Nets

W5AC Nets

Name	Time	Type	Details
Information and Training Net	Monday 20:00	Formal Net	The W5AC weekly information net gives operators time to practice proper net operations and to teach members who would like to become net control stations. The net includes a roundtable topic with chances for stations to comment to each other and a trivia question from the general exam pool.
SSTV Net	Wednesday 20:00	Informal Net	This net is currently on hold until we have operators who would like to run it. Want to send your best images and memes over the radio? This net involves stations sending digitally encoded images through the repeater.
Reveille Net	Every Morning 5:00	Informal Net	This net is not operating every day currently. The Reveille net gives operators a chance to talk on their way into classes or work.

Linked Nets

These nets are automatically connected to our repeater system

Name	Time	Type	Details
Insomniac Trivia Net	Every Night 0:00	Formal Net	The Insomniac net meets every night on the Winsystem since 1980. Every night has 3-4 trivia questions. Sunday night often has one question for each person checking in.
Digital Lee Speaking Net	Sunday 14:00	Formal Net	The digital lee speaking net is hosted by W5NGU in Denton, Tx. Operators talk about what they have been working with on radio and other things that happened in their week.
University of Texas at Austin Weekly Net	Wednesday 20:00	Formal Net	Operators talk about what they have been working with on radio and other things that happened in their week.

Nets FAQ

What is a Net?

A net is an on-air gathering of ham radio operators. Most nets meet at a regularly-scheduled time on a certain frequency and are usually organized for a specific purpose. This could range from passing messages, to discussing a common topic of interest, relaying critical information (especially in times of severe weather), or even just a regular gathering of friends for conversation.

Formal, Informal, Traffic, Topic, Social? What do they mean?

• Formal Net

  A formal, or directed, net has a single net control station (NCS, usually "net control" on-air) or stations, who manages the operation of a given net session. The NCS operator calls the net to order at its designated start time, controls repeaters as necessary, calls for participants to join, keeps track of stations who have checked in to a given net session, and generally controls how a given net functions.

• Informal Nets

  An Informal net is just that. A net which, in comparison, tends to be significantly more relaxed. While things are still up to the net control station, an informal net can be thought of as more of a social gathering on the air. Where formal nets are more structured, informal nets are more free-flowing.

• Traffic Nets

  A Traffic net is a net in which messages or 'traffic' is passed between stations. A prime example of this is the National Traffic System. In a traffic net, stations have a message, or traffic, which they need to move elsewhere.

General Net Procedure

The net control station (NCS) of a net may be change every session, though all net controllers generally work with the manager of that net to coordinate scheduling and operations.

While every net is slightly different, there are a few general procedures that are a pretty safe bet to follow.

1. Speak slowly and clearly, with proper phoenetics when identifying. The NCS for a net almost always has other things they need to keep track of simultaneously. The last thing a net controller needs is the extra work of trying to decipher a callsign who used poor phoenetics while also trying to log it and remember the callsigns that came immediately after. If you've got creative phoenetics you'd like to try or you have a clever pnemonic for your callsign that's great, however a net is not the place for these.
2. Leave space between transmissions. If someone has an emergency transmission they need to interrupt with, or has pertinent information to a topic of discussion they need to have space they can enter during. Leaving space also provides a chance for those who may be shy or slower about transmitting and lets them have a turn where they otherwise may not have had one.
3. Don't transmit unless requested to do so. Many nets have a specific structure and flow. Transmitting out of turn could range from being a nuisance to those participating, to a serious issue that delays or prevents critical information from making it wherever it needs to go. The NCS will generally request a specific station transmit something, or will call for a general response.
4. When in doubt, check with net control. If you're not sure if a net is going on, or you're listening to a net and aren't sure whether you can check in, you can always check and see! First making sure there's nobody transmitting or finding a break in transmissions, transmit your callsign phoenetically and wait. If a net is in progress the NCS will generally acknowledge you with a few seconds. From there you can respectfully ask whatever you need. Remember, the NCS is usually busy with other things at the same time as calling on the radio, make their life easier!
5. ID at the end of every transmission. During a directed net, it may be a while between when the NCS has you transmit and when you'll get to transmit again. Remember that the FCC says amateur radio operators must identify themselves, at a minimum, once every 10 minutes and at the end of a contact, whichever comes sooner. Can you see the potential problem? If you said "I might not get a chance to ID myself", then you're absolutely correct! This is why it's a good idea to identify at the end of every transmission during a directed net - you never know when you won't be able to ID later.

Granted, these guidelines are suggestions, part of being an operator people will interact with is following proper operating procedure