[W2CRA] net instructions

[david kanitra]

Proper Net Procedures.....

I have been a net control station for many years. 
Here are some simple but important rules to follow
when checking into a net or acting as the Net Control
Station (NCS)


1.	Listen before you transmit.  
2.	Make short transmissions!  
3.   Do not interrupt the net unless you have
emergency or priority traffic.
4.   Do not tie up the net with unnecessary
information or talking.
 Idle talking disrupts the net and possibly prevents
someone from calling in an emergency!   If you want to
chew the rag then do it Somewhere else!!!  The
repeater normally has a 90 second timer, and a lot can
happen in 90 seconds!
5.  All transmissions are to be directed to Net
Control.  As far as the net is concerned, the NCS is
the Boss, and the Boss makes the decisions.

** if you need to call another station, simply ask NCS
for words with
     so and so.  The NCS can direct you to simplex or
allow for a brief
     conversation on the repeater frequency **
6.  If an emergency comes up or you see an emergency,
immediately notify the NCS.  The NCS will then decide
the proper course to take to report the emergency!  Do
not break the net to make autopatches!  This
ties up the net and may actually delay the reporting
of the emergency.

An example:  You are mobile on RT 78 by exit 36.  You
come upon a traffic accident.  What is quicker,
notifying NCS of the accident and NCS will phone it
directly to NJ State Police, or bringing up the
autopatch, getting a dispatcher in Hunterdon County,
to report an accident in Somerset or Union County,
giving him the info, The dispatcher then has to call
the State Police on the phone (providing he/she
doesn�t get more 911 calls in the process) and
delaying it further!!
 
7.	 Do not leave or secure from the net unless you
receive permission from the NCS in a formal net, for
informal net, just tell NCS that you
Are clearing.

If you are checking in from home, make sure you have
some paper and a pen or pencil handy to copy down any
traffic.

If the NCS issues the command �Net Wait�  Please pause
and do not transmit.  Wait until the NCS
returns�he/she may be making a landline!






Instructions for being the Net Control Station.
1.  Before starting the net, make sure you have a pen
and some paper to write down callsigns, names, and
other information.  If you are running a traffic net,
ARES or
RACES net, you should have the phone numbers for the
State Police handy.
2.  The Net control Station, or NCS acts like a
traffic cop at a busy intersection.  
NCS is not the chief of police, nor the FCC, but
he/she is in charge of the net. The NCS decides what
traffic gets passed when and where. 
3.	When calling the net, you should ask if anyone has
emergency or priority traffic, and then pause for
about 15 seconds to listen.  If someone has an
emergency or priority traffic, ask them the specifics
and assist them, or ask if anyone on the net can
assist. 
4.	If there is no emergency or priority traffic, then
do a call up.  Ask stations calling in to give their
callsigns and names and an indication of traffic or
announcements.
5.	It�s customary to make 2 or 3 general calls before
taking care of any net business, such as passing
messages, announcements, etc.  Do not forget to give
your own callsign over the air.
6.	Before closing the net, make one final call up for
late check in�s.
7.	Close the net, thank all stations for checking in,
and also the owners of the repeater, and clear as you
would in a normal qso.



     


=====
WB2AZE David R. Kanitra
ARRL ARES District Emergency Coordinator for
Hunterdon County, NJ

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