Quick update: Due to the season change, we're shifting the net back to the
20M guard frequency (14067.5 USB + 1500). If 20M is bad, try 40M (7112 USB + 1500).

As we've built some experience with digital operations, the primary 40M net frequency has turned
into a "guard" channel many here watch every day from 2300Z-0200Z. After a month of this, it became clear we
needed a daytime guard channel as well, so from about 1800Z - 2300Z the 20M guard frequency
is monitored. For several of us, the word "ARFCOM" triggers alarms at our
stations, so if you CQ ARFCOM those of us with automatic monitors will get notified right away.
It's an easy way to get a QSO or to coordinate with other hams here. At least a couple of us are working
from home, so we're around, but work may prevent us from answering, but odds are better than 80% you'll
reach someone.

The quick and dirty details of the guard channels are:
20M 1800Z-2300Z, Olivia 16/500 on 14067.5 USB + 1500
40M 2300Z-0200Z, Olivia 16/500 on 7112 USB +1500


Please remember the magic word "ARFCOM" rings bells, so try to avoid using that (or say
ARF COM) during a QSO so those of us monitoring don't get too many false alarms.

Our regularly scheduled net is on Wednesdays at 0100Z (for now.)

The next scheduled net is April 4, 2012 at 0000Z. Due to daylight saving time,
we've shifted an hour on UTC so it's not too late on the east coast. We'll see
if this schedule sticks and how propagation is. We should call for additional
check ins at 0100Z for west coast stations.

Net control floats among those with good signals. I should be present to be the
starting NC tomorrow.

The last few weeks we've stayed on 40M as it's open during the net times and
80M isn't quite open yet, so 80M remains a backup.

Here's hoping that we have better signals this week. Last week kinda sucked.

We're going to stick with the primary and secondary bands for now in addition to
band frequencies. 40M is the primary band, 80M the secondary, and then each band has its own
primary/secondary frequencies. In relative given propagation conditions, the net would likely switch
to 80M at 0300Z or so, but if 40M holds up, we'll stay, and if it dies early, we'll move.

Typically the next lasts for an hour to an hour and a half, starts with check ins
and then moves to a round robin where each station gets to share a short little
personal news item, signal reports and/or weather.

Starting 0100Z/2000ET:

Primary band 40M ARFCOM digital guard channel and net frequency
Mode: Olivia 16/500
Primary Frequency: 7112KHz USB + 1500 waterfall
Alternate Frequency 7036 USB + 1500


Secondary band 80M ARFCOM digital net frequency
Mode: Olivia 16/500
Primary Frequency: 3586KHz USB + 1500 waterfall
Alternate Frequency: 3577KHz USB + 1500 waterfall

and, as a reminder, the daytime guard channel is not used for nets, and has no alternate:
Mode: Olivia 16/500
Primary Frequency: 14067.5KHz USB + 1500 waterfall

Olivia 16/500 is a slow digital mode, but very reliable, so it remains the main mode we use.
When conditions permit, we move to higher speed modes, Contestia 16/500 being the next
step up in speed from Olivia. If you're joining the net late or just listening in to the guard
channel, you might want to check this thread for the current mode if you're not decoding Olivia.

Short but sweet digital operating guide:

#1, don't stress, these little rules are just to make things faster and easier,
you're among friends and we all make little mistakes all the time. Join in!

Rig setup:
- Olivia/Contestia is always USB, even on 80/40M.
- Digital is a 100% mode, run your power low or your transmitter gets toasty. 25-30W suggested.
- Clean up your radio: turn off compression and DSP features. Turn off IF shifts, ideally we want you within a few Hertz on frequency.

Operating:
- On slow modes like Olivia, keep it short (one or two liners, like a short text message)
- This is a net, we pause frequently to allow stations to check in
- for initial contact send a long enough string for us to figure out who you are,
we suggest a few periods "..." your call twice and the prosign QRU.
- Start your transmission with "....." to give the modems RXing you time to sync.
- Use your type ahead buffer (if you know how to use it without transmitting on top of someone else )
- Abbreviate and use prosigns. Optionally use lower case, which is faster on Olivia. Examples below:

Initial call from net control (if nothing heard 5 min in, you can issue this call as well):
cq cq arfcom de n7xyz n7xyz
cq cq arfcom de n7xyz n7xyz
pse check in, format
"... callsign callsign QRU kn ."
QNI pse k .

(Note the pse "please" and K, the prosign for end of call/anyone respond, the space and "." after the K are optional but give a cleaner print.
Those fancy Q-signals? QNI is a call to check into the net, and QRU is what you say to check in with no traffic.)

Respond to net control in the requested format:

... wa1abc wa1abc QRU kn .

Note that other stations may also be responding, so watch the waterfall and avoid
transmitting if someone else is. You are encouraged to respond to check ins after
you see the call, or see another station check in. It brings happiness to net control
to stare at a list of callsigns without answering every single call.

Net control, if he hears you will answer:

... wa1abc de n7xyz 90% copy. Other stations pse check in now QNI de n7xyz k .

This process will continue until everyone net control can hear is checked in.
Here's how you can help! Follow along with the check ins, noting the calls you hear. At some point net control will list the stations in net:

... arfcom de n7xyz copy WA1ABC N5JKL KA3LMN KB9OPQ. Please relay stations not heard now de n7xyz k .

At this point WA1ABC heard K7YZ, net control did not:

... n7xyz de wa1abc relay K7YZ kn .

net control will answer:

... wa1abc de n7xyz K7YZ on net, you will relay. Any more relays check in de n7xyz k .

Once done, net control provides a final list:

... arfcom de n7xyz copy WA1ABC N5JKL KA3LMN KB9OPQ K7YZ. WA1ABC is up, ga de n7xyz k .

And WA1ABC will now say his short little message:

... arfcom de wa1abc wx is 42 and snowy, N5JKL is s9+20 here. btu de wa1abc k .

and net control will do the same for the next station:

... arfcom de n7xyz N5JKL is up, ga de n7xyz k .

and so on.. when we get to the relays:

... arfcom de n7xyz WA1ABC please relay K7YZ ga de n7xyz kn .

and WA1ABC sends:

... k7yz de wa1abc you are up, ga de wa1abc kn .

and K7YZ sends his short message, when he is done, wa1abc relays:

... n7xyz de wa1abc K7ZX says your antenna sucks net control de wa1abc kn .

and then net control passes on to other stations as needed.


Key points in all this:

(Note the "... " lead in to let modem sync, the short transmissions, btu="back to you" and "kn" prosign, which means wa1abc is asking
for only n7xyz to respond. n7xyz responds and then asks for other check ins)

See you all on the net soon!

See Y'all tonight. Going out and see what critters I can blast today.

I am going to try to check in tonight if I am home....I have been extremely busy the last few months. 3 jobs tends to take up a bit of my spare time.

LOL. Actually I think we just need a "how to use the buffer" class.

For those so inclined, I've started up WSPR on 40M to generate some data in the hour prior to the net.
Feel happy to light up WSPR to help warm things up.

T-40 minutes.

Im ready.......................I think.
Got my antenna(s) up and computer dialed in.

Hope I can remember how to do this.

OK, N7xxx is on frequency, 7112, olivia 16/500.

I have S9 noise across the entire band, including the alternates. I think it's natural noise levels, wow.

open to pre-net turning and diagnostics.

Got two stations on top of each other.

noise at S7 here just sent test msg for tuning purposes..

N7 station, 100% copy, thanks!!!

CW moved in and messed it up..

He'll relocate, we were on freq first and it's going to be noisy tonight :D

I copied a standing by but no call, I think it was a KC2.