[KYHAM] Being a Good Net Control Station

[K4lid at cedarvalleybbs.com]

What does it take to be a Good Ncs?  Periodically, I have been asked
this question.  A couple of weeks ago, I sat down and wrote what I
thought a good net control should be and what characters he/she should
exhibit.  Not only have I called nets in the amateur radio service but,
I call nets in Army Mars as well.  Here is what I wrote.  Anyone may
respond as they feel like doing.
    What does it take to be  an Effective Net Control Station
By Tom Lykins


Throughout the years, one thing I have enjoyed in amateur radio is
being the Net Control of a net.

It may be a Section-level-net, Regional Net or, just a "good-ole-
rag chew-net."

While there have been various guidelines set up for nets, one thing
that many of them have failed to address.

In order to be a good and effective Net Control Station you must
have what I call "good people skills."  In other words, you must
like people.  You must learn to be an effective communicator and be
able to interact with the members on your net "one-on-one," or you
will never really master the art of being a good Net Control
station.

The question then is--"how can I acquire these skills?"

First, you must listen to the group that you want to be an Ncs of.
It may be a traffic net or just a "rag-chew-net.  Learn who the
people are who participate in this group activity and something
about each of them.

Become part of the group yourself.  You must learn to interact with
them and identify with things they are interested in even if the
subject matter has no interest to you personally.

Try, if you can, to educate yourself on  the topics they discuss
even if you only have a very basic and rudimentary understanding of
the subject matter  like fishing, auto racing, motorcycles, guns,
knives, campers, recreational vehicles and the list goes on.

Try, if you can to become somewhat familiar enough with these
topics to where, if you have no interest in them, you  can let the
members of the group  discuss their interests.  There will still be
plenty of time left for you to get on the air and talk about your
interests.

As much as possible, try and become an "ombusman" on as many
subjects as you can.  This is not to say that you must become an
expert on each and every thing that is brought up but, at least
know where to go and get the answer to a question that may come up
or have a good idea where a person may go to get the answer to
their question.

Offer help when asked.  Try and not force your thoughts or ideas on
the group or one individual unless asked to do so.

Now, lets  talk about how to conduct the net.

First, get the callsigns right.  Don't guess or "flub up."  This is
a total "turn-off" to the net participants.  Remember, as Net
control station you are the "boss" to a point.  This is to say that
while you are in charge of the net you don't do anything that would
be counter-productive to the net.  By being the boss you control
the net.  Don't let the net control you.  All to often Net Control
stations have never learned this skill.

If you are going to be a successful Net control station you must
learn this skill above and beyond any other.  If a station steps
out of line just lightly admonish him and say that he or she will
be identified in their proper time and place.

In this day and age we are so concerned with "political
correctness" that we have, unknowingly, deminished our
effectiveness as a Net Control Station.

We have become to concerned about "hurting some ones feelings" that
we forget why we are here in the first-place.

If we use tact, we can effectively do what we started to accomplish
in the first place.

If the net you call has a comment section, when addressing the
stations for comments always call the station, know their name and
try to come up with something that is unique only to that person.
If you don't know their name and location, it is your
responsibility to find out then do what ever it takes to commit
that to memory.   Never just give partial callsigns as this sends
a message to that net participant that you really know nothing
about them.  This will generally turn them off and they are not
likely to participate in your net again.
The net participants want to be able to identify with "you."  You
are their director for that few minutes you are calling the net.
They are looking to you, unconsciously for guidance of-a-sort.
If your net is a traffic net, it is imperative that you know and
understand the National Traffic System and how it is supposed to
work.  Never"guess."

Understand all functions of Nts and learn them well.  If you need
to keep a desk-reference at your operating position then "do so."
Study it do not try and leaf through it and guess as to what you
should do.

All to often, people want to call the net but don't know just where
and how to begin.  While their heart may be inthe the right place,
it is not just something that happens. Never give anet "stolen
minutes of your time."   It takes both study and practice.

Never hurry through a net.  Before agreeing to be  a Net Control
station, study and look how long that it takes,for the person  whom
you perceive as a good  net control station to call the net and
pace yourself accordingly.

Net participants can tell if you are in a hurry to "just get it
over with," and, here again it is a turn-off.

I am only writing this because I have been asked what it takes to
be a good Net Control station.  You may agree or disagree.  That is
up to you.  However, in closing, if you will try my method you will
find that you will be much more successful in this endeavor.

Tom Lykins  K4lid/AAM4TKY.