Net Control Operation

Preparation

You will need paper for notes, two or more pens, the latest issue of the club roster with club members listed in ascending order by call sign suffix--you may request this from the club treasurer. On occasion on-going club activities may require you to call club officers or staff members for topics of discussion or announcements. Most importantly of all relax, speak slowly, keep it short and simple, and don't repeat yourself.

Opening

The net is opened with the following statement:

QST, QST, QST, this is <your call sign> calling all radio amateurs to participate in the regularly scheduled Sunday night 2 m net of the Boeing Employees' Amateur Radio Society, or BEARS net. This is a general interest net and is open to all radio amateurs. I will be you net control operator tongiht. My call, once again is <your call sign given alphabetically and phonetically>, and my name is <state your name and spell it phonetically>. Before giving the announcements and calling for check-ins, is there any emergency traffic for the net? Please call now...

At this point pause for a few moments before moving on. There is almost never any emergency traffic. This statement is in recognition that one of the amateur service's primary principles is the provision of emergency communication services to the public. If someone responds, recognize them immediately and call for their traffic. This now takes priority until completed--the net will have to wait.

Check-Ins

If there is no emergency traffic, pick it up again and call for check-ins with the following statement:

Hearing none we will proceed with check-ins. Anyone wishing to check into the BEARS net, please call now with you call sign and first name.

If you like, you can provide separate calls for short-time check-ins (those stations without traffic for the net) and regular check-ins (those with traffic). This is a personal preference. Most stations will indicate if they are short-time when they check in.

 

Pause occasionally and acknowledge each check-in with their name and call sign. As you acknowledge check-ins, request confirmation on any questionable information. This is where the roster comes in handy. Once all stations wishing to check in have been recognized, you are ready to proceed with the announcements.

Announcements

Begin by stating the following:

I will now proceed with the announcements, there will be an opportunity for additional check-ins later in the net. There are <indicate the number of announcements> tonight.

Refering to your notes, make the announcements. Annoumcements typically relate to matters of club activites or business (e.g., meeting reminders). However, they can also put information on the table for consideration for each check-in prior to their traffic. Other examples of announcements include upcoming hamfests, public service activities, etc...

Run the List

Beginning with the top of this list, call each check-in to provide their traffic. Once this list has been run, call for late check-ins:

Are there any additional stations wishing to check into the BEARS net, please call now with your call sign and first name.

Run the new list and repeat as necessary.

Final Call

Provide an opportunity for stations to provide final comments or ask questions:

Anyone with additional comments or questions for the BEARS net, please call now and wait to be recognized.

Recognize callers in order received.

 

Make one last call for check-ins, comments, or questions.

Closing

Give the total number of check-ins, thank everyone for participating, and close the net with the following statement:

I now call the net to a close. The repeater is returned to normal use.