WCRA Weekly VHF/UHF Nets

Net Schedule

Weekly Nets

Routine / Regular Nets
Day / Time	Frequency (in MHz)	Comment
Sunday 8:00pm	145.390	Net control rotates
Sunday 8:30pm^*	224.140^**	Repeater may be in PL mode - 110.9 Hz
Tuesday 8:00pm	145.390	Du Page ARES Net
Tuesday 8:30pm^*	444.475	UHF Net

^* - Net starts upon conclusion of prior net.

^** - This net is linked to the KA9KDC 444.275 MHz 70 cm repeater, which can be accessed using 114.8 Hz PL tone.

Club members and non-members are both welcome to check in. If you need information about the repeaters to program your rig, simply click on the frequency in the table above. Check-ins are followed by traffic of interest to members, and then by equipment for sale (anchors) announcements.

Special Nets

From time to time, WCRA encourages and sponsors special nets on the repeaters. Normally, these nets are associated with activities that the membership is participating in, such as Field Day, and public service events such as the Wheaton 4th of July Parade, and the Glendale Heights Parade. Please keep in mind that the public service event nets are intended to be a practical means of communication for coordinated event participants. In the interest of maintaining a positive image of Amateur Radio in the eyes of the public, and to ensure the safety of the participants, we ask that stations not directly participating in the event refrain from attempting to check in or use the repeater while the net control operator as designated by the public service coordinator has the net up. Of course, per FCC rules, emergency or priority traffic does take precedence. We also keep a list of public service events that WCRA plans to participate in on this site. Check it out and see what fun events that our members participate in!

General Information

The nets conducted on the WCRA repeaters are all, informal, directed nets, and follow a very basic format. All stations wishing to participate in a net must check in. The Net Control Station (NCS) conducts the net, and all comments and / or questions should be directed to the NCS, unless the NCS specifies otherwise.

Net Structure

All of the nets follow a similar basic sequence:

Reading of the net preamble
Mobile or Short time check-ins
Check-ins per the Roster
Late Check-ins
Passing of traffic from those stations that indicated that they had traffic at check-in
Anchors and / or other items of special interest
Last chance for late check-ins
Secure the net and return the repeater to general amateur use

The above list is a general format, and each net will have its own 'personality'. If you are new to nets, or are not sure of the appropriate protocols, listen to what the net control is saying, and what others are doing.

The Roster

The roster for each net is maintained by different volunteers within the club. Generally speaking, there are no hard requirements to be included in the net roster. The primary purpose of the roster is for the convenience of the NCS, in order to facilitate an orderly and efficient net check-in process. In general, the rosters are maintained in such a manner that stations that check in with some regularity to a net are added to the roster for that net. Conversely, stations on the net that have not checked in for several nets may be removed from the roster, in the interest of maintaining orderly and efficient net operations. In all cases, if you wish for your call sign to be added to the net roster, you are encouraged to make this request to the NCS when you check in to the net. Please keep in mind, in particular for the nets where the NCS rotates, that your call sign may not immediately show up in the roster for the next net. This is because there are multiple stations that volunteer as Net Control Stations, and updated rosters are submitted on a monthly or quarterly basis, depending on which specific net you are checking into. As an example, there are 5 rotating NCS stations that conduct the Sunday night 2 meter net. Updated rosters are distributed to each NCS station roughly once a month. That might mean that a roster with your call sign is not distributed to the NCS stations for up to 4 or 5 weeks following your request to be added to a roster.

Net Do's and Don'ts

Do's

Practice the golden rule - Do unto others as you would have done unto you!
Give your call sign distinctly and slowly when checking in. Standard phonetics are a good idea, particularly if the net control station doesn't know your radio voice.
When checking in, try not to "double" with other stations by listening carefully and 'spacing out' the check-ins.
Use a sensible amount of power to participate in the net. The minimum it takes to attain full quieting (if possible from your location) at the repeater's receiver is all you need.
Wait until called upon by the NCS to pass any traffic, anchors or comments. Though our nets are informal, they are directed by the NCS.
Remember that these nets are possible because of the WCRA members that volunteer to make it happen.

Don'ts

NEVER acknowledge or address any station that appears to be maliciously interfering with the net. Be certain that the RAB will be notified to investigate, if none of them are actually participating in the net.
Don't argue with the NCS. The NCS is responsible for running the net, and is 'in charge'.
Don't forget that this is Ham Radio, and that this is supposed to be fun!

Specific Net Information

WCRA 2 meter Sunday Night Net

Every Sunday night at 8:00 PM local time, the WCRA 2 meter repeater gets busy with the Sunday night net. The net is an informal net, but all stations must check in with net control, and all traffic is directed through net control. This is the best attended net on the WCRA repeaters, as many people check in. All licensed amateurs are welcome, and invited to check in. This net is also frequently used by club officers to communicate items of interest to the club members. If you've got time on Sunday night, stop by and check in to see what it is all about.

WCRA 222 MHz Sunday Night Net

Once the 2 meter net is done on Sunday nights, many jump over to the WCRA 222 MHz repeater, and check in to that net. As 222 MHz equipment is not as common as it used to be, Larry, KA9KDC, offers his 440 MHz repeater (444.275 MHz, 'plus' shift, PL 114.8 Hz) as a means of linking into the 222 MHz net, so that those with more common UHF equipment may join in the net. So, if you have 222 MHz gear, or 440 MHz gear, stop by and check this net out.

Du Page ARES Net

So, What is an ARES Net Anyway? Well, for starters, ARES is an acronym -- Amateur Radio Emergency Service. For a good explanation of what ARES is, check out this link. This net is well attended each Tuesday evening, but there is always room for more folks to check in, so join us if you can!

WCRA 440 MHz Tuesday Night Net

Also on Tuesday evenings, the WCRA 440 MHz (UHF) repeater crackles to life. The coverage of this machine is nothing short of exceptional, so even if you are some distance away from the intersection of I-355 and IL 56 (rough location of the WCRA 440 MHz repeater), give it a shot, it may surprise you how well this machine covers the area.

Volunteers Wanted

Have you ever thought it would be really neat to run a net? Well, why not give it a try? WCRA is always looking for more of the members to step up and do things. Running a net is a good exercise, and helps to develop strong communication skills, in addition to familiarizing oneself with structured net procedures that might be a real asset in a communications emergency. If you think you're too shy, or too nervous to do it, just think of it as a structured gab session. Lot's of rag chewers make for really good net control operators!

If you would like to volunteer as a net control operator, please contact Pat, K9JAU for the WCRA Nets, or Harry, K9HK for the Du Page ARES Net. Note that you do NOT need to be an ARES member to serve as net control on the ARES net.

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