Net Control Operations

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Net Control Operations
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Outline

• Role of the Net Control Operator
• Incident Management System Structure
• Maintaining Accountability of Operators
• Logs
• NCS Kit
• The Shift Change
• The Status Check
• Closing an Amateur Radio Net
• Things You Need to Practice
• Other Forms

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• At the end of this course you will be able to
• Describe the role of the Net Control Operator
• List the elements of the Incident Management
  System Structure
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain
  accountability of operators
• List the steps for a shift change
• Demonstrate ability to fill out logs and other
  forms

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Definitions

• NCS Net Control Station
• The station performing net control functions,
  e.g., K7YCA, W7YRC, etc.
• NCO Net Control Operator
• Amateur operating net control station, e.g.,
  WA6ZZJ, AB7NK, WB9VGJ, etc.
• Often will be more than one NCO for any given NCS
  operation
• Sometimes NCO and NCS will be the same

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (NCO)

• Management
• 
  
• 
  Leadership
• Control

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Management
• Maintains an accurate log of traffic
• Maintains a current roster of operators and their
  assignments
• Maintains a summary of key status points to use
  in periodic briefings

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Control
• Establishes precedence of traffic
• Enforces net procedures and discipline
• Leadership
• Sets example of proper radio procedure
• Acts as a resource to other operators on the net

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• NCO Assignment
• When possible, 2 operators will be assigned
• NCO
• Assistant NCO

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• NCO Assignment (cont.)
• NCO
• Primary communicator on tactical frequency
• Responsible for Event Log
• Secondary responsibility for Message Log

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• NCO Assignment (cont.)
• Assistant NCO
• Primary communicator on Command Frequency
• Primary responsibility for Message Log

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Equipment Considerations
• Antennas
• Radios
• Other considerations

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Antennas
• Types of antennas
• Vehicle-mounted
• Portable, e.g., J-pole
• Temporary ground plane as high as possible
• Rubber ducks should be avoided

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Radios
• Types of radios
• Portable base station
• Mobile radio with power supply
• HTs with power supply
• HTs with high power battery and backup pack
  (cont.)

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Other Considerations
• Separate radios are a MUST
• Tactical frequencies
• Repeater-based
• HT which can reliably access the repeater is
  usually adequate
• External power source or extra batteries are
  desirable

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Other Considerations (cont.)
• Simplex frequency
• Best available antenna should be used
• A mobile radio with a power supply or portable
  base station is preferred

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Other Considerations (cont.)
• Command frequency
• External antenna is desirable
• High power HT is usually adequate
• Power supply or extra batteries desirable
• Earphone or external speaker is very beneficial

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I. Role of the Net Control Operator (cont.)

• Other Considerations (cont.)
• Roles may be changed as needed during the
  operation
• Mutual agreement of operators
• Notify Command Net for information purposes
• Short relief periods do not require notification

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II. Overview of Incident Management System
Structure

• One station runs operation -- Command Net Net
  Control Station (NCS)
• No more than five stations controlled by one NCS
  at any level

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II. Overview of Incident Management System
Structure (cont.)

• Activated in EOC

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II. Overview of Incident Management System
Structure (cont.)

• Activated Outside EOC

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II. Overview of Incident Management System
Structure (cont.)

• All traffic or requests will go through NCS
• Traffic will be passed through NCS for other NCSs
  or other stations
• NCO may permit stations in his/her net to talk
  directly to another station in the net

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III. Logs

• Two main logs will be used for operations
• Mobilization/Demobilization Log
• Track location/status of operators
• Message / Event Log
• Track events during incident/operation
• Log all messages on a net

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III. Logs (cont.)

• The Mobilization/Demobilization Log
• Will be used to keep track of the status and
  location of all operators during an event
• Check-in
• Availability
• Assignment
• Movement
• Departure/Arrival

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Mobilization/Demobilization Log

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Mobilization/Demobilization (cont.)

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Mobilization/Demobilization (cont.)

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Mobilization/Demobilization (cont.)

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Mobilization/Demobilization (cont.)
• Examples of the Mobilization/Demobilization Log
  appear in the next section Maintaining
  Accountability of Operators

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III. Logs (cont.)

• The Message / Event Log
• Will be used to keep track of all current events
  and messages during an operation

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Message / Event Log

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III. Logs (cont.)

• Information to be entered
• Location/From
• Time/Message Number
• Comments
• To
• Message
• Action taken

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III. Logs (cont.)
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IV. Maintaining Accountability of Operators

• A phone tree will normally be used to activate a
  net.
• Operators will then be assigned or check into
  Resource Net
• Availability and/or assignments of operators will
  be logged on the Mobilization/Demobilization Log

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IV. Maintaining Accountability of Operators
(cont.)

• Mobilization/Demobilization Log Example

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IV. Maintaining Accountability of Operators
(cont.)

• K7XXX
• Checked in at 0930
• Is available until 1400
• Assigned to tactical call Shelter 1
• Departed for shelter at 0950
• Arrived at shelter at 1010
• Left for home at 1300
• Arrived home at 1330

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IV. Maintaining Accountability of Operators
(cont.)

• N7XYZ
• Checked in at 0935
• Is available from 1300 1700

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IV. Maintaining Accountability of Operators
(cont.)

• K7ZZZ
• Checked in at 0940
• Is available any time
• Assigned to tactical call Fire Center
• Departed for Fire Center at 1005
• Arrived at Fire Center at 1030(This operator is
  still active)

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V. NCS Kit

• Suggested NCS Kit Items
• 1 - Clipboard
• 1 - Note pad
• 25 Event Logs
• 5 Mobilization/Demobilization Logs
• 5 Net Control Message Logs
• 3 Pens
• 3 Pencils
• 1 Box paper clips
• 1 - Set NCS job aids

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VI. The Shift Change

• Responsibilities of Incoming NCO
• Arrive 10 - 15 minutes prior to assigned shift
• Review standard net procedures and job aids
• Verify supplies you will need and make
  arrangements for replenishment if necessary
• Observe message handling procedures being used
  and note any questions
• Review all logs for an overview of current status

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VI. The Shift Change (cont.)

• Responsibilities of Outgoing NCO
• Show incoming NCO where key documents are located
• Mobilization/Demobilization Log
• Event Log
• Net Control Message Logs
• Etc.

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VI. The Shift Change (cont.)

• Responsibilities of Outgoing NCO (cont.)
• Brief incoming NCO on the current operation
• Review nature of activity in field
• Identify messages which are awaiting action/reply

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VI. The Shift Change (cont.)

• Responsibilities of Outgoing NCO (cont.)
• Verify incoming NCO understands the message
  handling procedures in use
• Advise incoming NCO of any problems or unusual
  activity which has occurred on your shift and how
  they were dealt with
• Introduce incoming NCO to the local manager, if
  one is present

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VI. The Shift Change (cont.)

• Responsibilities of Incoming and Outgoing NCOs
• When both satisfied that they are ready to change
  control
• Contact Command Net and advise of call sign of
  incoming NCO and status of outgoing NCO
• Outgoing NCO should contact Resource Net to
  advise of status and destination

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VII. The Status Check

• What it means
• Of utmost importance
• All operators must be accounted for on a regular
  basis, approximately every half hour when possible

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VII. The Status Check (cont.)

• How to conduct a status check for your net
• Announce you will be performing a status roll
  call
• Perform the roll call and record status of each
  operator
• Contact Command Net with short status of net and
  a report that all operators are accounted for

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VII. The Status Check (cont.)

• What to do if an operator fails to respond to the
  status check
• Repeat call one time
• If no response, move on to other operators and
  come back at end of roll call and make two
  attempts to contact the operator
• If no contact, immediately notify Command Net and
  provide the call sign, current assignment, and
  last know location (and destination if mobile)

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VIII. Closing an Amateur Radio Net

• Announce net will be closing
• Contact operators with continuing assignments,
  advise of new net frequency, check operators out
• Advise remaining operators of procedures to be
  used upon release
• Conduct closing roll call
• Announce net is closed
• Contact Command Net
• Return all net-related paperwork

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IX. Things You Need to Practice

• Copying Call Signs
• Ear-to-hand coordination difficult to master
• Ask for slow pace and space between check-ins
• Listen how contesters/DXers handle pile-ups

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IX. Things You Need to Practice (cont.)

• Writing it Down
• NCO is always writing something down
• Practice taking notes listening to a net
• Plan and train for worst case scenario

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IX. Things You Need to Practice (cont.)

• Practice Listening
• Train your hearing to sort out the messages from
  the noise
• Try to make sense out of that bad signal
• Listen to any conversation on HF during distant
  weather disturbances

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IX. Things You Need to Practice (cont.)

• Practice Running Nets
• Run local rag chew net, ARES/RACES net, Skywarn
  net, club net, etc.
• Tape record any net you run you will be your
  own worst critic

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IX. Things You Need to Practice (cont.)

• Practice Passing NTS Messages
• NCO must be able to pass NTS format messages!
• The Radiogram form should be a picture in your
  mind
• Ability to take, pass and initiate NTS messages
  should be as automatic and natural as eating

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X. Other Forms

• Job Aids
• Net Start Up
• Status Checks
• Shift Change
• Net Closing
• Things That You Need to Practice