Nets

All times below are Central Time.

W5AC Nets

Name Time Connection Type Details
Information and Training Net Monday 21:00 W5AC repeaters 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 club announcements, a roundtable topic with chances for stations to comment on a topic, and a trivia question from the general exam pool.
SSTV Net Wednesday 20:00 W5AC repeaters Informal Net

Currently on hold. Want to run this net? Contact the club officers →

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 W5AC repeaters Informal Net

Currently on hold. Want to run this net? Contact the club officers →

The Reveille net is a social net where operators talk on their way into classes or work.

Linked Nets

These nets are automatically connected to our repeater system

AllStarLink (ASL), Internet Repeater Linking Project (IRLP), and Echolink are all internet-linked repeater networks — each uses its own node/reflector numbers to connect to a specific system. You can join any of these nets from a compatible repeater, hotspot, or software application, without needing to be within range of the actual repeater.

Name Time Connection Details
Insomniac Trivia Net Every Night 0:00 ASL 2560, IRLP 9100, Echolink KA6WIN-L A nightly trivia net on the WIN System since 1980. Net control asks 3-4 questions and calls for stations to check in with their answers. Different hosts run different nights on a rotating basis.
Digital Lee Speaking Net Sunday 14:00 ASL 41087 Discussion of all things digital in amateur radio. Started by Lee Norup K5WXR ("Digital Lee," SK), the net continues with a rotating team of hosts in the same laid-back, conversational format.
t.u. ARC Weekly Net Wednesday 20:00 ASL 49529, Echolink KA5D-R A casual roundtable net run by the t.u. Amateur Radio Club on their University-Link repeater system. Topics usually cover school, radio, and whatever else is going on that week.
Oak Hill Amateur Radio Club Weekly Net Thursday 20:00 ASL 51444 Open to all licensed amateur radio operators. Ask a question, give advice, or just talk about what you've been up to.

Other Local Nets

These nets run on other local repeaters in the area, not linked to W5AC's system.

Name Time Connection Details
W5BCS Weekly Net Tuesday 20:00 146.68 (-0.6), Echolink W5BCS-R Hosted by the Bryan Amateur Radio Club, this is a weekly round-up of club announcements and open discussion. Anyone is welcome to check in or just follow along.

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? What do they mean?

  • Formal Nets

    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 formal net in which messages or 'traffic' is passed between stations to relay to a recipient. 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.

New to Nets? Here's How to Check In

Checking into a net for the first time is simpler than it looks. Here's what actually happens:

  1. Tune to any of W5AC's repeaters (146.82 or 443.05) at the net's scheduled time if the net is hosted by W5AC or linked to our repeater. For other nets, see the Connection column in the tables above.
  2. Listen first. The net control station (NCS) will call the net to order and explain what's happening.
  3. When NCS asks for check-ins, key up, say your callsign clearly (phonetics help if you're not sure it'll be understood), and let go of the mic. That's it, that's "checking in."
  4. NCS will acknowledge you, often by repeating your callsign back. From there, just follow along. NCS will call on stations by callsign when it's their turn.
  5. Say your callsign again to close out your transmissions.

General Net Procedure

The net control station (NCS) may change every session, though all net controllers generally work with the manager of that net to coordinate scheduling and operations. A few general procedures are a safe bet to follow on any net:

  1. Speak slowly and clearly, with proper phonetics when identifying. NCS is usually keeping track of several things at once. While creative phonetics or a clever mnemonic for your callsign is fun, save them for outside of a net.
  2. Leave space between transmissions, so an emergency or pertinent transmission has room to break in, and so shyer or slower operators get a chance to jump in too.
  3. Don't transmit unless requested to. NCS will either call on a specific station or ask for a general response. Transmitting out of turn can disrupt a net's flow or delay important traffic.
  4. When in doubt, check with net control. Make sure the frequency is clear, then transmit your callsign phonetically and wait. NCS will acknowledge you within a few seconds if a net is in progress.
  5. ID at the end of every transmission during a directed net. The FCC requires identifying at least once every 10 minutes and at the end of a contact. Since you don't always know when your next chance to transmit will be, it's safest to ID every time.