ARRLWeb: Some Tips on Being a Net Control Station

There is something in Amateur Radio for each and every ham. Some like "rag chewing," some enjoy emergency communications and some live for that next contest. But still others take on another role, that of Net Control Manager. Have you ever wondered just what that "voice in charge" of your local net has to do? And have you ever thought about doing it yourself?

Most importantly, relax. The operation of a net is not rocket science, nor is it brain surgery. If you make a mistake, as all of us do from time to time, the world will not come to an end. In order to minimize the frequency of those mistakes, use a prepared script, or "preamble." This is simply a short, usually one page, document that tells you what to say and in what order. I have included an example in Figure 1.

The "preamble" is not intended to be slavishly adhered to, but merely a recommendation of what should be included in your operation of the net. Generally, the script starts out with identifying yourself (plus your call sign) and identifying the net you are about to run. The next item should be to ask for any priority or emergency traffic before you continue with the net. I usually ask twice before continuing, just in case. If someone has just witnessed a traffic accident or other emergency, you don't want to launch into a long-winded explanation of how the net will operate, leaving the emergency call un-sendable until you are done.

Figure 2 - Net Log Sheet for the WCF Eagle Net, a nightly NTS Traffic Net. (PDF version [283,082 bytes])

Figure 3 - Technical Net Log Sheet. (PDF version [85,690 bytes])

Figure 4 - Net Statistics Sheet. I use this for all the nets I run, and customize it for each net -- not all lines get used for every net. (PDF version [98,125 bytes])

Business at Hand

If there is no emergency or priority traffic, the next order of business is to transmit the information about the repeater or repeater system you are using. Someone just scanning through the band may need to know what tone the repeater uses for access, or in the case of a linked system, what repeater pair is closest to their location.

At this point, I usually ask for various groups depending on which net I am serving as NCS for. In the case of a National Traffic System Net, I will ask for Net Liaisons coming from or going to another net. Then I will ask for Section Officials and then for announcements and/or bulletins. Finally, I ask for stations with formal written traffic. In the case of the Technical Net, for which I also act as NCS, I would ask for Technical Specialists first. Once these categories of stations are checked in, I then continue to general check-ins.

There are a number of different ways to arrange general check-ins to keep the net from becoming chaotic. You can ask for check-ins by local areas, such as counties or towns. You can ask that they check in by alphabetical order of the first letter in the suffix of their call sign and then divide the alphabet into groups. Here is an example: "We will now ask for check-ins Alfa through Hotel." When that group is complete you would continue, "We now ask for check-ins India through November," and so on.

You might, depending on the type of net, ask that stations checking in add their first name, whether they have any traffic for the net, their specific location and so on. I usually advise that stations wait to check in until I have acknowledged the previous station, since trying to log multiple stations on the same segment can be confusing. Whatever system you choose, or the net manager has chosen for you, it is important to make it easy for the NCS to operate the net. Use whatever method has been chosen and start accepting check-ins.

At some point during the net, it will become necessary to have a station repeat a call, a name or some other information. Received audio quality varies widely with the location of the transmitting station relative to the repeater, the power level the station is using, the quality of the radio and many other factors. This is normal, so expect it to happen. When it does, just ask the station to "say again, please" and ask if the station could raise their power level or reorient their antenna. You can also ask for another station to relay the weak signal if possible. Always remain unfailingly polite and cheerful. Never disparage the other station's equipment or on-air performance. The same is true if you encounter deliberate interference -- remain polite. If you can continue the net over the deliberate interference, do so. The interfering station will soon tire of their game and move on.

Once all of the stations respond in whatever check-in system you utilize, it is time to ask for "any station, anywhere" or some variation on that theme. You may be surprised to find out that your signal has gone considerably farther than you expected. When atmospheric conditions are favorable, I have received stations checking in from as far away as Tallahassee, Key West and Jacksonville -- all this on a VHF/UHF repeater system around Tampa Bay, Florida. On rare occasions, I have even had stations check in briefly from Georgia and Texas.

At the conclusion of the net, it is considerate to thank all the stations for participating in the net and invite them to return for the next edition. If another net is going to occur later in the evening, remind the stations about that net, as well. It is also good form to thank the operators of the repeater for allowing the net to function on their repeater. A last comment, "We now return this repeater to normal Amateur Radio use," and sign off as usual with your call sign and "73."

One of the important adjuncts to the operation of any net is to have an easy way to log everyone and everything in. This can be as basic as a sheet of paper and a pencil, but there are better ways. Your Net Manager will usually want a report as to how many stations checked in, how much traffic was handled (if applicable) and how long the net took to run. These figures will be sent up the line to develop reports to the Section Manager and eventually, the ARRL. I created specialized net logs for each of the nets that I run. They all have some parts in common, with unique sections for the particular net. I have examples of these in Figures 2 and 3.

As a Net Manager, I also have created "statistics sheets," compiled monthly to reflect various items on a month-by-month basis such as total number of check-ins for the month, total time of the net, number of announcements, number of technical presentations and so on. These figures can be used for the monthly reports to a Net Manager or other official (see Figure 4).

All of the above begs the question: Why should I, as a ham operator, participate in nets or become a Net Control Station? I have several answers to that question.

I hope that this brief article on being a Net Control Station has piqued your interest. Even if you do not choose to become an NCS, please check into your local and regional nets as often as you can. The more hams who check in, the more effective the net becomes, serving to advance the art and the science of Amateur Radio even more.

Licensed since 1993, Geoff Haines, N1GY, holds an Amateur Extra class license. Retired after a career in intensive pulmonary care, he currently holds several positions in the West Central Florida Section, including Technical Coordinator, Technical Specialist, Official Bulletin Station, Net Manager, Official Emergency Station and Official Relay Station. He is president of the Manatee (FL) Amateur Radio Club, a member of the Manatee ARES, and also holds membership in the Bradenton (FL) Amateur Radio Club, the Yale University Amateur Radio Club and the Meriden (CT) Amateur Radio Club, among others. In his spare time, Geoff enjoys homebrewing antennas and accessories for his Amateur Radio operations. He currently lives in Bradenton, Florida.

Figure 1 - Sample Preamble. This is how I begin the Technical Net in the WCF Section.

PREAMBLE FOR WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION TECHNICAL NET

CQ CQ THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION TECHNICAL NET.

THIS IS___________(your call sign) AND MY NAME IS ______________(your name) AND I'LL BE YOUR NET CONTROL FOR THIS EVENING'S NET.

THIS NET MEETS WEEKLY ON THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 2100 HRS LOCAL..IT'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN ALL AREAS OF AMATEUR RADIO TECHNOLOGY.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, DO WE HAVE ANY STATIONS WITH EMERGENCY OR PRIORITY TRAFFIC?
(Repeat the request for emergency or priority traffic, if no response then continue)

THIS NET IS HELD ON THE NI4CE REPEATER SYSTEM, ON 145.430 AND 442.950 FROM VERNA IN MANATEE COUNTY, 442.825 IN PEBBLEDALE IN POLK COUNTY, AND 145.29 AND 443.45 IN DOWNTOWN ST. PETE, 442.650 IN NEW PORT RICHEY AND 442.550 IN RIVERVIEW. ALL REPEATERS REQUIRE A PL TONE OF 100 HZ. FOR ACCESS.

NET CONTROL WILL NOW CALL FOR SECTION OFFICIALS AND/OR TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS.CHECK IN NOW PLEASE, ____________________(your call sign) STANDING BY.
(Take checkins from section officials and tech specialists, when done, continue.)

NET CONTROL WILL NOW TAKE GENERAL CHECKINS. PLEASE COME SLOWLY WITH YOUR CALLSIGN AND YOUR FIRST NAME. PLEASE USE ITU PHONICS AND COME SLOWLY. NET CONTROL WILL ACKNOWLEDGE EACH STATION IN TURN. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR TONIGHT'S NET, PLEASE STATE THAT YOU HAVE TRAFFIC WHEN YOU CHECK IN. NET CONTROL WILL COME BACK TO THE STATIONS THAT HAVE TRAFFIC IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY CHECKED IN.

CHECKINS TO THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA TECH NET, PLEASE COME ONE AT A TIME AND INDICATE IF YOU HAVE TRAFFIC FOR THE NET.
(take checkins for a few minutes at least. Once you have a few people checked in, go back and pick up those with questions or comments. Questions should be directed to the appropriate technical specialist but if none is available, throw the question out to the participants for anyone to reply to. )

After any questions have been answered as best as possible, ask if anyone has other comments or questions for the net.

If a presentation is made on any subject, it should be no more than five minutes in length and should occur after one or more rounds of checkins to the net.

THE TECHNICAL COORDINATOR ASKS THAT ANY AMATEUR OPERATOR WHO HAS SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN ANY AREA OF HAM RADIO TO CONTACT HIM AND APPLY FOR A TECHNICAL SPECIALIST APPOINTMENT. MANY HAMS ARE NEW TO THE HOBBY AND EVEN THOSE WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SOMETIMES NEED HELP WITH NEW MODES OR OTHER ASPECTS OF THE HOBBY. BE AN "ELMER" BECOME A TECH SPECIALIST.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER CHECKINS BEFORE WE CLOSE THE NET?

THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION THANKS THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA GROUP, OPERATORS OF THE NI4CE REPEATER FOR THE USE OF THE REPEATER FOR THIS NET.

THIS IS _____________(your call sign) CLOSING THIS SESSION OF THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION TECHNICAL NET AT__________________HOURS AND RETURNING THE NI4CE REPEATER SYSTEM TO NORMAL OPERATION.

_____________________ (your call sign) CLEAR.