Items written in italics are notes for the net controller and shouldn’t be read on air.
The following is a script for use as a guide by NTARS Net Controllers. This is only a guide and does not need to be read word-for-word. Paragraphs indicate good places to unkey your radio and let the repeater reset. Remember to USE PHOENETICS! Remember to relax and have fun! You may be herding cats, but all the cats are your friends. We should be using NetLogger for most nets. If you aren’t comfortable using NetLogger, please be sure to take written notes and email the Groups.io distro after the list.
The net should begin at 8pm. The Net Controller should make some sort of preparatory transmission 1-5 minutes prior to the net to let others know they are settled and prepared for net control duties. This prevents fumbled nets when the scheduled net controller can’t make it for any reason.
For example:
The North Texas Amateur Radio Society weekly net will begin shortly. [YOUR CALLSIGN]
At 8:00pm, begin the net.
Good evening, operators! This [YOUR CALLSIGN] and my name is [YOUR NAME]. I will be net control for this evening’s edition of the North Texas Amateur Radio Society’s Wednesday night net. This will be a directed net and all traffic should be directed to and through this station. The net may be interrupted at any time by any station for emergency traffic by using the prosign: “BREAK BREAK.”
The North Texas ARS meets at 7pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the fire station across from Aledo High School. The address is 991 Bailey Ranch Rd in Aledo. This net happens every Wednesday night at 8:00pm. On meeting nights, there will be no formal net, but club members will likely chat on the way to dinner. For more information, please visit ntars.net.
We’ll start the net by taking any short time check-ins, then we’ll do announcements, and then regular check-ins. When you check-in, please let me know if you have traffic for the net or if you have an announcement. Let’s get started with stations that are short on time and do not have traffic or announcements, come with your callsign now, slowly and phonetically.
You can limit the check-ins to groups of a certain number or just wait until they stop coming in. After no more stations are heard, repeat the callsigns back. For example:
Net control copies [LIST OF CALLSIGNS]. Are there any other short time stations with no traffic?
Handle check-ins and repeat above section as required. Remember to identify every 10 minutes.
This is [YOUR CALLSIGN], net control for tonight’s net and I’ll start the announcement section of the net now. If you have an announcement to share with the members of North Texas ARS, please come with your callsign slowly and phonetically.
If any stations check in, return to the top of the list and call each station and let them give their announcement.
This is [YOUR CALLSIGN], net control for tonight’s net… I’ll start taking regular check-ins from all stations now. Please come with your callsign slowly and phonetically and let me know if you have traffic for the net.
Repeat calling for check-ins, recognizing stations, and letting them share their traffic until there is no more traffic on the net.
No new stations heard which will bring us to the end of this net. Please remember to visit our website, ntars.net, for more information about club meeting details, local nets, and other important information for hams in our area. North Texas ARS, ND5DX, wishes to thank the Johnson County Amateur Repeater Association for the use of this repeater and letting us hold our nets here. Including myself, there were [TOTAL NUMBER OF STATIONS] check ins tonight. This is [YOUR CALLSIGN] returning this repeater back to normal amateur use. Have a great night and 73s!
After the net is completed either obtain a screenshot of NetLogger or your notes and email the information to NorthTexasAmateurRadioSociety@groups.io for dissemination among all club members. Great job!