TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 508.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 28f12527   
   PID: Synchronet 3.20a-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
      
                  PATIENCE AND THE NETS -- BY DARYL STOUT, WX4QZ   
                  ==============================================   
      
     Patience is a virtue, but sometimes, I think that this is rare in   
   amateur radio...especially in regards to checking into nets.   
      
     There is seemingly ALWAYS a pile-up or rush to checkin -- whether on   
   HF, VHF, UHF, Echolink, Packet, D-Star, D-Rats, etc.; as if certain   
   ham radio operators feel that "it's the UNPARDONABLE SIN that will   
   send them to Hell". There is such a sin, but missing checking into a   
   net, not checking in early, or not in the first group of checkins, is   
   NOT that sin!!   
      
     Ham Radio is a HOBBY -- it should NEVER take priority over church,   
   family, health, job, or honey-do's -- in the latter case, you could   
   LOSE that nice new rig that you have your eye on for Christmas (hi hi).   
      
     Not all nets do "pre-net" or "early checkins". Some will do them 15   
   to 30 minutes before the net begins...but it is RARE to have a net    
   start checkins an hour or more before the net commences. It's even more   
   RARE for nets to do an extended checkin window for checkins via email,   
   Facebook, D-Rats, or other modes. For 2 of the 3 nets that I do for the   
   Quarter Century Wireless Association, I offer a 25 hour checkin window   
   via email and Facebook, even though the net may last only 30 minutes.   
   Again, that's more the exception than the rule.   
      
     Remember, the Net Control Station is devoting 1 to 3 hours of their   
   time before, during, and after the net...so that everything is in   
   order, for traffic, and logging. And, some Net Controls (like myself)   
   are involved with nets on a nightly basis...either running them, or   
   checking into them...or they may have health issues that make it very   
   difficult to sit in the net control chair for long periods of time.   
      
     Note that if the checkins are PAUSED at a certain point during the   
   net, stations need to abide by those instructions from Net Control...   
   such as if an EMERGENCY TRAFFIC SITUATION develops during the net. If   
   the checkins are paused as the net starts, if you wait right up until   
   then to checkin, your checkin will have to WAIT, until the checkins   
   are resumed. In the cases of Emergency or Priority Traffic, the regular   
   net schedule, format, etc. goes by the boards, until the Emergency   
   Situation is resolved.   
      
     Emergency or Priority Traffic can break into the net at any time...   
   and these are LIFE OR DEATH URGENCY to those individuals involved,   
   such as severe weather warnings...or for "significant weather   
   advisories". Also, if and when Net Control is asking for announcements,   
   this is for items such as ham radio license classes, exam sessions,   
   hamfests, demos, special event stations, question pool updates, etc.   
      
     The Emergency or Priority Traffic, or Announcements, does NOT include   
   details on how your day went, and to invite others to nets. On some   
   nets, you WILL be called down by Net Control, if you violate this...and   
   may be banned from the net, or mode itself!!   
      
     It's as if some stations feel that "it's an Emergency if they don't   
   get Priority to pass their traffic first". To me, if you are trying to   
   check in early, just to see how many nets that you can check into in   
   an evening (admittedly, several do meet at the same time)...or trying   
   to see how many prizes, bonuses, awards, certificates that you can get   
   for doing such, you are doing it for your ego, and are in ham radio for   
   the wrong reason!! While SOME nets do offer such a certificate, that is   
   more the EXCEPTION than the rule.    
      
     I refer to these stations as "Hi, Bye, and QSY"...where it's 'Net    
   Control, please checkin [callsign], [name], [location], short time, no    
   traffic' -- but not a minute later, they are doing the same thing on    
   another net. A fellow Net Control operator wondered "Do they even have    
   a life outside of ham radio??". I guess they have their shack in the   
   bathroom, but they better be careful not to flush when they key the mic   
   (hi hi).   
      
     At the other extreme, are stations who think that they can "checkin   
   whenever they feel like it". As noted earlier, many nets do NOT offer   
   things like pre-net or post-net extended checkin windows...or via other   
   modes, such as Email, Facebook groups, or D-Rats. If you are not there   
   when the net is in progress, you do NOT get logged, like it or not.   
      
     Then, there are stations who feel that "the frequency will always be   
   clear", and they can show up at any time, to start calling CQ, etc.,   
   INSTEAD of asking if the frequency is in use first. No one has the   
   EXCLUSIVE use of ANY FREQUENCY or mode on amateur radio.   
      
     The ONLY time that you may break into a frequency at any time is if    
   you have a bona fide emergency traffic situation at your location. Then,    
   as far as the FCC is concerned, you can throw the rule book out. If it    
   happens during a net, Net Control will stop the net, and participants    
   will try to help you deal with the situation. Or if it's better to clear    
   the frequency, the net will be terminated, and they will do that instead.   
      
     I am NOT going to make an exception for these (thankfully very few)   
   impatient amateur radio operators...it's as if trying to butt in line   
   to a sporting event. Try that, and you could be seriously injured or   
   killed by the anger of others. All of the other checkins patiently wait   
   their turn to pass traffic, make comments, etc. -- and to these, I say   
   a hearty THANK YOU!!   
      
     So, please be patient on checking into a net, and wait for the   
   announcement from Net Control, no matter what band or mode...on the   
   checkins. If you can not be patient in this regard...then you can   
   either go to another net that is more to your liking...quit checking   
   into nets entirely...or maybe you should sell your gear, turn in your   
   amateur radio license, and find a new hobby. Again, there is more to   
   life than amateur radio, and checking into nets.   
      
   Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, Net Control   
   QCWA CQ100, Sunflower, and Digital Net   
   D-Star Food Net   
   D-Star Trains And Railroads Net   
   The Arkansas Night Rangers Net   
   Arklatex D-Star Net   
   Hotspot Raspberry Pi SBC ZumSpot Net   
   --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32   
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/19 120 123 15/0 16/0 18/0 19/10 37 50/109 90/1 105/81 106/201   
   SEEN-BY: 116/17 18 116 123/0 10 25 130 131 170 180 200 525 755 3001   
   SEEN-BY: 135/115 300 142/104 153/7715 154/10 30 40 50 700 203/0 218/700   
   SEEN-BY: 220/90 221/1 6 360 222/2 226/18 30 227/114 229/110 112 113   
   SEEN-BY: 229/206 307 317 426 428 470 664 700 240/1120 1200 5832 250/1   
   SEEN-BY: 266/512 275/1000 280/5003 282/1038 291/111 299/6 301/1 113   
   SEEN-BY: 317/3 320/119 219 319 2119 322/0 757 335/364 341/66 342/200   
   SEEN-BY: 396/45 423/81 460/58 467/888 633/280 712/848 1321 2320/0   
   SEEN-BY: 2320/33 105 304 401 3634/0 12 27 56 57 119 5001/100 5005/49   
   SEEN-BY: 5020/715 1042 4441 5030/49 5058/104 5061/133 5064/56 5075/35   
   SEEN-BY: 5075/128 5083/1 444 5090/958   
   PATH: 2320/33 105 154/10 3634/12 5020/1042 301/1 221/6 1 320/219   
   PATH: 229/426