Suggestions For New Net Control Operators

1. Participate in the net for a few weeks to get a feel for the flow of traffic before attempting to work as net control operator. Listen, listen, listen.

2. Relax, and take your time. You are in control, and nobody is in a hurry–the net rarely lasts more than 15-20 minutes, and there is no need to rush on to the next step. Pause periodically to let the repeater drop, take a breath if you’re nervous, and continue. If you skip something, no problem–just go back to the item you skipped, do it, and move on.

3. Work from a quiet, comfortable location where you can take and read notes. Be sure your equipment is at least as ready as you are–it’s really embarrassing for your battery to run down in the middle of a net! A clear, readable signal is a must. Note that if you are using an HT, it will get pretty warm with all the key-down time you will have.

4. Do not attempt to start the net if there is a QSO in progress on the net frequency. You can, however, join the QSO and ask for the frequency, encouraging the QSO parties to participate in the net. Otherwise, wait for the QSO to complete before starting the net.

Procedure

“QST, QST, QST, Katy Amateur Radio Society Net.” (Repeat once, after a short pause.)

“This is the weekly meeting of the Katy Amateur Radio Society Net. This net is for KARS members and any others wishing to check in. This net is held each Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM local time. We get together each Saturday at Skeeters for breakfast around 8 am. Skeeters is located on the NE corner of Mason Road and Highland Knolls. You are cordially invited to attend and enjoy the food and fellowship. This repeater has a PL of 141.3″

“This is a directed net. Please transmit only as directed by the net control operator. Your net control operator for tonight’s net is __________ (your call sign). My name is __________(your name) and my QTH is __________ (your city). When you check in, please speak slowly, give your call sign, your name, and whether or not you have traffic for the net.”

“If there is anyone with emergency or priority traffic to be listed on tonight’s net, please call __________. (your call sign). ( Pause briefly for traffic; if none, then repeat once. If a station calls with emergency or priority traffic, take the traffic immediately and handle appropriately. Feel free to pass on the traffic to another station so that you can continue the net.)

“Now taking checkins from mobile stations or anyone short on time, please call __________. (your call sign). (List the call signs of checkins in order received, repeating back during pause. Ask one more time, then work down the list of these stations.)

“If there is anyone with announcements to be listed on tonight’s net, please call __________. (your call sign). (Work each station as they call, repeating the above between announcements.)

“This is _________ (your call sign) with the KARS net, now accepting general checkins, with or without traffic. Please give your call sign, your name, and whether or not you have traffic for tonight’s net. Please call __________ . (your call sign).” (List the calls signs or checkins in the order received, noting which stations checked in “with traffic” and repeating back the calls after every three to five checkins. Move on when there appears to be no response to your call for more checkins.)

(Starting at the top of the list, ask each station for their comments or traffic. After every four or five stations, pause to take late checkins, adding them to the bottom of the list.)

(Feel free to briefly engage each station as you work them and/or injecting your own comments as you go. This can make the session more interesting, and smoothes the overall flow of the net.)

(It’s OK to allow stations to call others who have already checked into the net, usually to repeat or clarify a comment or announcement. This should be fairly brief, though, don’t let them take over your net.)

(Occasionally a station will call a “recheck”, usually in order to add a comment after they have already been worked, and in response to a comment or announcement just made. Take rechecks immediately before continuing down your list.)

(After the last station is worked,) “This is the last call for late checkins; please call __________.” (your call sign). (Work any stations that call.)

“This is __________ (your call sign) with the KARS net. Tonight’s net had a total of _____ stations checking in, and lasted _____ minutes. Thank you very much for checking into the net, and have a good evening. We will now close the net, and return the repeater to normal use. _________. (your call sign) clear.”

Remember, this net should be enjoyable and informative. We want to encourage people to listen and participate–you will have a great deal of influence in the success of this activity. Again, relax, and have fun!