Monday, November 27, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126:
- Do you like listening to nets?
- What nets do you participate with?
- Have you ever been a NCS (Net Control Station)?
- If you were to create a net, what would it be about?
Let us know on the DMR Tech Net.
Tom N8TJ Stan WB8QJZ Steve KC8WXM Dana KCØMYP Brian KE8NJT
The DMR Tech Net starts at 7:45pm ET on Brandmeister Talk Group 3126 (statewide Michigan) and runs until 8:30pm ET.
Stay on TG-3126 to join the Michigan One DMR net (the longest running Michigan DMR net) at 8:30pm, hosted by Dustin N8RMA.
We are branching out to the TGIF network. The DMR Tech Net team has our own TGIF talk group 31268 that you are welcome to use. We’ll leave the lights on and best of all, there is no 10-minute limit!
https://tgif.network/talkgroups.php
Upcoming DMR Tech Net topics
Monday, November 27, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126:
- Do you like listening to nets?
- What nets do you participate with?
- Have you ever been a NCS (Net Control Station)?
- If you were to create a net, what would it be about?
Monday, December 4, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126:
- Repeaters, hotspots, or both?
- We’ll discuss the pros and cons of using repeaters and hotspots with DMR
Monday, December 11, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126
- DMR buzzwords. We’ll identify, explain, and discuss them
*This is our tentative schedule and it can change*
We have created a website at https://dmrtechnet.net/ for you to keep up with our DMR Tech Net topics.
If you want to join our email list, send an email to Subscribe@DMRTechNet.net with “subscribe” in the subject line.
We will send out information about our weekly DMR Tech Net topics no more than once or twice a week.
Please check out our website, https://dmrtechnet.net/, and share this newsletter with other DMR users.
Michigan Brandmeister statewide Michigan DMR talk groups:
- 3126 Statewide Michigan (10-minute limit except for nets)
- 31260 Michigan WX ARES EmComm
- 31261 Mi-5 Statewide 1
- 31262 Mi-5 Statewide 2
- 31263 Mi-5 Event 1
- 31264 Michigan TAC
- 31265 Mi-5 Event 3
- 31267 West Michigan Talk Group
- 31268 UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan
- 31269 West Michigan Technical Group
Amateur radio net
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An amateur radio net, or simply ham net, is an “on-the-air” gathering of amateur radio operators. Most nets convene on a regular schedule and specific frequency, and are organized for a particular purpose, such as relaying messages, discussing a common topic of interest, in severe weather (for example, during a Skywarn activation), emergencies, or simply as a regular gathering of friends for conversation.[1][2]
Net operation
Nets operate more or less formally depending on their purpose and organization. Groups of nets may organize and operate in collaboration for a common purpose, such as to pass along emergency messages in time of disaster. One such system of nets is the National Traffic System (NTS), organized and operated by members of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to handle routine and emergency messages on a nationwide and local basis
Formal operation
A formal, or directed net has a single net control station (NCS) that manages its operation for a given session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, periodically calls for participants to join, listens for them to answer (or check in ) keeps track of the roster of stations for that particular net session, and generally orchestrates the operation of the net.
A different station might be designated NCS for each net session. Overall operation and scheduling of NCS assignments and net sessions is managed by the net manager .
When a net covers a large geographic area, such as a continent or even the world, it becomes impractical for a single NCS to control. To cover a large scale area a net must operate on a frequency where signals can propagate long distances. Ironically, the same ability for long distance propagation leads to a situation where stations that are too close in proximity cannot hear each other. In this case two or more NCSs spaced geographically from one another can effectively collaborate to maintain contact with all possible participants.
A tactical net is a form of directed net in which stations are assigned tactical call signs to facilitate efficiency in message-handling, and are often more tightly controlled (by time, language, and protocol) than a regular radio net. During a tactical net, the participating stations are free to refer to other stations by their tactical designations, such as Medical One or Incident Command to relieve the caller of the burden of remembering or stumbling over legal call signs, which can impede net progress. Tactical call signs do not replace legal call signs, which stations involved must still announce at prescribed times.
Informal operation
An informal net may also have a net control station, but lack some or all of the formalities and protocols other than those used in non-net on-the-air operation. Or, it could begin at the designated time and frequency in an ad hoc fashion by whoever arrives first. Club nets, such as ones for discussing equipment or other topics, use a NCS simply to control the order in which participants transmit their comments to the group in round-robin style.
Types of nets
Traffic
Traffic nets operate primarily to relay formal written messages. For decades, amateur radio operators in the United States and Canada have traditionally passed both routine and emergency messages on behalf of others as part of the public-service mission allowed within the USA and Canadian government amateur radio regulations.[4] The original organizational purpose of the American Radio Relay League or ARRL which was organized in the early 20th century (1914–15) was mainly for the purpose of relaying third party messages. In many parts of the world outside North America, it is illegal for amateur radio operators to pass messages on behalf of third parties.
Today, with inexpensive communication capability available to anyone, routine message handling has dwindled and is largely used for training purposes. During emergencies (such as natural disasters) – especially when normal communications channels are disabled or compromised – traffic nets (utilizing emergency-powered stations) are used to pass information into and out of affected areas.
DX
DX nets are organized to help amateur radio operators make contact with stations in distant locations or regions where amateur radio operators are scarce. By checking into a DX net, a ham could have a chance to contact another station he or she might otherwise not be likely to hear by randomly tuning across the amateur bands.
Club or Topic
Amateur radio clubs often organize nets to foster communication between members on a regular basis. These can be clubs based on geographic location or clubs formed around a special interest.
Special interest clubs or non-club groups often organize nets to enable discussions on a particular topic. A wide variety of such nets are in operation. One such example is nets that meet to discuss vintage or antique radio equipment.[7] Another example is nets for using and discussing the AM mode of voice transmission.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_net
How to Participate in Ham Radio Nets
Nets — regularly scheduled on-the-air meetings of hams who have common interests — are among the oldest ham radio activities. The first net was probably formed as soon as two hams went on the air. Sometimes, the nets are strictly for pleasure, to discuss topics such as collecting things, playing radio chess, or pursuing awards. Other nets are more utilitarian, such as those for traffic handling, emergency services, and weather reporting.
If a net follows standard operating rules, it’s called a directed net. Nearly all directed nets have a similar basic structure. A net control station (NCS) initiates the net operations, maintains order, directs the net activities, and then terminates net operations in an orderly way.
Stations that want to participate in the net check in at the direction of the NCS. A net manager defines net policy and focus, and works with the NCS stations to keep the net meeting on a regular basis.
Nets are run in many ways. Some nets are formal; others are more like extended roundtable QSOs. The key is to listen, identify the NCS, and follow the directions. The behavior of other net members is your guide.
How to check in with ham radio nets
If you want to check in to a net, you register your call sign and location or status with the NCS. Be sure that you can hear the NCS clearly and that you can understand his or her instructions.
If you’re not a regular net member, wait until the NCS calls for visitors. When you check in, give your call sign once (phonetically if you’re using voice). If the NCS doesn’t copy your call sign the first time, repeat your call sign, or the NCS can ask one of the listening stations to relay your call sign.
You can check in with business (such as an announcement) or traffic (messages) for the net in a couple of ways; listen to the net to find out which method is appropriate. The most common method is to say something like “NØAX with one item for the net.” The NCS acknowledges your item, and you wait for further instructions.
Alternatively, you can check in with your call sign, and when the NCS acknowledges you and asks whether you have any business for the net, reply, “One item.” Listen to other net members checking in, and when in Rome, check in as the Romans do.
If you want to contact one of the other stations checking in, you can declare this intention when you’re checking in as though it were net business or wait until the check-in process is complete and the NCS calls for net business. Either way, the NCS asks the other station to acknowledge you and puts the two of you together, following net procedures.
How to exchange information in ham radio nets
Information such as formal radiograms or verbal messages are exchanged during a net, either on frequency or off frequency, while the net operations continue.
Nets that exist primarily for discussion of a common interest or for selling and trading equipment, for example, tend to keep all their transmissions on one frequency so that everyone can hear them. This system is quite inefficient for a net that’s intended to route messages, such as in an emergency, so the NCS sends stations off frequency to exchange the information and then return to the net frequency.
Here’s an example of an NCS directing an off-frequency message exchange during an emergency communications net that’s using a repeater. In this exchange, traffic means a single message, and EOC stands for emergency operations center.
W2—: I have one piece of traffic for the EOC.
(W2— is either relaying the message from another ham or serving as the originating station.)
NCS: W2—, stand by. EOC, can you accept traffic?
(The net is practicing the use of tactical call signs along with the FCC-issued call signs.)
EOC: EOC is ready for traffic.
NCS: W2— and EOC, move to the primary simplex frequency and pass the traffic.
This transmission means that W2— and the station at the EOC are to leave the net frequency, change to the team’s primary simplex (no repeater) frequency, and reestablish contact, after which W2— transmits the message to the EOC. When both stations are done, they return to the net frequency and report to the NCS.
As a control operator, you still have to give your FCC call sign along with the tactical call sign whenever you begin operation, every ten minutes during operation, and whenever the operator changes. Your emcomm team will provide training to help you satisfy these simple rules.
McKinney Amateur Radio Club W5MRC Net Control Operator Script
McKinney Amateur Radio Club W5MRC Net Control Operator Script
In the November/December 2022 issue of On the Air, the article “Please Check In Now: My Experience as a First-Time Net Control Operator” related author Ginger J. Wilder’s, KI5TJE, process of preparing for her new role as Net Control. Here, courtesy of the McKinney Amateur Radio Club, W5MRC, is the Net Control Operator Script that provides a guide for new Net Control Operators. It’s not necessary to follow it word for word. Feel free to adapt it to your club’s purposes.
Note for new Net Control Operators: Read through the Net Script, starting at the Preamble, then come back and read this section. Please keep in mind that the Net Control Operator generally ad-libs during the Net by responding to what guests have said, rather than following the script word for word.
You will want to have a “Question of the Night” to ask, to get the ball rolling with communications. For example: “August 15 is Friendship Day. Did you talk with any friends on the radio today?”
When is the “Question of the Night” used? As the Net Control asks for check-ins for the first category (i.e., portable/mobile/short-time) and gets the first check-in (let’s imagine the first check-in is Hiram, W1AW) Net Control would say, “Welcome to the Sunday Night Info Net, Hiram, W1AW. Tell us about your radio week, and the special question for tonight is: August 15 is Friendship Day. Did you talk with any friends on the radio today?” Keep in mind that as Net Control, you will need to repeat that question at various times throughout the check-in process, as not everyone will have heard it the first time it was asked.
What is an easy error that new Net Control Operators make? When a new Net Control Operator asks for the first three call signs in a category (i.e., portable/ mobile/ short-time, etc.) it is very common to forget to go back and ask for the next three check-ins until there are no more check-ins for that category. Once you receive no more check-ins for that category, you move on to the next category, ask for the first three check-ins in that category, repeat, “Welcome to the Sunday Night Info Net, [call sign or name]. Tell us about your radio week, and the special question for tonight is: _____,” and so on for each category.
Preamble (start at 8 PM on Sunday night on the W5MRC VHF repeater 146.740 MHz, tone 110) Good evening, all radio amateurs. This is [your call], my name is [your first name], and I will be your Net Control Station for this session of the McKinney Amateur Radio Club Information Net. This net meets every Sunday night at 8 PM local time for the purpose of discussing topics of interest to MARC members and others. Because this is an informal net, we invite all radio amateurs to participate.
Check-ins As we start check-ins this evening, we will have three categories before general check-ins.
1. Portable, mobile, and short time check-ins
2. CW check-ins
3. EchoLink check-ins
We will now stand by for portable and mobile and short-time check-ins. Please check in now with your phonetic call sign, followed by your name.
(Recognize short-time, portable, and mobile check-ins individually)
(Go through the list and allow each station to make any comments that they
might have)
(Ask for any additional check-ins)
We will now stand by for CW check-ins, followed by your phonetic call sign, followed by your name via phone.
(Recognize CW check-ins individually)
(Go through the list and allow each station to make any comments that they
might have)
(Ask for any additional check-ins)
We will now stand by for EchoLink check-ins. Please check in now with your phonetic call sign, followed by your name.
(Recognize EchoLink check-ins individually)
(Go through the list and allow each station to make any comments that they
might have)
(Ask for any additional check-ins)
We will now stand by for general check-ins. Please check in now with your phonetic call sign, followed by your name.
(Go through the list and allow each station to make any comments that they
might have. Then ask for more check-ins. This might need to be done two
or three or more times, until there are no more check-ins.)
(Make sure you give your own call sign regularly, and allow others to ID
appropriately as well)
(Ask for any additional check-ins)
Announcements of general ham interest (these are MARC-specific examples)
- MARC meets for breakfast at the 380 & 75 location of Denny’s from 7:30 to 9:00 every Saturday morning. Denny’s address is 1615 N. Central Expressway, McKinney. It is located north of the Home Depot. Everyone is welcome.
- MARC conducts a sidewalk sale on the last Saturday of each month at the Collin College McKinney campus. Due to construction at the campus, there will be a new and temporary location for the sidewalk sale: just up the street, in front of the College Library at 2200 W. University Drive, there is a large parking area, with easy access. The sale begins about 9 AM and lasts for an hour or two. All are welcome to attend. This and other club information can be found on the club website, mckinneyarc.org.
- We will be operating a Simplex Net every Monday on 146.540 MHz. If you don’t find us there, check 146.560 MHz. We will start at 8:30 local time. Hope to hear you tomorrow on the radio.
- If anyone is interested in being Net Control for the Sunday Night Net, please contact [name]at [email] to be added to the Net Control Rotation.
At this time, we will take stations with announcements of interest to the amateur radio community in general.
(When ham operators check in initially, they may tell you if they have an
announcement for later in the Net. Make note of those who have
announcements and recognize them first.)
(Recognize each check-in individually, allowing them to make their announcement.)
Swap net (shorten this if you wish)
At this time, we wish to take check-ins for the MARC Swap Net. Please check in if you have any ham or computer gear for sale, trade, or giveaway, or if you are looking for similar items. While it is okay to mention a price, we request that you move further discussion regarding price negotiations to personal communications. Please provide a telephone number so that interested parties may contact you. Please check in now.
(Recognize each check-in individually. Write down information about each item,
as well as the telephone number, so that you can repeat it if necessary.)
Wrap-up This is [your name and call]. We wish to thank all who participated in the net this evening. This net will meet again next Sunday night at 8 PM local time on the W5MRC repeater. The McKinney Amateur Radio Club meets at Spring Creek Barbeque at 1993 North Central Expressway in McKinney, Texas at 7 PM on the second Tuesday of each month. The MARC Board of Directors meets at 8 AM on the third Saturday of the month at Creekwood United Methodist Church, 261 Country Club Road, Allen, Texas. Visitors are welcome!
Last-minute check-ins (If you’re running short on time, you may elect to skip this step)
At this time, we will ask for last-minute check-ins. Please check in now with your call sign followed by your name. If we have any additional business for this net, please come now.
Closing
Because there is no further business for this net, the W5MRC repeater is now returned to normal use. The net is now closed. Thank you for your participation. This is [your call].
| W5MRC Net Control Log sheet | |
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ARRL Resources for Learning More
ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs
https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/114292
Topics for future DMR Tech Nets:
- Go back over the Digimon feature to explain what it is, how and why to use it.
- Hot Keys. What are they, why use them, and how to set them up.
- DMR tips. Like what Steve KC8WXM mentioned to better (and faster) utilize DMR features.
- Adding or changing DMR channels via keypad programming.
- How to update your DMR contacts via RadioID.net.
- Asking check-ins what they know now that they didn’t know when they started with DMR that would be helpful to other beginners (Elmering)
- A timeline to get started of essential things to do with DMR and why.
- Which DMR radio do you use the most & why?
- Proper DMR practices & procedures to use on-air
- DMR text messaging
- Advanced features of the Anytone 878 handheld and 578 mobile radio
- Going over the different DMR networks (Brandmeister, TGIF, DMR+, YSF, etc)
- Useful radio accessories to use with your DMR equipment
- Unique names used instead of the amateur radio alpha codes
- Antennas for handheld, mobile, and home radios
- Logging software
- QSL cards Do you send them out?