QST  QST  QST

What is a net anyway?

A net is a group of ham radio operators having a conversation “on
the air.”  They may be formal or informal, directed or
ad-hoc (rag chew) and may meet at a prescribed time on a
specific frequency or pop up spontaneously.  Nets often
have a theme or purpose.  Some are all business and
others are purely social. Other nets meet regularly on the VOIP,
VHF, UHF and HF bands.  Each has its own guidelines
for participation.  Often, all you need to do is listen
to the net in progress to get an idea how it operates.

The local nets in the North Pole / Fairbanks area are mostly
social in nature.  Certain nets such as traffic nets,
public service events or Skywarn, however, are more formal
and focused on a specific purpose.

Nets have a net control operator who moderates the conversation
during a net.  The net control operator opens the net,
provides the day and time of the net, the frequency, PL tone and
(positive or negative) offset when conducted through a repeater
and explains the general purpose or topic of the net. The net
control operator will ask for ham radio operators (or stations) to
check in.  Net control will specify the information
needed for check in. Generally, check ins are limited to
basic information such as call sign and location.  Once
everyone is checked in, the net control operator will call each
station that checked in and invite them into the topic of
discussion.  Rag chews don’t have a net control operator but
often have regular participants.

Here are some phrases you are likely to hear on the
Alaska Morning Net net:

“Is there any emergency or priority traffic?”
Some net control operators ask for emergency or
priority traffic before proceeding with the net.  Net control
is not generally expecting to hear any emergency traffic, however,
this statement serves as a reminder that emergency traffic always
takes priority over net traffic.  A net may be
interrupted for emergency or priority traffic.

“This is a directed net, please pass all traffic
through net control”:  Each station (radio
operator) directs his or her comments to net control.  If
wishing to contact another station, for example, tell net control,
“I would like to contact <call sign>  about
<topic>.”  Net control usually grants permission
with “Call your station” or provides some other instruction
depending on where the net discussion is going.  When
the exchange is finished, say, “back to net control <your
call sign>.”

“Go direct”:  Some stations
wishing to contact a station directly ask net control for
permission and will say something to the effect, “I would
like to go direct with <call sign>”. This is just a
variation on the example listed above.

“Standing by for check ins or rechecks, please
come now”:  Throw out your call sign and
other information as requested by net control.  If you
think of something else to say after you have already had your
turn, add “recheck” to your call sign when net control asks if
there are any other check ins or rechecks.  Occasionally one
station will “double” with another when checking in.
The net control operator often can catch part of someone’s
check in but may need for you to try again.  Some net control
operators will ask for “additions or corrections.”
Try again if need be.

“In & Out” or “No
Traffic”: The station has nothing to say
and only wants to “get on the list.”  It’s
equivalent to saying, “Hi, I’m present but just listening.”

“Mobile”: Mobile stations have
priority because they are traveling.  Band conditions
may change, obstacles (buildings, hills/terrain, etc) may impede
transmission or the station may be traveling away from the
repeater and subsequently, the station might experience a
reduction in signal quality while waiting to be called on
otherwise.

“Back to net control”:  The
radio operator indicates to net control that he or she has nothing
further to say.  Remember to include your call sign at the
end of your transmission:  “This is <call sign>,
back to net control.” And yes, net control may pepper you
with questions which means you are not finished with your
transmission after all.  Each time you think you may be
finished, include your call sign!

“Machine”:  Some refer to
the repeater as a machine, computer, hotspot, node.

“I’m going to let this drop”:  Either
net control or a net participant will say this and release the mic
button long enough for the radio and/or the repeater to reset so
that the transmission does not time out.  This phrase
tells everyone that the radio operator has more to say.  Some
of us can be long winded and might otherwise time out the
repeater.  Take a breath once in a while and let your
transmission drop if your monologue goes on for more than a few
minutes!

“73”:  Best regards.  It
is pronounced “seven three”.

“Full quieting”:  Perfect
signal, no noise or static in your transmission!

“I’m on QR-Zulu”:  This is a
reference to QRZ.com, a ham radio website.

Tips & Tricks​

• Have a pen and paper (better yet a notebook) handy so you
  can jot down the call signs of check ins.  This will help
  you learn the local ham community.  Plus, using a
  notebook is a way to record helpful information for future
  reference.
• If you are feeling adventurous, go to QRZ.com and set up a
  free account.  This is a wonderful website for hams to
  look one another up by call sign.  Many hams are not
  willing to give their email addresses over the air but will
  list an email address on QRZ.  It’s a great way to follow
  up with a ham following a net.
• It’s good practice to use the correct phonetic spelling of
  your call sign and name.  Local band conditions on 2
  meter and 70 centimeter do not usually require stations to
  deviate from the standard phonetic alphabet.  It’s more
  common to find hams using alternate phonetic spellings of call
  signs when HF band conditions are poor (i.e. zulu and juliet
  may sound too much alike when there is a lot of static in the
  transmission).
• Ham radio operators do not use citizen band (CB) lingo.
  We do not use ten-codes (10-4), nor do we have
  “handles.”  We use our call signs along with
  our first names.  Take a look at helpful terminology to
  learn ham radio terms.  Save the “good
  buddy” language for the Smokey and the Bandit crowd on
  CB.
• Don’t worry about mangling someone’s call sign.  We’ve
  all done it, and the ham community is quite forgiving on this. Eventually
  you will learn the call signs of local hams by heart and
  will have no trouble with them.
• When you are mobile, just skip the pen and paper.  Your
  priority is to drive safely.

Technical Difficulties?

Even seasoned operators experience technical difficulties with
transmissions from time to time.  Here are some common
problems and possible solutions:

• You hit the PTT (push to talk) button and transmit
  but no one seems to be able to hear you.  It’s
  nothing personal.  It’s a good idea to request a signal
  report prior to the start of the net to check your radio
  settings.
  • If participating in a net using a repeater, check your
    PL tone, offset and shift direction.  Programming
    the tones and offsets vary by radio brand.  Feel free
    to ask an Elmer for some assistance in setting up the
    repeater frequencies.  You can also program the local
    repeater tones and offsets using Chirp software:  a
    free, open-source tool for programming ham radios (chirp.danplanet.com).
  • Speaking of offsets and shift
    direction, you will often hear net control
    describe the offset in a shorthanded manner, i.e., “postive
    (or negative) offset.”  Net control assumes that
    you recognize the offset based on the receive frequency.
    For 2 meters, the offset is 600 kHz. For 70
    centimeters, the offset is 5 MHz.  The shift direction
    is described as positive or negative which means
    you will have to determine whether to add or subtract the
    offset to (or from) the receive frequency (RX) to get the
    correct transmit frequency (TX).  If this seems
    confusing, a quick shortcut is to download the Repeater
    Book phone app into your cell phone.  This app will
    search for area repeaters based on your location and give
    you the receive and transmit frequencies as well as the
    tones for area repeaters.
• You are told your transmission is weak, nearly
  unreadable (scratchy or dropping out) or completely unreadable
  but others on the net can tell you are trying to transmit.  Net
  control will acknowledge the attempt and ask you to try it
  again.
  • Check your power.  Often a problem occurs when the
    battery is low.
  • Check your antenna.  Hand held radios (often called
    “handy-talkies) may need a better antenna than the
    stock rubber duckie antenna.  Check into a better
    antenna such as a J-pole, slim jim, or a mag-mount
    antenna.  A mag mount antenna on an old steel cookie
    sheet is often effective.  Just make sure it’s not an
    aluminum cookie sheet.
  • Check your location. Sometimes moving a few feet in any
    direction may help.
  • Speak clearly into the microphone: hold it close to
    your mouth but at an angle so that your breath does
    not create wind directly into the mic.
• You are told your transmission is readable but has a
  whine or buzzing quality.
  • Are you running a battery charger on your radio at the
    time you are transmitting?  Charge up the battery,
    disconnect the charger, then participate in the net.
  • Your mobile radio may have ignition noise or alternator
    whine.  A filter may be needed to reduce radio
    frequency interference (RFI).
  • Mobile transmission is “picket fencing” which
    may occur while moving in an area that causes multi-path
    interference (tall buildings for example). Driving away
    from downtown areas can improve your signal.
  • You may be too close to a computer or other electronic
    device.  Step away from electronics.  A
    choke filter may also help.
  • SWR (standing wave ratio) may be too high.  Check
    your outside dual band antenna for loose connections
    and/or rain water soaking the inside of the antenna. This
    problem demands your immediate attention; excess SWR
    can damage your radio.
• Other net participants may offer to check your
  signal “on reverse.”  This means they
  are listening to you on the transmitting frequency through
  simplex.  This way, they can tell who is trying to hit
  the repeater and may have some suggestions on what you can do
  to improve your signal.  If you still have difficulties,
  don’t sweat it.  Try again and then try again.  Contact
  an elmer prior to the next week’s net to try to resolve the
  problem.  Success often comes via trial and error.

Good Manners

Nothing beats being polite on the local nets.  Please
remember the following:

• Scheduled nets do not “own” a frequency or time slot.  However,
  if a net control operator joins your conversation in progress
  and mentions that a net is due to start soon, please consider
  wrapping up your conversation and joining the net.  It’s
  not required, but it’s the polite thing to do.  Some
  nets have been meeting regularly for decades.  You
  will have a lot of hams listening to your rag chew and
  wondering when you will end the conversation so the net can
  start.
• Keep your comments on the net relevant to the topic of the
  net.  That said, social nets are pretty loose and
  flexible for discussion topics.
• Listen to the net before jumping in. Different net control
  operators have different styles. When in Rome, do as the
  Romans do…
• When finished speaking, say “back to net control”
  so the net control operator knows you are finished.
• Avoid controversial topics; be polite.
• Thank your net control operator for hosting the net.  Being
  a net control operator is a commitment of time and resources.
• Be willing to try hosting
  the net if the regular net control operator is
  unavailable.
• Always follow the FCC rules for ham radio operation and
  provide your call sign at the end of your transmission.  But
  don’t be afraid of making a mistake.  The ham
  community is very supportive and will help you get it right.
• You can join informal rag chews by throwing out your call
  sign or saying “information” when you have something to
  add to the conversation.  Someone in the rag chew
  will generally acknowledge you when they finish their comment.  This
  is not much different than joining a group of people talking
  around a table.
• When you hear, “I’ll be clear on your final,” the
  operator is hoping to get off the radio before another
  conversation gets started.  Supper could be waiting.