Let's hear what other young net control operators have to say:

Andrew Kelly, K3ASK, has served as NCS for the North American Youth Net (NAYN), which meets Mondays and Fridays at 2300-2330 UTC on 14.329 MHz. He recommends that new NCSs develop a script to read from.

"A script really helps keep things organized during the net," he advises. The North American Youth Net has a topic of the week, and Kelly finds it convenient to keep a list of possible topics on his computer, which he can draw from as needed.

Chris Mayrose, KD5QBS, at the controls of the Route 66 special event station at the Salvation Army Oklahoma City Communications center. [KD5WEV Photo]

Chris Mayrose, KD5QBS, thinks being a net control station is a real challenge, and he considers it a real honor that the ARRL Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator in Central Oklahoma have given him a chance to serve as an NCS. "Whether it is a training net or the real deal, you are the central focus of all traffic and issues on the net," he says. "I like making the decisions as to what traffic needs to be handled first."

Mayrose believes a training net offers as much training for the NCS as it does for the participating stations. "A real emergency is never going to run as smoothly as a training net, due to the fact that so many stations in the field are doing a variety of different tasks such as damage assessment, weather spotting and communication for relief workers," he points out. The Net Control Operator is responsible for all of their safety and their traffic.

"Preparation is key!" Mayrose says. "Don't walk into the station one minute before the net begins and try and throw things together. Things are bound to go wrong." Once a net goes astray, he says, it can be difficult or impossible to regain control. He recommends having an experienced net controller on hand to help you over the rough spots your first few times at the helm. He also advises new NCSs to keep a sense of humor. "When you are the new kid on the block, any mistakes you make are going to be targets for some friendly picking. Laugh and learn; it's all part of the game."

Just Do It!

If you're thinking about becoming a net control operator, Mayrose says, "Just do it!" as the footgear ads suggest. "It is not hard, [but] it is a great experience and will make being a ham more enjoyable."

Net control operator Jonathan Kinsky, KB1IPK. [Photo courtesy of KB1IPK]

In emergency situations, he advises hams to be flexible. "There may be a need for your talents somewhere other than net control," he says. "Don't be insulted when you are asked to load a canteen with food and water or accompany the canteen out into the disaster area. We are all part of a team."

The May 2003 Oklahoma City tornadoes were a real learning experience for Mayrose. "I was on a Salvation Army canteen in the afternoon and was a net control operator when the second tornado came through," he recalls. "As net control, I had to monitor three 2-meter radios and a phone line and pass messages to the hams working as liaisons to the Salvation Army leadership. It was a little overwhelming." He says his past experience with training nets prepared him well. "Training and experience are key to being an effective net control operator," Mayrose concludes.

Fourteen-year-old Jonathan Kinsky, KB1IPK, is an NCS for the Training, Information and Public Service Net (TIPSNET). The net averages 20 to 30 checkins per session and has had as many as 50. The net occupies more than 15 Connecticut repeaters plus two EchoLink nodes. Kinsky believes being an NCS not only is a good way to keep on the air on a regular basis but to be ready to provide a service. He urges young hams with an interest in pursing net control to contact a local net manager and offer their assistance.

Steve Traylor, KF4ZGD (left) and Ben Mills, KG4QVP (right) at Field Day 2003. [Photo: K4DND]

The Youth Net Challenge

Steve Traylor, KF4ZGD, originated a net that came to be known as the North American Youth Net. Originally held on 40 meters, it soon migrated to 20. "For a few weeks, things went well," he recounts. "We had five or more checkins each net session, and there seemed to be genuine interest."

But, he says, as quickly as things got going, they dropped off. Over the summer, the number of checkins dwindled until the net was lucky to have more than two stations on frequency during any given week.

"We built up quite an extensive e-mail list, however, and began sending out a newsletter each week," he reports. But this failed to attract additional participation, and, as the summer wound down, so did the net. Participation at this point remains marginal.

"My idea to start a net was not a new one," he says. "It was one of many HF youth nets that have been started over the years, but like all the others, it met the same fate." He believes that despite his time and effort to make the net succeed, "people simply did not find it important to check in."

"Why is it such a challenge to start a youth net?" Traylor wonders aloud. He points out that of the hundreds of HF nets, few are specifically for youth.

As KF4ZGD notes, there are many challenges for net control stations, but nets are certainly not impossible. If enough young operators become active on HF and support a youth net, it could become major. "Perhaps we all will rise to the challenge," Traylor concludes.

Herman, the "spokescrab" for the FEMA kid's Web site.

FEMA Kid's Web Site

Western Washington Section Manager Ed Bruette, N7NVP, recently let me know about an interesting Web site for kids of all ages. Be sure to check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Kid's Web site. Among other things, it offers an on-line board game called "Disaster Discovery".

Scan to the Past (When I was first licensed...)

Many experienced hams will recall the days when it was very common for teenagers to earn their Amateur Radio licenses--typically starting out with the Novice ticket, which the FCC no longer issues. For some reason, it seems that at least some younger hams (myself included) believe that youth involvement in Amateur Radio is a new phenomenon.

The truth of the matter is, hams have been licensed at young ages for decades. However, it would be fair to say that Amateur Radio is not the same now as it was "back then."

I'd like to invite those licensed at a young age but now only young at heart to tell us younger hams what it was like (keep it as short as possible, please), and we might include your reminiscences in this column. You might also share your observations on how Amateur Radio has changed since you were young.

Ye Ed to Do YLRL Youth Column

The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) has invited me to pen a brief youth-oriented column for the bi-monthly YL Harmonics newsletter. In my debut column, I relate how a female voice on the ham bands somehow tends to command attention. First organized in 1939, YLRL is the oldest and largest YL group in the world with members from over 40 countries, and I'm honored to contribute to its newsletter.

Winter Reading:

• "The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler"

• "In Brief" (Nov 12, 2003)

• "The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler"

• "A One-Hour, No-Solder Code Practice Oscillator"

• "Attention Clubs and Instructors--New DVD and Other Class Materials Available"

Reminders!

• Check into the EchoLink youth net--the Carly Net--Sunday evenings at 7:30 Eastern Time, on the N1TUP link, which is the W1AW repeater.

• Visit the ARRL Youth Sked Database to set up a schedule with another young ham.

• Stop by the North American Youth Net (NAYN) Mondays and Fridays, 2300 UTC, 14. 329 MHz.

• Visit the Anne Arundel Radio Club Jr Web page.

• Check out Hamquick.com. Owned and operated by Sam Szarka, an 18-year-old high school senior, it's got a lot of general information and news as well as Technician class license and Morse code tutorials.

Final!

Thanks to all who contributed to this column. Reader contributions are what keep things interesting.

If you've ever won an Amateur Radio scholarship or award, please contact me. I am also looking to hear from youth who are involved in contesting. Also, let me know about schools involved in Amateur Radio. Information on each of these topics will help me with future columns.

This month I received so many contributions that it was impossible to fit all of them into a single column. Please keep them coming! Next month, we plan to update the role of several young Mississippi hams in the World Solar Challenge 2003 (mentioned in a previous column). Also, I'll have a report on the youth-related Stone Mountain Hamfest.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Have a wonderful holiday, and remember to be thankful. 73!

Editor's Note: Fourteen-year-old Extra-class operator and ARES Member Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, lives in Grayson, Georgia. Her Amateur Radio activities include public service, kit building, hamfesting, and operating SSB, CW and digital modes. Amateurs with youth-related news and photos are invited to contact Andrea via e-mail to awextra@arrl.org with the subject line "Youth Column."

Previous: Roy Neal, K6DUE, ARISS Commemorative Event Starts November 29

Next: Surfin': Powerpoleing Your Power Connections