[NLRS] NLRS Sunday Evening Nets

[W0ZQ at aol.com]

Hello NLRS land
 
As all of you know, for many years, the NLRS has supported Sunday night  nets 
on 6, 2, 222, 432 and occasionally 1296 and 10 GHz.   Our NLRS  website 
provides the following information on these nets:

Sunday, 8:00 PM  local All year long 432.1200 MHz KØSHF EN34jv 
Sunday, 8:15 PM local All year  long 222.1200 MHz NØKP EN34gt 
Sunday, 8:30 PM local All year long 50.1750  MHz WØAUS EN35ja 
Sunday, 9:00 PM local All year long 144.2500 MHz KAØPQW  EN33iu 
There is also an informal chat net Saturday evenings at 9PM on  144.250. 
 
During the 1980's when I first got on 2m, before the NLRS existed, there  was 
a local SWOT (Sidewinders on Two) net lead by Bob, W0KRX.   Not too long 
after that the NLRS was formed and the other Bob, W0AUS, started up  a 6m net.  
Over the years we added a 222, 432, and on occasion a 1296  net.  Many thanks 
and a tip of the hat to K0SHF, WA0CQG, N0KP, N0VZJ,  KA0PQW, K0CJ, and others 
for sharing the duties of net control over the last  several years.
 
My point is this, its hard to sustain four nets 52 weeks a year, year in  and 
year out.  At the same time it is important for NLRS to maintain a  "net" 
presence, especially on 6m and 2m.
 
Back in the "old" SWOT days Bob would actually close down the 2m net in the  
spring and start it up again in the Fall .... in other words we took the 
summer  off.  With sporadic E and tropo, not to mention the major contests, its  
easier to find VHF activity during the summer months than it is during the  
winter months when the nets might be the only RF you hear !   In  addition, one of 
our 6m stewards, Bob,W0AUS has move away from our area.  
 
Given all this, we need a change as to how we handle NLRS nets.  One  
proposal is to drop the formal 222 and 432 nets.  Those who make the  6m net at 8:30 
and the 2m net at 9:00 pm can informally meet on 222 and/or 432  if they wish. 
  Dropping the 222 & 432 nets would allow us to  continue a net appearance on 
6m and 2m but without the need to  man four net controls X 52 weeks.  I would 
also suggest that we have  at least two net controls for the remaining 6m and 
2m nets thus allowing them to  alternate .... even three net controls and 
rotating the duty would be  good.  I think we could also consider taking the 
summer month(s) off  albeit we are now getting close to fall ... perhaps next 
summer.
 
I am looking for feedback from club members on this proposal and/or any  
ideas that you may have.  As a group I think we have gotten a bit tired of  
manning four nets 52 weeks a year and we need to make some adjustments.   Its 
important as a club that we do not burn out.
 
Let me know what you think.
 
73, Jon
W0ZQ
 



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