NET PROCEDURE

NET PROCEDURE

MEMBER INSTRUCTIONS

01 JANUARY 2008

Discussion:

In accordance with the Tri-Service SOP, 22 November 2007, posted on the region web site, the procedural changes for the region one HF voice nets take affect on 1 January 2008, beginning with the first net that date. There are some major format changes and several procedural changes which I will outline in the following paragraphs. You are urged to read the SOP and absorb the meaning and direction provided therein.

The “Tri-Service SOP” is the first step in bringing all three MARS services operational methods together. This is very important since the MARS mission has evolved from three independent services performing similar support to their parent service to it’s present form. MARS now acts as a single entity in providing HF communications capability to DHS, FEMA and other governmental entities, local, state and federal. This means that no matter which MARS service is the focal point for initial support there will be a seamless involvement of support from all services as needs develop.

If you have joined the SHARES community you will recognize much of the methods, protocols and operational nuances in the SOP. Accordingly the “new” MARS nets will be “down to business,” no frill and all business military style networks. Our region one nets will take on that form with the first net in operation on 1 January 2008. The net times remain unchanged, however the structured opening and closing procedures and protocols (script) are deleted.. Also dispense with the words “please,” “thank you,” pleasantries. The NCS’s have been instructed to remind members to use proper (military) protocol and proword(s) at all times. We realize that most of us will slip and the transition will take some time, but our goal is to go from our “folksy ham radio” style to “all business” structured military HF nets. I’m confident you will be proud of the “new look and sound” of MARS!

Procedure:

1. Pre-net operation. The SOP does not mention the FYMON program, so that net position will not be used in region HF nets. This means that the NCS has the responsibility and must be in compliance with the MOI/NTIA standard of +/- 20Hz of the assigned frequency as well as insure that all stations checked in are in compliance. There are no other “call-ups,” radio checks or chatter/idle chit chat of any kind authorized before the net starts. There is no call for traffic at five minutes before net start or announcement regarding the team composition. Stations possessing traffic will announce their traffic when checking in. The term “NO TRAFFIC,” is back as part of the check in procedure (see below). If no ANCS is selected prior to the net start one will be appointed from the members checking in. This applies to all region nets. If stations require tune up time they will utilize the time prior to the net start to accomplish this function. Remember, if you key your transmitter you must identify yourself. Tune up period ends at 15 minutes prior to the net start.

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2. Opening the net. There is no net preamble, rather the NCS will announce their call in phonetics and say the primary and secondary frequency designators. The NCS will then call the net to order at the prescribed time by announcing the net name and NCS call sign, thus: “ONE SIERRA ONE, ONE SIERRA ONE-THIS IS ALPHA FOXTROT ALPHA ONE HOTEL SIERRA-STATIONS IN CONNETICUT OR DELAWARE-OVER” Of course you will use your call sign.

NCS will acknowledge check ins or when none are heard will transmit “NOTHING HEARD-OUT” At this point, if there is an ANCS, that station will echo the call: “THIS IS ALPHA FOXTROT ALPHA ONE OSCAR-ALTERNATE NET CONTROL-STATIONS IN CONNETICUT OR DELAWARE-OVER” Stations will be acknowledged and when no more are heard the ANCS transmits “NOTHING HEARD-OUT”
Then the NCS calls the next state or set of states:

“STATIONS IN INDIANA OR MASSACHUSETTES-OVER” NCS will acknowledge the check ins and when there are no more will transmit “NOTHING HEARD-OUT.” The ANCS will echo the call as above. This procedure will continue until the initial check in roll call is completed.

The order of states called will be CT, DE, IN, MA, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI and VT. These states can be called in groups or individually, conditions being the determining factor. Upon completion of the initial call up, the NCS will ask late or visiting stations to check in. These stations will be recognized and then the ANCS will echo that call. All stations checked in up to this point will be shown as being in the net from the start. At fifteen minutes into the net the NCS will declare “ROLL CALL IS NOW CLOSED. THE NET IS DIRECTED BUT INFORMAL – OUT.” All stations that check in from this point will be shown on the log at the actual check in time.

3. Checking In. The member stations are to check in only when their state is called, NCS’s will ignore “out of turn” check ins. Members will key their microphone and say the NCS’s call sign in plain language then un-key and listen for a clear channel and continue “THIS IS ALPHA FOXTROT ALPHA ONE MIKE UNIFORM-INDIANA-NO TRAFFIC-OVER (or list the traffic if any: quantity-precedence-destination state or ZIP code). Stations wishing to close before end of net will include that when checking in, example: “THIS IS ALPHA FOXTROT ALPHA ONE MIKE UNIFORM-INDIANA-NO TRAFFIC-CLOSE AT 1430 ZULU-OVER” Net control will acknowledge the check in and traffic listed and then acknowledge the closing time if it is believed that no traffic will be sent to that station. If there is or may be traffic the NCS will direct that that station close only after NCS permits. Stations wishing to close later in the net may be permitted to do so or told “WAIT-OUT” if traffic is pending which could affect that station. Note that you do not call the net to order until announcing the primary and secondary frequency designators. Once the net is called to order only SOP procedures, prowords and protocols can be used.

4. Call signs. After Initial Call Up and when band conditions permit, the NCS will tell the net “NET USE ABBREVIATED CALL SIGN PROCEDURE.” Abbreviated procedure is when the transmitting station identifies themselves but omits the call sign of the station being called. An example of this procedure is during Continuity Checks The NCS or ANCS will call each station using the full procedure phonetic protocol, as above, however the responding station says, as an example: THIS IS AFA1HS GOOD READABLE OVER.

The NCS can invoke full procedure or abbreviated procedure as conditions dictate. Again, the only time phonetic calls are used is during initial contact; remember, the proword OUT ends a contact which means the next call should be full procedure phonetic protocol.

5. Continuity Checks. Each station on the net log is supposed to be active in the net and will be called at least one time during the net to ascertain their ability to communicate with the NCS and/or ANCS. Continuity checks will be accomplished when the net is not holding or passing traffic. This means that the NCS or ANCS can call one or more member stations at any time during the net to ascertain circuit conditions. Relays can and should be used if needed.

6. Free Net. Initially all of the nets are directed/informal nets, meaning all initial calls are to the NCS. Since the 1S1 net is one hour long there will be no Free Net time permitted. Nets which run in excess of one hour in the region are authorized to invoke the free net rule. NCS’s will tell the net “THE NET HOLDS NO TRAFFIC AND IS DESIGNATED AS A FREE NET– OUT,” and to end a free net “ THE NET IS DIRECTED AND INFORMAL.” In a free net, members can call each other without NCS’s permission. Even though the net is a FREE NET, all transmissions will be regarded as traffic, discussions must be limited to MARS business only. NCS’s will insure this rule is maintained. Idle chit-chat will no be permitted.

7. Closing the net. There is no longer a “thank you” segment before the net ends. At exactly 30 seconds prior to the official end of the net the NCS or ANCS will announce: “THIS IS ALPHA FOXTROT ALPHA ONE HOTEL SIERRA. CLOSE DOWN-OUT” Of course you will use your call sign. Note that once the net is closed no further net actions are allowed and the log is closed. It is permissible, at that time, to thank the team and affiliate stations for their participation. DO NOT call the net to order, however, simply say your call sign and make the announcement.

8. Summation. As you can see there are very few changes to the way we do business now, with the exception of the opening and close of the nets. Probably the single most important item that I see is a very direct rule regarding “the warm fuzzy” words that we are all used to saying and hearing. This language is now forbidden on the MARS nets. That includes words like “sir,” “ma am,” “please,” “thank you,” to name a few that immediately come to mind. The NCS has to say something until we are all reoriented, so when the NCS hears a violation make an announcement that is meant to correct/remind: “THIS IS AFF1O-ALL STATIONS ARE REMINDED TO USE PROPER PROTOCOL AND PROWORDS-OUT.” Acceptable prowords are listed in the Training Manual and ACP-131.

9. Traffic: Affiliates are reminded to refer to the protocols in the SOP when passing traffic.

Conclusion. I’m sure it will take a while to get used to these rules and format changes. Just remember we are guests using HF radio frequencies that belong to the military and so we have to obey their rules of conduct. That rule has been with us from day one but we’ve become lax in supporting the spirit of the rule.

In addition to the changes discussed there are a number of training sessions and clips that are being revised. Additionally there are several new sessions and clips in the works which will discuss other aspects of the SOP.