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NCS Procedures


Net Policies and Procedures for Net Control Stations Guidelines, policies, and procedures for all of the Net Controllers and what is expected of them to in operating their assigned duties.

GUIDELINES FOR NET CONTROL OPERATORS

The Manager and Net Control Stations (NCS) have complete authority over net operations. The Intercon Net is a controlled net. It is the responsibility of each Net Control Station to be polite, patient, confident, and should keep traffic running smoothly.

ADHERENCE TO NET POLICY

Net Control Stations have the prerogative to acknowledge whomever they wish and to determine what traffic will be run. However, Net Control Stations MUST adhere to net policy. For example, if the net has adopted a policy of not accepting traffic from a station that has a long history of interference with net operations, it is incumbent upon Net Control Stations to follow this policy. When you are off net frequency, operating on your own, do as you will. But, while you are acting as an Intercon Net Control Station, you should respect the policies of the net to the letter.

FCC RULE BOOK

Have a copy of the FCC Rule Book available. In our society today, we are involved with rule making as well as rule obeying and amateur radio is no exception. Some of the interpretations of FCC rules that you may hear, may or may not be acceptable to you. In order to avoid being hoodwinked by someone else’s erroneous interpretations, you should have the accurate list of FCC rules before you to help you make your own informed decision. If someone challenges your operation, you can tell him you will talk to him, off frequency, after you are relieved as Net Control. Do not allow controversy to interrupt the operation of the net.

PROCEDURES

The Net Control Station should know and understand net procedures well. Be confident, firm, polite, and let people know that you are in control. When you respond to a check-in, use his call-sign. When the net is busy you will have doubling and tripling and it will sound like a bee-hive. Possibly the only way a station will hear you is if you use his complete call sign. Use standard phonetics when you do it. Just using someone’s name, “There’s Bob! Hi, Bob, Good Morning!”, is not very informative to the other stations on the net, who because of propagation, cannot hear Bob and have no idea which “Bob” you are talking to.

ORDER FOR CHECK-INS

Net Controls should follow some kind of order when asking for check-ins. If you have a beam, swing it around periodically. Ask for check-ins from anyone outside the continental limits of the USA. You are running an Intercontinental Network. Terminology and procedure comes with practice so don’t be afraid to listen and try.

LOGS

Net Controls should keep a running log of check-ins who want to “be listed”. If a check-in does not immediately contact his or her desired station or area, ask if they want to be listed, and if so, for how long a time. If they say yes, you should periodically put out a call for the destination station. Do not forget about the stations who have asked to be listed. The FCC no longer requires the logging of amateur operation. You are well advised, however to keep a record of unusual check-ins as well as any emergencies in which you are involved. These might include a controversy, a questionable call-sign or some specific information you will want to remember.

LISTS

When you are busy, take check-ins in the form of Lists. In other words, don’t just recognize the first or loudest station that you hear and begin to talk with him or her. Always ask if there are further check-ins before going back to the first station you heard to ask if he or she has traffic to pass. This lets any other stations trying to check in know they are heard. Stations waiting to join the Net will not mind waiting on a list if they are confident they will be called eventually.

AUTOMATION

Do not EVER leave the net in automation. If things get so slow you can’t stand it, play a tape of yourself calling the net and then standby and listen. NEVER USE A KNOWN INTERFERER AS A RELAY.
GUIDELINES FOR QRU & QRV STATIONS (This Is On Net Protocol Page Also)
Do not call “RELAY” until the net control asks for check-ins. If the Net Control Station is in the midst of handling traffic and some station that he/she cannot hear tries to check into the net, DO NOT interrupt Net Control by shouting “RELAY”! Wait until Net Control completes what is presently occupying him. Transmit only to the Net Control Station. Also refrain from doing double Net Relays on the net if at all possible. If Net Control cannot hear someone saying “RELAY,” and you must do a Double Relay ALWAYS ASK Net Control for permission before telling someone else to go ahead with a relay. No RELAY STATION should start asking for stations to come into the Net for checkins without prior instructions from the Net Control Operator. Side comments to other stations are OUT OF ORDER.

WHEN HANDLING FOREIGN THIRD PARTY TRAFFIC, GIVE HIS CALL SIGN WHEN YOU RESPOND AS WELL AS YOUR OWN.

The net frequency is wherever the Net Control Station is. Zero-beat the Net Control Station. Given the accuracy of modern rigs, there is no excuse for someone being off frequency to the extent that is sometimes heard. Remember that occasionally, the Net Control Station will move a few hundred Hz just to minimize interference from an adjoining frequency. Do not assume that you know better than the Net Control where the net should be. Always check your RIT-XIT control to be sure that it is off.

DECISIONS FORMULATED BY MANAGEMENT

Any station holding 3 or more slots as a Net Control Station will be required to release one or more if a new Net Control is obtained and there are no vacancies available.
Incoming Net Control Stations should show the acting Net Control the courtesy of checking in about 10 minutes before his/her time is up so that they know you are there.
No one is to take upon themselves the opportunity to do anything in the name of the net unless authorized by the manager.
When you know you can’t make your slot, use one of the relief personnel and let someone on the net know by asking for relief for your slot. If you can’t do that, then call or email Alan K1ALL and he will make the proper arrangements for coverage. Net Control Operators or Relief Operators should be prepared to take a slot when the scheduled Net Control does not show up. If you are a Net Control and a check-in just wants to say “hello”, ask that station to put out a call for you, or relay to give them experience and perhaps gain a new net control.
Anyone wishing to be a net control should relay for about 2-4 weeks to get the feel of things.
The management, in order to make things easier for the NCS, asks that any net control having difficulties or needing training or assistance in making a decision should ask for help from the management ONLY. To often wrong info is given and this makes for more problems.

INTERNATIONAL THIRD PARTY TRAFFIC

Always have before you the list of countries with which we share reciprocal and/or third-party agreements. There are restrictions on international nets. Third party traffic can only be handled with countries with which the USA has a third party agreement. Phone patches are simply one method of passing third party traffic and when a check-in wants a patch to or from someone in a country with which we do not have a third party agreement, the Net Control Station must advise that this cannot be done.

Net Preamble

This is to be read at the opening session in the morning at 07:00 ET only.
This is the opening session of the Intercon Net. Intercon is a directed and controlled net that meets on 14.300.00 mHz from 07:00 a.m. until Noon Eastern Time daily. My call sign is _______________ and my name is _______________. I am located in ___________________. Please aim your beam in my direction as I will be your Net Control for the next hour.
The purpose of this Net:
1) Is to serve and promote good will among amateurs around the world without transmitting illegal traffic.
2) To handle third-party traffic where permitted by treaty or mutual agreement of our respective countries.
3) To provide a means of emergency communications when normal means are disrupted or where telecommunications are not available from a particular location.
4) By being a contact frequency where amateurs may contact each other.
AT THIS TIME IS THERE ANY EMERGENCY, MEDICAL OR PRIORITY TRAFFIC?
The Net Manager Alan Lewis – K1ALL. He will be very happy to answer your questions or tell you how you could become a Net Control Operator.
CLOSING YOUR NET
In closing at the end of your scheduled hour, it is courteous to thank your relays and all stations who helped with the net. Announce that you are now turning the net over to ______________ in ______________. Please favor him/her with your beam.