TYT 9800 (the quad band)

I wish my state had a good network.