HC ARES VHF Net Protocol
by N4COY, VHF Net Manager - January 19, 2012
VHF Net Control Roster
VHF Net Control Script
The HC-ARES VHF Net will be conducted in compliance with NH-ARES procedures, policies and requirements. Its principal purpose is training using standard procedures that would be used on an operational net; those procedures will be consistent with NH-ARES guidelines, thereby allowing seamless integration of HC-ARES and other Groups when required for mutual assistance. Net sessions will be oriented toward "hands-on" training rather than just listening.
The net meets on Monday night at 7 PM on the N1IMO system (Hollis repeater, 146.730, PL 88.5) except:
- On 3rd Monday of each month, the net meets on Nashua Repeater 147.045
- On last Monday of the second month of each Quarter, the net meets on Simplex
Stations checking in are expected to remain for the duration of the net (no "in/out" check-ins). No station will leave the net without advising Net Control.
If interference is experienced during the net, no member will acknowledge it in any way. The NCS may state "Net wait" until the interference ceases and then continue with net operations. Alternatively, NCS may direct the net to move to the Alternate Repeater or another simplex frequency.
Prior to opening the net, NCS will check if assigned Alternate is on frequency and will make a general call to determine if others need to use the repeater before the net begins.
Stations will not say "this is" and un-key before checking in.
Net is always directed which means NCS directs all communications during the net. If one station wants to talk to another, that station calls NCS to request permission. When granted by NCS, contact can be made with the other station. If two stations are having an exchange and want to contact a third station, the original exchange is closed and one of the original two must obtain permission from NCS to start an exchange with the new station. "Threesome" exchanges are not permitted.
Tactical Calls
Tactical calls are used on the training nets as they would be during a real event. The advantage of the tactical call is that no one has to remember the FCC call of any operator at any other location.
The following Tactical Calls, assigned as of 1/19/2011, are only for use on the weekly training net. Additional calls may be added in the future. Tactical callsigns for an operational net will depend on station location and will be assigned separately. Additional calls may be added in the future.
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Other stations checking into the net will be assigned Tactical Calls by the NCS, usually the city/town of the station's location followed by a sequential number, e.g. Nashua 1, Nashua 2
Net Control or Alternate Net Control are Tactical Calls
Stations from Section or other Groups will use Tactical Calls as assigned.
Preamble
Net opens with NCS identification and Net name. NCS asks for emergency or priority traffic. If there is any, the traffic is handled immediately before continuing checkins.
Checking In
Stations checking in will state FCC calls in ITU phonetics, tactical call (see "Tactical Calls" section above), location, name and if they have traffic. NCS should wait about 5 seconds after last checkin before acknowledging stations to avoid missing a call.
NCS will acknowledge all checkins by repeating FCC call, tactical call or assigning a tactical call as appropriate and if the station has traffic.
For Repeater based operations, checkins will be called in the following sequence: mobile and all others. If digitally capable, stations should state "digital".
For Simplex based operations, Net Control will make a general call for any station to enter the net. Net Control then asks for relays – any station who hears a checkin that was not acknowledged by Net Control will respond with its Tactical Call or FCC call. When called by Net Control, the relay station will provide the checkin information on any station being relayed.
Net Control will also ask selected stations to make checkin calls to ensure coverage of the entire Hillsborough ARES area.
Stations checking in will state FCC call, tactical call, location, name, and if they have traffic. NCS should wait about five seconds after last checkin before acknowledging.
Listing Traffic
NCS always asks at start of net for emergency traffic and handles any immediately. If during the net, a station has emergency traffic to pass, that station calls NCS at any time the frequency is clear.
If a station has traffic, it will state "Traffic" during checkin.
After checkins are completed, Net Control will poll stations with traffic.
Stations will reply, giving the precedence, destination, mode (digital or voice), as appropriate. For example:
- For real, non-training messages: One routine voice for ________
- For training messages: One test routine digital for _________
Allowable Traffic Precedences are:
- For real traffic: Routine, Welfare, Priority, Emergency
- For training traffic: Test Routine, Test Welfare, Test Priority, Test Emergency
Net Control will pair up senders and receivers of traffic. Receiving station always calls the sender to initiate contact. Voice messages will be passed on net frequency or may be directed to the backup repeater or simplex. Digital messages will be passed on 144.950 or as otherwise directed by NCS
Training
Each station is expected to bring at least one training message to each net session: VOICE (ARRL Radiogram or ICS 213 with ARRL header ) and / or DIGITAL (ICS message). Content of message can be very simple; “I have 10 inches of snow in back yard” or it can be complicated with extensive use of acronyms, numbers, etc. to challenge both the sender and receiver. Training messages can be digital or voice – make up a destination and NCS will pick a station to receive it.
Prowords
The following Prowords will be used during net operations. Use of these prowords minimizes “dead-time” during net operations while one station waits to make sure the person who was speaking is now ready to listen or is done.
- Over signifies, when you are in a conversation with another station(s), that you are done talking for the moment and it is the other station’s turn to speak. "Over" = "It’s your turn to speak"
- Clear signifies that you are done with the current conversation and have no more to say but will continue to monitor the frequency
- Out signifies that you are leaving the frequency (e.g. QSYing to another to pass traffic)
Prowords associated with message handling can be found on ARRL form FSD-220 which can be downloaded from ARRL.org or the NH-ARES.org website Forms page as well as the HCARES Training page on the web site.
Net Etiquette
Stations will not make on-the-air corrections, nor make criticisms of or disparaging comments about any individual, group or process by name, callsign or other identifier. Email is the accepted media for negative comments and will be sent to the VHF Net Manager for appropriate action. The N1IMO system covers a large area of NH and such comments can be heard by many.
When queried by NCS during a training session, constructive comments may be made for the benefit of all as regards message handling, for example speed of transmission, use of prowords, or format.
Although we are "amateurs," we must to be "professional" during our training nets so we can be "professional" on operational nets involving our served agencies.
Net Control
Each VHF net will have a Net Control and Alternate Net Control station.
The Net Control is responsible for managing net activities and traffic movement.
The Alternate Net Control Function is, especially on a real-event net, to periodically relieve the Net Control or to continue the net in case Net Control goes-off-the-air.
The Alternate will be the scheduled Net Control station for the next weekly session.
Net Report
Within 24 hours after each net session, the Net Control will provide a report to the Hillsborough EC and the VHF Net Manager. This report will, at a minimum, list those stations that checked in, any station that closed early, any station that did not respond when called, stations passing and receiving traffic and Net closing time. New stations heard will show town as well.
The report will be of the following format:
NET REPORT 1.24.11 _________ NCS 146.730 7:00PM-7:30PM6 CHECK INS
N1MEO – FLETCH -ASEC MARS
KB1PYB - MARK - HCARES AEC
WD4JZO – HCARES EC
K1RHM- RON - GMARES EC
N1XUX- LARRY
Notes:
(Stations that did not respond when called, traffic passed by ____ to _____, other comments)
updated February 3, 2012