Contents
NET PROCEDURE FOR MARI
Net Opening:
The net is opened 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 – Check in now
Station Check in:
To check in to the net send a single Morse letter of your choosing.
For example, a station checking in sends the letter: F
The NCS acknowledges by sending same letter: F
Option1: If station checking in has no traffic then it sends:
DE N1TF GE QRU
Translation:
DE – N1TF GE This is N1TF Good Evening
QRU – I have no traffic
Option 2: If station checking in has traffic then it sends (for example):
DE N1TF QTC WORCESTER 1 FALL RIVER 1 THRU 2 AR
Translation:
DE – N1TF This is N1TF
QTC – I have traffic. Then list each city/town and the number of messages.
THRU – Any traffic going beyond Massachusetts and Rhode Island is listed as THRU
AR – End of message
The NCS will acknowledge with:
N1TF GE FRED R AS
Translation:
N1TF GE FRED N1TF – Good evening Fred
R – Roger I have your message list
AS – Morse *-*** (AS as one character) meaning WAIT please
If you are new to the net, the 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, the NCS may list the traffic and ask if anyone can deliver it.
Example:
MARI QNC QNW WORCESTER? (NCS pauses for a response) FALL RIVER? (NCS pauses for a response)
Translation:
QNC – Entire net please copy the following
QNW – How do I route traffic for (City/Town)?
If a station can route (deliver) 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)
and so on…
When routing has been determined, and if things are slow, traffic is exchanged on the net frequency. The NCS will ask the sending station to call the receiving station and send the traffic.
If the net is very busy, the 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.
Example:
NCS SENDS: N1TF QNK WORCESTER W1RVY HR
Translation:
N1TF Call W1RVY and if QRV (ready to copy), send Worcester here.
Alternatively, some NCS stations will use plain language:
NCS SENDS: N1TF PLS SEND WORCESTER TO W1RVY HERE
The 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 (receiving station) – QNY (goes down 3 khz or nearest clear frequency and calls N1TF)
N1TF (sending station) – responds with QRV? (are you ready to copy?)
W1RVY (receiving station) – acknowledges QRV and N1TF begins sending traffic.
Leaving The Net:
Unless there is an emergency, stay on net frequency until excused by the NCS.
Example:
NCS sends N1TF
N1TF responds with HR or a dit or dah with the key
NCS sends TU FRED QNX 73 GE
Translation – Thank you Fred. You are excused from the net. 73 and good evening.
N1TF sends DE N1TF 73 GE
When all traffic has been passed and all stations excused NCS sends:
MARI NW QNF GE DE KW1U GE