Introduction:
The Southern California Net (SCN) is a slow-speed training net. Beyond the training objective, it serves to transfer NTS formal traffic that originates within Southern California into the NTS Sixth Regional net (RN6) and to distribute traffic from RN6 for delivery into Southern California.
This is a training net, so please ask if you need any help! If operations are conducted at a speed higher than is comfortable for you, send “QRS” (slow down) and stations will adjust their code speed. If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. CW NTS nets use “Q” signals and abbreviated operating instructions for efficiency, so it may take a few sessions to get used to the net routine.
How the net operates:
This is an example of a typical SCN session – how the net is opened, how it conducts its business, and how it is closed. Each Net Control Station (NCS) will use slight variations, but the working parts will be the same. N6HD is the call used in this example, and K6IFF is the net control station. To open the net, the NCS will send:
CQ SCN CQ SCN DE K6IFF K6IFF
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NET IS NOW OPEN X
SCN IS PART OF THE NTS AND MEETS TUESDAY AND THURSDAY AT 2100 PT ON THIS FREQUENCY X VISITORS ARE WELCOME
QNZ QND QNN K6IFF K6IFF
QNZ means zero your frequency on the net control station
QND means that this is a directed net – you must follow the directions of the NCS
QNN means that the NCS is K6IFF.
NCS will then call for stations to check in:
CQ SCN DE K6IFF QNI QTC?
QNI invites stations to check into the net. QTC? asks if you have traffic to list. To QNI, send the last letter of your call, “D”. NCS will acknowledge you by repeating “D”, and you should immediately respond with your full call sign “N6HD”. If you have traffic, list it by sending the city, then the number of messages for that city, then the next city. You might respond to “QNI QTC?” with “D”, then when acknowledged, “N6HD GE BILL QTC ANAHEIM 1 K”. If you have no traffic, your response could be “N6HD GE BILL QRU K”.
As stations check in with traffic, NCS will keep the list by city. NCS will then send the complete traffic list and ask for stations to QSP (accept responsibility to relay messages).
If you will accept traffic, respond to NCS as follows (example): “D”; when acknowledged, send “N6HD QSP WOODLAND HILLS AND VAN NUYS K”. (That tells NCS you will accept the Woodland Hills and Van Nuys traffic.) NCS will acknowledge, and arrange for the exchange by calling the station holding the traffic, directing that station to call you and exchange the traffic “HERE” (on the net frequency) or perhaps “U3” or “UP 3” (move up 3 KHz), “D5” (move down 5 KHz). After the traffic is exchanged, both stations return to the net frequency. You indicate you are back by sending “D”, and wait for further direction.
NCS will generally excuse stations when there is no need to keep them on the net. The exchange might be: “K6HD” (you acknowledge by sending a single dash “-“. NCS would respond with something like “TU DAVID QRU QNX 73 DE K6IFF GE”. QRU means there is no more business for you; QNX means you are excused from the net.
When all net business is completed, NCS will send:
QNC SCN QRU QNF DE K6IFF GE SK
(QNC: everyone listen; QRU: SCN business is done; QNF: SCN is closed.)
Taking traffic:
When you accept traffic, there are a few more things you should know. Once the sending and receiving stations are in contact, the sending station will send “QRV?” asking you if you are ready to copy. When you are ready, respond with “QRV”.
Often, the sending station will send “QSK” before sending the message. QSK means that the sending station is capable of full break-in operation so that you can interrupt (break) if you miss something. After you break, the sending station will pause, and you should send the last word you copied. The sending station will continue from that point.
As an alternative, you can wait until the full message has been sent (the sending station will send “AR”, end of message), and you can then ask for “fills” – those items you missed or are not sure you copied properly. You can use “WB” (repeat the word before ___), “WA” (repeat the word after) or “AA” (repeat everything after __) to direct the sending station. Most important, get the message right! Accuracy is important.
-- Bill Myers K6IFF
Section Traffic Manager
November 1, 2009