> Hi Everyone, Hello! > I'd like to try checking into the CW nets on 3579. Can someone post a > schedule and include net check-in prosigns/procedures? I'v never > checked into a CW net, except for the final NJ/DE Navy MARS Net. (MARS > is now FORBIDDEN to to use CW). Oh, well, MARS stuff aside.....(20 years ago I used to do a lot of CW net things on MARS, and that sort of set my net skills, although they are a tad rusty, in official form). But, for the record, concerning the BA/GB ``Net'' (which aint really a net but IS a roundtable). GENERAL BA/GB NET Protocol and Procedures: ****************************************** 1. QRG 3579R545 KHZ QTR 0200Z until whenever (usually 0600 is the end). Note: Try to be as close to the actual QRG as possible to prevent interference to W1AW and other real traffic nets. 2. Call --- CQ BA CQ BA CQ BA DE /BA K Note: Call from on the hour to about 5 minutes after the hour, (or if you are game or a bit early or a bit late, call at any time and someone is likely to hear you). Note: Stations wishing to participate in the roundtable should return call to the calling station in long form or more appropriately in short form: long form --- DE K or short form --- DE (The short form would not need the K prosign.) Note: Call one round and one round only and then listen for other stations. If no other stations are heard, then call again a minute or so later. Under no circumstances continuously call without listening between rounds for at least a few seconds. Note: This form of call is a general call to all BA/GB stations to get the ball rolling. THE PERSON WHO MAKES THE FIRST CALL AND GETS THE BALL ROLLING IS ACTING NET CONTROL STATION, unless he station defers net control to another station, for example a big BA station running a KW that can be heard over a 2 watt Hartley oscillator. Note: The ACTING NET CONTROL STATION, if hearing other stations, should note the other stations, making a list of all the stations participating, with the ACTING NET CONTROL STATION at the top of the list. Then the acting net control station should send a wait signal and immediately request any further stations to call in and be listed. Once all stations are listed and accounted for, the acting net control station should run off the list for all other stations to copy to establish the operational sequence of stations in the roundtable. All participating stations should copy the list down and follow its sequence, passing the QRG along to each station in the list. ONCE THE LIST HAS BEEN COMPLETED, the acting net control station should send a wait signal, and then request any further stations to call in and be added to the bottom of the list. If a lot of new stations call in, then it is good practice for the net control to run of the expanded list for all stations to copy and update their lists. If only one or two new stations call in, then the net control can merely call for the new stations to follow after XXXXX station. A typical net control acknowledgement of stations signing in: DE R R A typical call for further stations might be: DE /BA AS (call net to wait) CQ BA DE /BA K (call for other stns) Then, other stations would be signed in, until all are noted. A typical list of stations might be: DE /BA BT THE FOLLOWING STNS ARE NOTED BT IM IM IM IM IM IM /BA BT Once the list is broadcast, the acting net control station may broadcast announcements, as appropriate, from time to time, and the roundtable is then started: /BA DE /BA K Then when station 1 is done, the soapbox is passed to station 2: /BA DE /BA K and on it goes for the rest of the round. The last station in the list passes control back to the acting net control station. Note: If the acting net control station gets tired and needs a break he should pass the net control along to another station who should then assume control from the top of the list, replacing the prior net control station who gets moved to the bottom of the list. It would be appropriate for the new net control station to send the wait signal, call for new stations, and update the roundtable stations list. Note: If a station wishes to QRT, the station should advise the acting net control of this and then the next time the roundtable list is sent, the acting net control will delete the QRT station and all participants should do likewise to their lists. That is basically a very loose informal ``net'' type of structure, and NOT a formal net, for sure. If there are only three or four stations, then the formalities can be tossed aside, and most of the time the protocol works fine, just passing the soapbox around. If the herd arives with a dozen stations, the someone should actively assume the net control station function to keep the thing rolling along smoothly. Usually, the station with the loudest signal should assume control. Generally, most folks meet on 3579 during the winter, although some folks try 1802R500 KHZ and some folks try 7050 KHZ. I think 160 is coming into fine form, of late, and should make for some fine roundtables. In earlier times, we tried the first hour on 40M, the second hour on 80M, and the third hour on 160M, but that made for a lot of excessive QSY'ing. I tend to think sticking on 3579R545 first, and if folks are interested, to QSY up or down to the other bands, depending upon conditions, is maybe the best way to do it. But, for the present, there are no hard and fast rules. If you prefer to run 40M, then go directly to 40M first. Someone is usually around the 40/80M QRG's anytime after dark. That about covers the basics of the very informal roundtable style BA/GB ``Net''. As you can see, it is NOT a formal net structure, but it does have some similarites thereto. Since many of our brethren are not net traffic types, well versed in proper net protocols (which can be a bit terse and cryptic and requires a bit of polish to operate well), I have always been of the opinion that the BA/GB ``Net'' should NOT be so formally structured that folks get a tad gunshy. It is supposed to be FUN, a good chance to fires ye up yer treasured glowinbottleburners, a chance to discuss the gear and what you did to get it up and running, a chance to ask for help or hints on BA/GB related topics, as well as a chance to brush up on yer operatin' skills and practices. Once in a while, when the folks are few and far between, the QRQ will run at a comfy 20-30wpm, but not too often. The standard and accepted practice is to QRQ/QRS to the speed of the slowest operator aboard, at any time in the net. Most folks use a straight sending iron, some a SLO-Bug sort of thing, and a few folks use them thar keyer automatic thingies. I be a stick-in-de-ol'-mud an' prefers one o' them thar Vibroplex thingies, with a big 50A alligator clip on her nose to tame her down a tad. If anyone should want to QRQ, a bit, nudge the acting net control along. If anyone should want to QRS, a bit, set the brakes on the net control stn. The point is, ``don't be gunshy, but do jump in to the fracas and have some fine etherburnin' time aboard the ol' BA/GB watch.'' > I'd like very much to participate in these nets now that the HW-16 is > running, and the SB-301/401 twins are on the road to recovery. Well, then, fires ye up yer bottlburners, an' readys ye yer key at the fore, cuz that thar BA/GB ``Net'' thingie has been right well participated in, of late, and a great joy to behold. Enuf, said ...... Welcome Aboard! 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP