Directed Net Fundamentals

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Directed Net Fundamentals

• Operating In a Tactical Radio Net.
• What every radio operator should know for
  effective communication skills.

Written by Joshua Beeson, N9GQA
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Objectives

• What is a directed net and why is it necessary?
• How to keep a Net Control Log.
• Operational formats and considerations.
• Correct voice communications procedures.
• ABCs Accuracy, Brevity, and Clarity!
• Procedural words and phonetics.

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Emergency Radio Communications

• Use Formal Directed Nets!
• Most ham radio operation do not.
• What is a directed net?
• Why is this necessary and needed?

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Directed Nets

• What is it?
• A directed net is a net that requires stations to
  get permission before using the net.
• When do you use it?
• Use it whenever there are more than four stations
  sharing the same working frequency.

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Directed Nets

• Why use it?
• It enables the Net Control Station to prioritize
  and quickly handle multiple stations that have
  traffic to pass.
• Who should know this net type?
• Every operator who wishes to become involved in
  EmComm should know how to call and run a directed
  net.

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Net Control Duties

• CONTROL the net.
• MAINTAIN net discipline (by setting the example).
• MOVE traffic efficiently.
• TRACK what is going on
• RECORD what happens
• REPORT to the served agency/Net Manager.

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YOU MUST WRITE THINGS DOWN!!!

• Because you will not remember everything when it
  gets busy.
• It is very difficult to brief your relief
  operator from memory.
• It is very difficult to reconstruct what happened
  later from memory.

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NCS Log

• Served agencies usually REQUIRE
• Formal written logs
• Status Boards
• These are used for
• ASSET Tracking
• Personal Accountability Reports
• They are part of the official incident record.

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NCS Logs

• DATE, TIMES, FREQUENCY
• WHO originated the traffic?
• WHO took the traffic?
• WHAT was the action?
• Number of pieces, Destination, Priority
• NTS EMERGENCY, P, HW, R
• ICS URGENT, IMMEDIATE, R
• WHERE? Local VS Through

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NCS Logs

• HOW?
• Which mode? Voice/packet/CW/digital
• Routing? By which Liaison to which net?
• WHEN?
• Sequence of assignments/ actions.
• WHO?
• Actions taken, action agency, etc.

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ALWAYS HAVE AN ALTERNATE NCS!!!

• To prevent CHAOS!
• To pickup where you left off due to
• Dead battery.
• Radio failure.
• Severe Weather.
• Any unforeseen or dangerous situation.
• Make sure the alternate NCS is consistent.

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CONSISTENCY!!!

• Make sure to follow same operating practices and
  procedures.
• Teach and use the techniques on repeater and
  simplex nets.
• Operators will develop the ability to provide
  effective local coverage without depending upon
  repeaters.

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Operational Considerations

• Operate from safe, secure, quiet location.
• NCS should always make sure
• Equipment/ Antennas are in good order and
  connected properly.
• Batteries are charged and inspected regularly.
• Use minimum reliable power (batteries last longer
  this way).
• Monitor correct frequency and be on time.

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Universal Net Format

• NCS identifies and asks if frequency is in use.
  (Move net only as last resort.)
• Identify the Net and NCS.
• Why net is being called.
• Who is NCS and Where they are located.
• For beam heading on simplex.
• What outlets for traffic are needed.
• Avoid long transmissions.

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Universal Net Format

• Call for emergency/priority traffic first.
• Act upon it immediately.
• Call Liaisons from other nets.
• Do not wait until you need the liaisons to call.
• Identify key receive stations
• EOCs, Served Agencies, etc
• Those in the affected areas.
• Net Liaisons, District Emergency Stations

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Universal Net Format

• Call for stations with traffic.
• Prioritize ICS does not use NTS
• NTS ICS
• EMERGENCY URGENT
• Priority IMMEDIATE
• Welfare Not used on OPNETS
• Routine No Precedence
• Ask for relays as needed.

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Emergency Nets

• Do not just take check-ins to build a roster.
• Match up needs with assets.
• Who has traffic/needs?
• Which traffic is most urgent?
• Where is the traffic going?
• Who can handle the traffic/ task?
• Assign the work as it comes in.

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Emergency Nets

• Handle through traffic (via HF) first.
• Handle in Priority Order.
• Dont take HW, refer to NTS outlets
• Exceptions only when specifically requested by
  the local net manager.
• In high traffic situations
• Direct stations off frequency
• They can pass their traffic while net proceeds.
• They return back to net and continue.
• Proper use of side frequencies.

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Tactical Call Signs

• Tactical Calls identify location or function.
• Assigned by NCS.
• FCC identification every 10 minutes if you have
  transmitted.
• Helps net move more traffic.
• Provides continuity when operators change.
• Use your tactical call to identify and call
  others by their tactical call.

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Net Operators Duties

• Know how the net operates
• Learn net procedures before you need them through
  training exercises.
• Respond only to NCS.
• Answer promptly.
• Listen continuously.
• NEVER leave the net without being released by net
  control.

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Net Operators Duties

• Be Reliable
• Arrive before your shift at operating position to
  set up, be briefed, ready to go.
• Even though we are volunteers, we owe it to those
  we serve to be responsible.
• Brief your relief operator
• Write down all instructions
• Tell relief operator everything they need to know
  to do the job.

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Good Operating Practices

• Accuracy Brevity Clarity
• No idle chatter in a directed net.
• Establish initial contact by stating your call
  sign only.
• Wait for NCS to acknowledge you before
  transmitting again.
• Think before you speak.
• Stop transmitting if you stop talking.

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Good Operating Practices

• Do not call endlessly
• If truly urgent, disregard.
• Listen for 2-3 seconds before transmitting.
• And between transmissions.
• Interrupt, only if you have important traffic.
• When necessary to do so, ID and SAY WHY
• N9GQA, with traffic.

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Good Operating Practices

• No Q-signals, 10-Codes, etc on voice nets.
• USE PLAIN LANGUAGE ONLY!!!
• DO USE SHORT SIMPLE PHRASES!
• Wait for acknowledgement before proceeding
  further.
• Acknowledge transmissions to you.
• Answer questions directly do not explain.

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Good Operating Practices

• Be Brief
• Let NCS ask for more details if needed.
• Ask who a message is for if you do not know.
• Let third parties speak directly to each other.
  (Legal, expedient, necessary).
• Do not pass names over the radio without NCS
  approval.

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Good Operating Practices

• Do not give frequencies over the air.
• Will reduce malicious interference.
• Pass all messages word for word.
• Paraphrasing introduces errors and
  misunderstandings.
• Address traffic to specific stations.
• Ask requestor who should handle it.
• Send traffic directly to that party.

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Good Operating Practices

• Wait briefly after keying, before speaking.
• This avoids clipping the first syllable.
• Do not speak louder in a noisy environment.
• Preventative Steps
• Use an earphone or headset.
• Shield your microphone from the noise.
• Speak normally across the microphone.

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The BASIC FOUR

• THIS IS- Always use to identify.
• OVER- I have finished transmitting and am
  waiting for and expect your reply.
• GO AHEAD- Proceed with Traffic.
• OUT- End of contact- I have finished and expect
  no reply.

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OVER OR OUT???

• OVER Leaves no doubt about whose turn it is.
• OUT Tells everyone contact has ended.
• What about CLEAR?
• CLEAR is used in a free net to release the
  frequency.
• End transmissions on directed nets with OUT.

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Standard ITU Phonetics

• A-Alpha I-India Q-Quebec Y-Yankee
• B-Bravo J-Juliet R-Romeo Z-Zulu
• C-Charlie K-Kilo S-Sierra
• D-Delta L-Lima T-Tango
• E-Echo M-Mike U-Uniform
• F-Foxtrot N-November V-Victor
• G-Golf O-Oscar W-Whiskey
• H-Hotel P-Papa X-X-ray

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NUMBERS PHONETICALLY

• 1 WUN 2 TOO 3 TREE
• 4 FOWER 5 FIFE 6 SIKS
• 7 SEVVEN 8 ATE 9 NINER
• 0 ZEAROW
• NEVER say the letter OH as in OSCAR if you mean
  figure ZERO.

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MIXED LETTER AND FIGURE GROUPS

• Mixed Groups are identified by the first member
  of the group
• 12th Street Figures One Two Tango Hotel,
  Street.
• WYSIWYG521 INITIALS Whiskey Yankee Sierra
  India Whiskey Yankee Golf Five Two One.

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Last Minute Reminders

• Practice, Practice, and Practice some more!!!
• Try using the proper procedures in your everyday
  ham radio conversations.
• You will sound more professional.
• Other operators will want to copy your
  professional example on the air.
• The ham radio volunteer will become viewed as a
  communications professional.