• Thu. May 2nd, 2024

United States Traffic Net

Worked All States Awards Net

Preamble

USTNET Preamble

NCS


My name is ____, my callsign is ____. and my member ID is ___ and I will be serving as the net control for this session of the US Traffic Net.


The US Traffic Net honors and encourages the contributions made for the betterment throughout our Amateur Radio Community.


Objectives of the net is to work for US Traffic Net Awards, Pass Traffic and Make Contacts.

The net is run by the net control station and all calls must go through net control or a designated relay station. Designated relays are ____, ____, etc., If something is not heard by net control or a designated relay station, please say relay and wait to be acknowledged.


At this time, I'll break the net for any EMERGENCY or PRIORITY traffic BREAK.

Is there any EMERGENCY or PRIORITY traffic for this frequency? Please call now!

Are there any Relays for EMERGENCY or PRIORITY traffic call now?.


Signal reports are based on the RS Scale, Readability and Signal Strength,

During the net the minimum acceptable signal report is a 21 and the maximum is a 59. Net Control or a relay must hear both stations acknowledge the correct signal report for the contact to be a good one, That will make the call official. All stations must identify with their full call sign when making or receiving a call.


For more information about signal reports, see the "What is a Signal Report" on the

About US Traffic Net section on the Website.


Contacts made with a Combo station only count as one call.

Are there any stations wishing to make announcements or have any questions concerning the net before I continue taking check-ins?


We currently have guests stations logged in to the net, and on behalf of all members present, I'd like to welcome them to the net, and we look forward to each of them pursuing membership with US Traffic Net. Checkout or website @ www.usawards.net for more information about US Traffic Net. We use a program called NetLogger to log contacts and to list check ins. We provide a link to NetLogger on our website but NetLogger is also available @ NetLogger.org


All net times are in Zulu, and the current time is ——.


CLOSING
This concludes this session of The United States Traffic Net. . Please visit our website at www.usawards.net . I’d like to thank the relays, loggers and everyone that participated in the net because without your assistance and participation, these nets wouldn't be possible. Also, Please checkout the website for Membership, Awards and Start times of the all US Traffic Nets. This net is officially closed @ <Time> Zulu 73 everyone this is ______ and I'll be QRT..


Updated Version 9.1 5/17/2023

AIM Notes

AIM Notes updated 12/7/23

80m

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES TRAFFIC NET. THIS IS ______, MY NAME IS ______ AND I WILL BE THE NCS FOR THIS SESSION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL USTNET NETS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT https://www.usawards.net CHECK INS WILL BEGIN @ 0100z PLEASE STAND BY FOR THE NET @ 0130z


40m

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES TRAFFIC NET. THIS IS ______, MY NAME IS ______ AND I WILL BE THE NCS FOR THIS SESSION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL USTNET NETS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT https://www.usawards.net CHECK INS WILL BEGIN @ 2300z PLEASE STAND BY FOR THE NET @ 2330z

RAG-CHEW IS IN PROGRESS, IF YOU WANT TO GET ON THE LIST EARLY, JUST PUT YOUR CALLSIGN OR MEMBER NUMBER IN THE AIM WINDOW. RAG CHEW IS FROM 2200-2300z CHECKINS WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR AT 2300z ON RF.


FT-8

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES TRAFFIC NET. THIS IS ______, MY NAME IS _____ AND I WILL BE THE NCS FOR THIS SESSION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL USTNET NETS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT https://www.usawards.net  AIM CHECK INS WILL BEGIN LOGGING @ 2330z. REMEMBER, FOR THIS MEMBERS-ONLY NET: YOU HAVE TO ASK TO BE CHECKED IN ON AIM TO HAVE A VALIDATED TIMESTAMP IN YOUR REMARKS OR YOUR CONTACTS MADE WILL NOT BE VALID FOR THIS SESSION.

CHECKINS ON AIM ARE REQUIRED, AND ANY BAND CONTACT COUNTS (ONLY) ON FT-8. NET STARTS AT 2330z BUT IF YOU CHECK IN EARLIER, IT STILL STARTS AT 2330z, CONTACTS DON'T COUNT BEFORE 2330z, OR AFTER 0100z.


I will be checking in AIM every few minutes. You will be checked in at time when asked, if after 2330.


General

Our website is www.USAWARDS.NET

FOR GUESTS (or any LURKERS,) INTERESTED IN BECOMING A USTNET MEMBER https://usawards.net/membership/ FOR INFO HOW TO JOIN.

PLEASE NOTE: That our Club President is currently still in the Hospital ALL NEW MEMBERSHIPS are OPEN (remember to fill out the application so we know who you are,) but in a temporary processing mode of ONLY PayPal FRIENDS & FAMILY. AGAIN, NEW MEMBERSHIP IS NOW REOPENNED!!!! If you made contacts during Anthony's absence, all will be retro-active. See KD2HCE's QRZ page for updates on Anthony's recovery.

Check ins now, call sign and USTNET # if you have one, if not heard please place your callsign or ID # in the AIM window

TAKING GENERAL CHECK-INS. ALL GENERAL CLASS AND ABOVE AMATEURS ARE WELCOME CALL NOW.

 

CHECK-INS ON AIM ANYTIME, ON AIR Checkins after line ___

REMINDER: MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN AGAIN, PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION SO WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE! DONATIONS ARE ONLY VIA PAYPAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON THE WEBSITE LINK WHILE ANTHONY IS NOT BACK YET. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING, PATIENCE AND PRAYERS!

WHEN CHECKING OUT/BEING UNAVAILABLE, PLEASE TYPE YOUR LINE NUMBER AS INDICATED ON THE WORK LIST. IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR NCS TO KEEP TRACK AND KEEP THE NET MOVING FOR OTHERS.

Members who have any changes to their QSL, Name, Address, Callsign, or Military Status, please email SUPPORT@USTAW.NET , OR FILL OUT THE FORM ON THE WEBSITE.

IF INTERESTED IN BEING AN NCS STATION, PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@USTAW.NET FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR FILL OUT THE FORM ON THE WEBSITE.

WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING NCS STATIONS, PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@USTAW.NET FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR FILL OUT THE FORM ON THE WEBSITE.

ON THE 20TH OF THE MONTH UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH WE WILL OPEN THE TOP NET OPERATOR OF THE MONTH VOTING PAGE ON THE SITE FOR MEMBERS TO CAST YOUR VOTE. START CONSIDERING NOW FOR WHOM YOU WILL BE VOTING FOR. YOU CAN VOTE FOR EITHER REGULAR MEMBERS OR NCSs. PLEASE CLICK HERE:  https://ustaw.net/top-net-op-voting-page/

MEMBER VOTING FOR TOP NET OPERATOR OF THE MONTH IS OPEN NOW.  https://ustaw.net/top-net-op-voting-page/ , ALL MEMBERS PLEASE PARTICIPATE AND VOTE FOR THE MEMBER OR THE NCS THAT YOU FEEL DESERVES THIS AWARD THIS MONTH.

WATCH THE PINK LINE — WW and BTN on AIM PLEASE.

Please use WW (WORKING) and BTN (BACK TO NET) on AIM to help Net Control in POOR Conditions.

LAST CALLS: PUT YOUR LINE# OR ID#, PLEASE ON AIM.

NCS Guidlines v2.6.8

Frequency Selection

Try to arrive to your schedule net at least 30 minutes prior to the posted start time. Nets should be held on the posted net frequencies, as indicated on the website schedules. If there is activity on the posted frequency, then a net may be moved plus or minus (+/-) 10kHz from the center frequency for that band. If a frequency cannot be secured, the NCS will standby until the frequency is clear or the NCS can choose to cancel the net after the posted start time. This decision, after the posted time to reach, is at the sole discretion of the NCS scheduled for that net. Please ensure you have at least 3kHz spacing between the frequency chosen and any adjacent traffic. Nets should not purposefully cause QRM to adjacent stations and make every attempt to be good stewards of the band.


Preamble

The Preamble should be read on each net, at approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the official start time of the net. While the general content of the preamble is set, delivery can be left up to the style of the NCS. AIM Notes listed below the preamble are a standardized set of notes used by NCS as needed for the AIM window updated when necessary.


Protocol

Protocol refers to the way a worklist is run during a net. It’s generally accepted and fair practice to choose a protocol at the beginning (Start) of a net and stick to it throughout the entire net. However, that is not a hard and fast rule. Sometimes conditions or QRM can dictate changes during net operation. Changes to protocol during the net should be done cautiously and infrequently. 

The net protocol should be announced on the air, and posted on AIM, prior to the start of the worklist, with reminders during the net as appropriate. While the Protocol selected is up to the discretion of the NCS, there are a few recognized and common ones used. This list by no means is meant to limit the protocols available for NCS to use on their net. It is provided as a reference only.


Free Plus One (also known as Bonus Plus One) – This protocol allows the NCS station to dictate which stations are considered Free/Bonus and allow the worklist to gain an extra call if they call a Free/Bonus station first. The Free/Bonus call is not a set standard and can be whatever the NCS determines best suits the net itself.
One Call – Typically used on bad prop, QRM, difficult condition or very popular nets due to time, this protocol allows each operator on the worklist to make a single call.
Two Calls – The most common protocol allows for the worklist to make two calls to anyone on their turn.


Unlimited - Short-List less then 20 checkins. This is up to the NCS.


NEWCOMERS (Dialogue)

Since newcomers to our net may not know the procedure and operation of the net it is common for Net Control or a relay to give brief information to someone checking into the net for the first time and send them to the ABOUT Section on our website @ WWW.USAWARDS.NET/about


The Suggested Newcomer Dialogue

You have checked into the USTNET. The Net Control Station goes through a list and you are #_ on the list. The www.usawards.net/about section is key to all new people on the net. Once it is your turn you will be given an opportunity to either call a station you heard check into the net or go “up for grabs” by saying your callsign and stating “up for grabs” then answering the loudest station you hear. The minimum signal report is a 21 and the maximum is 59 on the net.

During this exchange the member station will provide you their member number. You need one of these numbers and $10 which will get you lifetime membership to USTNET if you choose to apply. If you have a computer available, you can read about USTNET at www.usawards.net. There you will find information about this net and how to apply, also how to download Netlogger. Netlogger is the software we use to log our contacts and list our check ins.