NET CALL-UP PROCEDURE FOR MARI
The net is called up by the NCS at 1900 with the following (or similar) script:
CQ MARI CQ MARI DE KW1U QND QNZ MARI QNI K
Translation:
CQ MARI Calling the Mass Rhode Island Net
QND The net is directed
QNZ Please zero beat (tune to signal of NCS)
QNI K Check in now Go ahead
To check in, send a single morse letter of your choosing. For example, station checking in sends letter:
F
NCS acknowledges by sending same letter F
Station checking in then sends:
DE N1TF GE QRU
Translation:
This is N1TF Good Evening I have no traffic
If station checking in has traffic send
DE N1TF QTC WORCESTER 1 FALL RIVER 1 THRU 2 AR
Translation:
This is N1TF I have traffic for Worcester 1 Fall River 1 Thru 2 (messages going beyond the net’s coverage area) End this transmission
NCS will acknowledge with
N1TF GE FRED R AS (AS – run together as one character)
Translation:
N1TF Good evening Fred Roger your message list. Please wait
If you are new to the net, NCS may ask you for your name and QTH.
Routing Traffic
At some point, after everyone has checked in that is going to check in, NCS may list the traffic and ask if anyone can deliver it. Example:
MARI QNC QNW WORCESTER? (NCS pauses for a response) FALL RIVER? (pause for a response)
Translation:
QNC Entire net please copy the following
QNW How do I route traffic for (City/Town)?
If a station can handle the traffic, they will identify with their call sign (abbreviated). Example:
NCS SENDS: MARI QNC QNW WORCESTER? (NCS pauses for a response)
W1RVY SENDS: RVY
NCS SENDS: RVY R
NCS SENDS: QNW FALL RIVER? (NCS pauses for a response)
Etc.
If you can handle any listed traffic send the suffix of your callsign after NCS sends QNW for that city/town.
When routing has been determined, NCS will then ask the sending station to call the receiving station and send the traffic. If the net is very busy, NCS may ask that both stations QSY (move) a few KC’s UP or DOWN from the NCS frequency. Typically we start with DOWN 3 and may use UP 3 if we’re loaded with traffic. If things are slow, traffic is exchanged on the net frequency. Example:
NCS SENDS: N1TF QNK WORCESTER W1RVY
Translation:
N1TF Call W1RVY and if QRV (ready to copy), send Worcester here.
Alternatively, some NCS stations will use plain language:
NCS SENDS: N1TF SEND WORCESTER TO W1RVY HERE
NCS may send two stations off frequency to pass traffic. Example:
NCS SENDS W1RVY (receiving station) N1TF (sending station) QNY down 3 Worcester
Translation: W1RVY as receiving station change frequency to down 3 khz or nearest clear frequency and call N1TF
N1TF responds with QRV? (are you ready to copy?)
W1RVY acknowledges QRV and N1TF begins sending traffic.
Leaving the net
Unless there is an emergency, stay on net frequency until excused by NCS. Example:
NCS sends N1TF
N1TF responds with HR (Here) (or sends a dit or dah to acknowledge.
NCS sends TU Fred QNX 73
Translation: Thank you Fred You are excused from the net. 73
When all traffic has been passed and all stations excused NCS sends:
MARI NW QNF GE DE KW1U
MARI now secured Good Evening from KW1U