What's this @SITREP that I keep seeing on JS8Call?

If you're like me, you like to watch the traffic on JS8Call and look for interesting behavior from your fellow operators. Maybe, like me, emergency preparedness traffic is of particular interest to you. Perhaps you've seen groups like @HERC, @4SERC, @MB, @TTP, @AMRRON, @XCOMM, @COOP, @MAGNET, or @GHOSTNET. It could be that you've also seen the recent activity over at @SITREP, which is what I'd like to focus on today.

Most of the groups (targets starting with @ on JS8Call) that you find on the air represent clubs, nets, or groups of individuals that organize outside their JS8Call @ group. Some of those listed above are large, national groups, with paid dues and/or organized command structures. It's wonderful that such groups are using JS8Call to further their aims; but what about operators that would love to be helpful, yet don't want to be a part of an organized group? Or, what about organized group members that want to reach out beyond their own group(s), so they're ready to interact with anyone in any group or no group at all?

This is where @SITREP comes in--it is a solution for every operator that wants to help with emergency communications, whether or not they are part of another group. But rather than attempt to explain what the JS8Call @SITREP group is, I'll share with you the explanation given on the sitrepnet.com website:

The @SITREP group designation is for unaffiliated SitRep reports and related information sharing. Organized net groups, such as AmRRON, MAGNET, PrepperNet, etc., do some great things, and we encourage you to participate in them, but open, decentralized sharing of information among individuals and small local groups is just as important. Add @SITREP to your "Groups" to help make that happen.

The SitRepNet Communications Plan (CommPlan) provides the structure for a decentralized way to share Situation Reports (SitReps), arrange impromptu nets to address specific events, and collect and distribute information at the local level. The SitRepNet project is, in essence, establishing a common language to allow individual stations to more effectively communicate without using the command structure of a conventional net. It is a network, but not a net. Nets are important, and SitRepNet works alongside established organized nets (such as AmRRON, MAGNET, SEEN, ERIN, PrepperNet, etc.) to share information that formal nets cannot efficiently do while maintaining their core objectives. The closest SitRepNet comes to an existing group is GhostNet -- a highly decentralized network.

Core principles of SitRepNet:

• SitRepNet is completely open. There are no "secrets -- just in case". There is no "membership" in a group, no cost, no fees, and no records. All plans and resources are available to anyone by going to https://sitrepnet.com/.
• SitRepNet is decentralized. There is no "command structure". It is designed to be used by any licensed ham radio operator, and it depends on individual ham operators taking the initiative and doing what needs to be done.
• SitRepNet is not affiliated with any other group or organization. At the same time, SitRepNet encourages participation in established nets. Those established nets serve vital functions that SitRepNet cannot provide.
• Simplicity is how an effective network can be built without a central command structure. It depends on individual radio operators combining their own initiative with the basic SitRepNet plan and making it all work together.

Getting started is simple. If you're already on JS8Call, then you start by adding the @SITREP group in your Call Activity Pane (right-click in the pane off to the right, where the callsigns are, and select "Add New Station or Group", then type in @SITREP and save). From there, you'll be a part of the messages moving around, and your station will respond to @SITREP SNR? Requests (if you're setup to auto respond). Some of the traffic you'll see starts with F!--these are MCForms which work best with JS8Spotter installed.

Check out the sitrepnet.com website for further details once you've got the group added. You'll find that participation is simple, free, privacy and personal time respecting, and open. All are invited, so come in and be a part of one basic solution for sharing information and being prepared.