The EAWA Weekly Net is 30 Years Old! 

In celebration of the 30th birthday of the EAWA weekly net, it seemed like a good time to encourage new EAWA members and friends to join in, and perhaps entice some of those who have drifted away to return. According to Rob W8HAP, the weekly net started in 1994 when the W1TU repeater was established. It goes by various names, primarily the “03 net,” the “EAWA Communication Net,” and the “Weekly On-The-Air Meeting.” The net is held Wednesdays at 7pm, on the W1TU Repeater, 147.030 MHz, 100 Hz Tone.

For many hams, an important part of their radio activity is to check in with weekly nets. In the same way that Field Day is a routine practice exercise to make sure we are ready if a large scale emergency occurred, checking in to weekly nets is a routine practice exercise to make sure we are ready if critical information needed to be shared or someone on the net needed immediate help. Weekly nets let us check our equipment and practice the protocol used to organize the flow of the discussion. Participating in the net also builds relationships within the radio community. 

Net Control: On any given Wednesday evening there will be ten to fifteen people checking into the net. When it’s all voice based, there’s no waiving a hand to get permission to speak. The Net Controller is the one who is in charge, directing the listeners as to who has permission to speak (otherwise it would be like working a pile-up in a contest!). The net control position is rotated among those willing to serve in that role. The current group consists of Joan W1DLC, Barbara KC1SSY, Chuck AC1BS, and Mel W1MEB. Contact Joan if you want more information about volunteering as a net controller. She has found that being a controller has further developed her radio skills and offers her a way to give back to the radio community.

Listen: If you are new to the net, keep in mind that it is not a conversation or a rag chew. The net controller will begin with several sentences introducing the net. Listen closely to the information and instructions. To “check in” means to give ONLY your call sign, name, and location. The time for sharing will come later.

Know when to speak: The first request will be for anyone with emergency or routine traffic to check in. Next, the controller will ask for portable/mobile operators to check in. The third group is, on a routine net, the bulk of the operators checking in. The net controller will ask for the check in information in alphabetical order by call signs, saying something like “Anyone with the A or Alpha prefix come now.” As you would expect, the call continues for those with Kilo, November, and Whisky prefixes. If you miss your turn or get to the net late, wait until the final call for anyone left to check in.

Keep it short: The net controller will call on each person by call sign to speak. What do hams share? Usually it is radio related, such as trouble-shooting, progress on a project, or a piece of gear you recently acquired. It is important to remember that everyone has the opportunity to share, so if you do the math … 15 people speak for 15 minutes … you realize you should keep it short. When you have finished what you want to say, close with your call sign and “back to net control.” If you don’t have something you want to share, you can say “no comment,” “no traffic,” or “just listening” (and your call sign and ‘back to net control’). If you want to speak again, you’ll need to wait until everyone has had their turn and then give your call sign and say “re-check.” Then wait for the net controller to call on you to speak.

There are other nets that EAWA members and friends often participate in. These include the Maine Seagull Net (see maineseagull.net), the Hancock County EmComm Net, Tuesday 7PM, on the KB1NEB Repeater, 146.910 MHz, 151.4 Hz Tone, and the Mainely Analog Net, 146.835 MHz, 110.9 Hz Tone.

Building a strong, highly-skilled, prepared group of radio operators is foundational to the ham radio community at all levels. Local nets are one way we can support each other on our ham radio journeys. Happy 30th Birthday EAWA weekly net! Here’s to many, many more years of service!
Written by Marion W1GRL