Expo Portal Ham Radio Net - 15 Jan 2008 @ 19:00 PST
- Thread starter crawler#976
- Start date
1leg
Explorer
I would like to thank everyone for being on the net tonight. It was very interesting and I learned alot Mark(KE7IXX) Did a great job.
I Have a few questions about Nets. Remember I'm a new ham!!!
From listening to a few other net I wonder if we need so much protocol.
Correct me if I'm wrong. After checking into the net with your Call and Handle(name) you only need to say your call once an hour?
Other nets also do a round table and don't send back to net control after each comment. If we used our Handles(names) it would be easier to just pass to the next person on the list. It would make the communication more efficient and make life easier on net control.
No disrespect meant by my comments. I enjoyed the net and will continue to join in. :26_7_2:
I Have a few questions about Nets. Remember I'm a new ham!!!
From listening to a few other net I wonder if we need so much protocol.
Correct me if I'm wrong. After checking into the net with your Call and Handle(name) you only need to say your call once an hour?
Other nets also do a round table and don't send back to net control after each comment. If we used our Handles(names) it would be easier to just pass to the next person on the list. It would make the communication more efficient and make life easier on net control.
No disrespect meant by my comments. I enjoyed the net and will continue to join in. :26_7_2:
1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
sorry I couldn't get on the net...I had my radio in my scrubs back pocket which drew some eyes 
however from the second I walked thru the door it was 9 ICU holds and pts holding in surgery...still crazy now but at least I am able to sit next to a pt for a bit
Filling out the next schedule tonight and trying to get every other tues off
however from the second I walked thru the door it was 9 ICU holds and pts holding in surgery...still crazy now but at least I am able to sit next to a pt for a bitFilling out the next schedule tonight and trying to get every other tues off
mr r2fj
Adventurer
1leglance said:sorry I couldn't get on the net...I had my radio in my scrubs back pocket which drew some eyes
Filling out the next schedule tonight and trying to get every other tues off
Lance you may want to check the repeaters in your area and encourage the owners to reestablish their IRLP link. I found that most of the ones listed in the phoenix area were down unfortunately.
Angel?
Adventurer
Thanks KE7IXX Mark for acting as net control.
I enjoyed participating in the net (and in this forum). Thanks to KI6ELZ, Michael, for taliking me through the process of IRPL linking. Thanks to all that joined, and thanks for the explanations of cross-band repeater function.
Because I was a late check-in (local connecting node was not clear of traffic at the start), I did not hear whether it was a directed net, so reverted to that protocol (most nets I participate in are directed nets, where your callsign is used at start and end of your turn, and all is handed through net control).
I too am a new ham, and thought at first directed nets were a bit formal - yet I learned they are very efficient and all get a chance to talk. And yes, they are remain bit formal compared to normal conversation until you get used to them. That said, I am open to any way the group decides is the best way to operate the net.
I also apologize for not staying the full net and an early check-out - I had an ARES net check-in at 7:45 this eve.
Looking forward to participating in future nets! Did we come up with some ideas for future net subjects?
Cheers and 73 de W6CRH, Cal
I enjoyed participating in the net (and in this forum). Thanks to KI6ELZ, Michael, for taliking me through the process of IRPL linking. Thanks to all that joined, and thanks for the explanations of cross-band repeater function.
Because I was a late check-in (local connecting node was not clear of traffic at the start), I did not hear whether it was a directed net, so reverted to that protocol (most nets I participate in are directed nets, where your callsign is used at start and end of your turn, and all is handed through net control).
I too am a new ham, and thought at first directed nets were a bit formal - yet I learned they are very efficient and all get a chance to talk. And yes, they are remain bit formal compared to normal conversation until you get used to them. That said, I am open to any way the group decides is the best way to operate the net.
I also apologize for not staying the full net and an early check-out - I had an ARES net check-in at 7:45 this eve.
Looking forward to participating in future nets! Did we come up with some ideas for future net subjects?
Cheers and 73 de W6CRH, Cal
Angel?
Adventurer
1leg said:
Jerry, darn, this ham thing has a long history, its own language, and its own well-established methods that work. Kind of like baseball! I am learning so much every day I feel like I am drinking from a firehose -and that is a lot of fun! After hearing it a bit, and a bit more, and participating, it does start to gel. What is great is that every ham I met on the air or in person is willing to help you learn the ropes - they all have been there themselves and got help from others before them. Kind of like those in this forum. Cheers, Cal
crawler#976
Expedition Leader
Hi Guys!
Great turnout last night! Thanks to ever one for spending time on the net!
We use a directed net to keep dead air to a minimum. Our original meetings were open, and we found it was difficult to keep up continuity or good flow. Most nets are directed for that reason.
If you recall, once we went around to all the folks that checked in and had answered any questions, I switched the format to a more open format to solicit comments, and we had dead air if no one spoke up.
Mark
Great turnout last night! Thanks to ever one for spending time on the net!
We use a directed net to keep dead air to a minimum. Our original meetings were open, and we found it was difficult to keep up continuity or good flow. Most nets are directed for that reason.
If you recall, once we went around to all the folks that checked in and had answered any questions, I switched the format to a more open format to solicit comments, and we had dead air if no one spoke up.
Mark
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
I think what he's asking is more about the format of the net as in the way the recognized station is handled. Some nets do a round-robin, so stations hand off to the next station and others return control to the net controller after each TX. What we had last night was sort of a combination, sometimes control was handed back to you and sometimes the talking station called the next station. I don't think anyone objected and it seemed pretty organized anyway. But when net control opens the floor, so to speak, no one wants to talk over anyone else I think. Ultimately it's up to the net control to decide how he wants the net to run and I think Mark did a fine job.crawler#976 said:
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Gear
Explorer, Overland Certified OC0020
Thanks Mark(KE7IXX)
I had a great time. Your positive flow on the air was a warm welcome to a new ham. I talked to Jerry after we exited the net and I think what he is trying to say is once you open up the net and introduce everyone with there call signs. Can we drop the call sign usage and use screen names or first names to help out the net controller as well as increase chat. Both Jerry and I thought we read some where that you only need to use your call sign at the beginning and the end of a controlled net. Is this correct?
Thanks again!!!
Justin (KI6MUG)
I had a great time. Your positive flow on the air was a warm welcome to a new ham. I talked to Jerry after we exited the net and I think what he is trying to say is once you open up the net and introduce everyone with there call signs. Can we drop the call sign usage and use screen names or first names to help out the net controller as well as increase chat. Both Jerry and I thought we read some where that you only need to use your call sign at the beginning and the end of a controlled net. Is this correct?
Thanks again!!!
Justin (KI6MUG)
Cabrito
I come in Peace
More thoughts on the net
Yep that was me who tried to instigate a “round robin” when I handed it over to Dave in Denver – The round robin thing can work but everyone has to know who they follow and who they hand off to or else they have to hand it back to the net control station to get it to the next in line. For practice I try to write down all the check-in call signs and keep a list going just in case.
I think during nets you should use your call sign each time. I have not heard any nets that do otherwise. The net control station is keeping everything together by call signs so if you don’t use it he could get lost. That is just my opinion. My experience is that folks that are just chatting don’t use their call but once every so often for ID like mentioned above.
One question I have is about the duration time. Do we really need a whole hour? Most nets that I participate in around SF don’t usually last more than a half hour or so.
..
Yep that was me who tried to instigate a “round robin” when I handed it over to Dave in Denver – The round robin thing can work but everyone has to know who they follow and who they hand off to or else they have to hand it back to the net control station to get it to the next in line. For practice I try to write down all the check-in call signs and keep a list going just in case.
I think during nets you should use your call sign each time. I have not heard any nets that do otherwise. The net control station is keeping everything together by call signs so if you don’t use it he could get lost. That is just my opinion. My experience is that folks that are just chatting don’t use their call but once every so often for ID like mentioned above.
One question I have is about the duration time. Do we really need a whole hour? Most nets that I participate in around SF don’t usually last more than a half hour or so.
..
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
You have to identify your station every 10 minutes for the FCC. I feel it's courtesy to the net controller or other stations to give your call sign in a situation like this where your voice and name aren't necessarily intuitive to everyone. I've talked to Mark before and if it was just the two if us, I'd probably just say his name during conversation. But if it's a 2-party contact, you typically want to use the other station's call sign when you ID yourself so that a breaking or monitoring station that comes in late will know what's going on. I also wrote down all the call signs and names that were on the net last night, I'm terrible with remembering them.
crawler#976
Expedition Leader
I'm bad with both calls and names...I'm afraid mixing forum names in with the other two would be a disaster With new folks joining every week, I think it's best we keep using calls. We also have at least 3 other forums participating: 4wdtrips, Ih8mud, and Rising Sun.
I did some quick checking, and as far as I can tell, the only time you don't need to ID regularly is on a special event where tactical call signs are being used.
I think for now we'll maintain the hour we have reserved. Last night it took roughly 10 minutes to get the net started and roll called, and as we get more members involved, we'll need the time to get around the group to discuss the topic. That said, if we run out of things to say, we can certainly call it an evening!
Mark
With new folks joining every week, I think it's best we keep using calls. We also have at least 3 other forums participating: 4wdtrips, Ih8mud, and Rising Sun.I did some quick checking, and as far as I can tell, the only time you don't need to ID regularly is on a special event where tactical call signs are being used.
I think for now we'll maintain the hour we have reserved. Last night it took roughly 10 minutes to get the net started and roll called, and as we get more members involved, we'll need the time to get around the group to discuss the topic. That said, if we run out of things to say, we can certainly call it an evening!
Mark