Orange County Wireless Net
(OCWN)

(download a WORD file)

Rules:

1. All Tech-Plus and above licensed amateur operators are welcome (Novices are welcome as long as the net does not need to move to its tertiary frequency).
   
   
2. NCS will select net frequency based on local conditions; if conditions deteriorate during the net, NCS will communicate a frequency change by transmitting QSY twice. For example, to direct the net from the primary frequency to the secondary frequency, NCS would send: "QSY Secondary QSY Secondary".
   
   
3. Please do not attempt communications with OCWN if you cannot copy the NCS. Contact NCS via e-mail (see below) to alert them of the situation. Only stations that can be heard by NCS should participate in the net. Please do not attempt to set up relays to address the situation as this will likely result in QRM.
   
   
4. Always allow a 2-second 'courtesy pause' before responding to NCS. This will allow stations ('breakers') to contact NCS or request use of the frequency.
   
   
5. SLOW CW (5-12 WPM) - Don't rush! Don't exceed 12 WPM. Send your code carefully at a speed where you will minimize mistakes. Take care to form your characters/words with standard dit/dah weights (i.e., don't try to cultivate a distinctive 'fist'). Some people on the net may have a marginal ability to receive code. Fast code, code with lots of errors/resends, or code with poorly-formed words/characters may cause net participants (or the NCS, for that matter) to be unable to copy you.
   
   
6. If you make a mistake sending, send a series of (~8) dits and then restart with the mis-sent word.
   
   
7. Restrict your use of abbreviations and Q-signals to those included in this information packet (see pages 5 and 6). The use of Q-signals and abbreviations is encouraged to promote efficient sending. Q-signals, procedural signals and abbreviations recognized by the net follow the sample net dialog.
   
   
8. NCS will always contact a net station using the station's call sign.
   
   
9. Except for check-in, always start your transmission out with DE [your call sign] and end your transmission with AR BK (your last transmission should end with SK BK).
   
   
10. This net is conversational only; no traffic will be handled.
    
    
11. Check-ins will be taken by NCS at the beginning of the net and periodically thereafter. Do not 'break in' to check in; wait until you hear QNI from NCS (NCS will QNI periodically throughout the net).
    
    
12. This net will operate with the following structure. A sample net dialog follows on the next page.
    
    Net Opening Phase: NCS opens the net
    
    Check-in Phase: NCS checks in stations (net stations provide NCS with their call sign)
    
    Station Description Phase: In the first round, NCS rotates through the check-in list, requesting each station to respond with:

    • Name
    • Power
    • Antenna Type
    • City
      
      

    Conversational Phase: In the second and subsequent rounds, NCS will rotate through the check-in list asking each station to Go Ahead ('GA'). Each station can use this opportunity to respond to earlier remarks, ask questions, state an opinion, communicate news, etc. During this phase, a station can indicate nothing to say by sending 'DE [call sign] PASS AR BK'. Or, if you wish to be excused, transmit 'DE [call sign] QNX AR BK'. NCS will then move to the next station on the check-in list. This phase continues until the earlier of: 1) 45 minutes has elapsed or 2) all stations have 'PASS'ed (or have been excused).
    
    Net Check-out Phase: If 45 minutes have passed and the net is still in operation (i.e., at least one station is still communicating), NCS will begin net station check-outs. NCS will call each participating station with the QNX Q-signal. Upon receipt of the QNX Q-signal, the station will sign-off. Upon the sign-off of all stations, NCS will close the net.
    
    

13. Questions? Please contact either:
    
    Rick Clifford - rick.clifford@eds.com
    Jill Wilson - ilovechocolate@earthlink.net

Sample Net Dialog

Net opening phase (preamble):

NCS: OCWN OCWN OCWN DE KF6UEB Orange County Wireless Net meets Sundays 0900 hrs 7.115 MHZ BT QND QNN KF6UEB Rick QTH Irvine BT QNI QNI AR K (Rick, as NCS, opens the directed net. After identifying NCS location, to let stations with beams point them, NCS indicates with QNI that he is ready for net stations to check in)

Check-in phase:

K3IMW: K3IMW (Ian checks in with his call sign)
NCS: K3IMW AS (NCS acknowledges Ian and asks him to please stand by pending additional check-ins)

KD6JBL: KD6JBL (Jerry checks in)
NCS: KD6JBL AS

NCS: QNI (NCS solicits additional check-ins, and hearing none proceeds to next phase)

Station description phase:

NCS: K3IMW (Starting at the top of the check-in list, NCS recognizes K3IMW)
K3IMW: C (Abbreviation for yes)
NCS: NAME/PWR/ANT/CITY PSE KN (Name, transmitter power, antenna type and city, please)
K3IMW: GE DE K3IMW NAME IAN PWR 20W ANT VERTICAL QTH IRVINE AR BK (Ian provides check-in information)
NCS: GE IAN TU AS (NCS asks Ian to please stand by)

NCS: KD6JBL
KD6JBL: HR (Another way to acknowledge NCS)
NCS: NAME/PWR/ANT/QTH PSE KN
KB6JBL: DE KB6JBL NAME JERRY PWR 50W ANT DIPOLE QTH FTN VALLEY AR BK
NCS: GE JERRY TU AS

NCS: QNI (NCS queries for additional check-ins at the end of the station description phase and hears none)

Conversational phase (general exchange of opinions, observations, questions, etc.):

[First Round]

NCS: K3IMW GA KN (Starting at the top of the check-in list, NCS invites K3IMW to transmit)
K3IMW: DE K3IMW BT HI ALL BT WAS ABLE TO SNAG A G3 ON 20 METERS PSK31 LAST NITE AR BK

NCS: KD6JBL GA KN (NCS invites the second station on the check-in list to transmit)
KD6JBL: DE KD6JBL BT GREETINGS TO NET BT I AM A NEW OP TO CW AR BK

NCS: QNN KF6UEB QNI (At the end of each round, NCS identifies and solicits additional check-ins)

KF6EZT: KF6EZT (Bruce is a late check-in and transmits his call sign)
NCS: KF6EZT AS

NCS: QNI (NCS solicits additional check-ins, and hearing none proceeds to get station info for KF6EZT)

NCS: KF6EZT
KF6EZT: C
NCS: NAME/PWR/ANT/QTH PSE KN
KF6EZT: GE DE KF6EZT NAME BRUCE PWR 50W ANT LONG WIRE QTH BREA AR BK
NCS: GE BRUCE TU AS

(Having completed the late check-in, NCS starts back at the top of the list)

[Second Round]

NCS: K3IMW GA KN
K3IMW: DE K3IMW QNX AR BK (Ian requests to be excused from the net)
NCS: K3IMW QNX (NCS has excused Ian from the net)
K3IMW: DE K3IMW SK BK (Ian signs off and leaves the net)

NCS: KD6JBL GA KN
KD6JBL: DE KD6JBL PASS AR BK

NCS: KF6EZT GA KN
KF6EZT: DE KF6EZT ITS COLD UP HERE IN BREA 43 DEG BT NEED TO THROW ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE AR BK

NCS: QNN KF6UEB QNI (No additional check-ins heard, start at the top of the list)

[Third Round]

NCS: KD6JBL GA KN
KD6JBL: DE KD6JBL PASS AR BK

NCS: KF6EZT GA KN
KF6EZT: DE KF6EZT PASS AR BK

All net participants have 'PASSed'; net is ready to be closed down.

Net checkout phase (Note that Ian has already left so NCS does not contact him):

NCS: KD6JBL QNX
KD6JBL: DE KD6JBL SK BK

NCS: KF6EZT QNX
KF6EZT: DE KF6EZT SK BK

All net participants have been checked out; net is ready to be closed.

NCS: OCWN QNF GE DE KF6UEB SK (After everyone is checked out, Rick closes the net and takes the NCS off the air)

Procedural Signals Used By the OCWN

Q-Signals Used By OCWN Net Control Station (NCS)

Q-Signals Used By OCWN Net Stations

Abbreviations Used by OCWN