WEST CENTRAL OHIO

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE

DISTRICT 3 NET GUIDELINES

For Use After 19 October 2011

[Note: On the first Wednesday of the month the WCOARA control operator will activate the monthly EARS radio test at 8 p.m. An E-mail will be sent at the same time to the Miami Valley Priority Traffic (MVPT) listserver. On these days the West Central Ohio District 3 ARES net begins after the EARS radio test tones have sounded. Net Control Operators on these dates should ask for and record on the net report the number of EARS radios that did or did not activate for those amateur’s that have such radios and the number of MVPT pager and e-mail activation’s reported.]

[As you conduct the net remember to identify yourself by your callsign, as well the net name at least every 10 minutes. Example: “This is (Alpha-Numeric Call sign), Net Control for the West Central Ohio ARES Net”]

Optional (if time permits)

[7:55 p.m.] The West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service net will begin in 5 minutes. All licensed amateurs are encouraged to participate. Any amateurs with informal traffic are asked to pass it at this time this is (Alpha-Numeric Call sign).

[8:00 p.m.]
I. Opening Preamble

This is (Alpha-Numeric Call sign), (Phonetic Call sign), in (County), calling to order this regularly scheduled meeting of the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service net as directed by the District 3 Emergency Coordinator. This directed net meets every Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. local time on this repeater to train amateurs in proper net operation and to share ARES related information. We strongly encourage all licensed amateurs to participate in these nets and acquire a better understanding of net operation for times of disaster or general need of the public. You do not need to be a member of the ARRL or any other local or national organization to participate. If at any time during the net, any stations have EMERGENCY or PRIORITY TRAFFIC, please feel free to break in. At this time, is there any station with EMERGENCY or PRIORITY TRAFFIC?

[Pause for a few seconds, at least until the repeater squelch tail drops, before proceeding]

II. Check-ins

We will now start with check-ins. Please give ONLY your call sign and the county where you are physically located. Give your call sign alphanumerically and phonetically using the International Telecommunications Union standard phonetic alphabet . Check-ins will be taken by county. When checking in, please state if you are "short time." If you are not checking in as "short time," and need to leave prior to the end of the net, please clear with net control. County EC's, AEC’s, Net Managers, and tonight’s Control Operator please identify yourselves as such when checking in. Any station with announcements or other traffic please state so when checking in.

[Note: On the first Wednesday of the month also ask for EARS and MVPT activations.]

Amateurs calling from:

1. Champaign and Shelby Counties.

2. Miami, Preble, and Clark Counties.

3. Darke and Greene Counties.

4. Montgomery County.

5. We will now open check-ins to any stations in or out of District 3. Please state your county along with your callsign.

[Note: After the initial round of check-ins are complete ask for check-ins and/or check-outs about every 5 minutes or as close as you can get with a natural break in the flow of the net (i.e. between major sections)]

III. What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES.

ARES is organized under the ARRL Field and Educational Services Department (F&ES) at the National Level. It is broken down into Emergency Coordinators (EC's) at the ARRL Section (SEC), District (DEC) and local (EC's) levels. EC's can appoint Assistant EC's (AEC's) as they deem necessary.

If you are interested in becoming an ARES member contact the District Emergency Coordinator Al KB8RPO or your county Emergency Coordinator.

IV. Announcements

[If nobody has checked in for1 – 5, skip the section]

1. District Emergency Coordinator – [Al, KB8RPO]

2. County Emergency Coordinators –

[Call for any EC’s that have checked in, in the order they checked in. If the EC for a county has not checked in, call on any AEC’s for that county that have checked in.

Make a general call for any EC’s that have not checked in yet. Do not call by county.]

3. Net Manager – []

[Net Manager will report if a program is scheduled for tonight’s net]

4. Dayton SKYWARN Representative – [Lou, KB8TCK (In training season only)]

5. Over the Hill Gang Net –

6. Public Service Event Information – [Call on any stations that indicated they had PSE information during their check-in, in the order they were taken. Then call for any additional stations that have PSE information.]

7. General announcements – [Call on any stations that indicated they had traffic during their check-in, in the order they were taken. Then call for any additional stations that have PSE information.]

V. Program
[Perform this section only if the Net Manager reported that a program exists for tonight’s net]

VI. ARRL Bulletins – [Call on any stations that indicated they had ARRL Bulletins during their check-in, in the order they were taken. Then call for any additional stations that have ARRL Bulletins.]

VII. Comments

[Call for general comments. It is not necessary to go through the check-in list]

VIII. Close Net

At this time we will close this session of the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service net. We would like to thank the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association for the use of their repeater. Don't forget that this net meets every Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. and all licensed amateurs are welcome to participate. The repeater will be returned back to informal amateur operations after the playing of NewsLine.

VIV. Amateur Radio NewsLine

[Access tape via WCOARA control operator]

Additional Information:

The West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service net is held on the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association 145.110 (-) MHz repeater system.  Some of the receive sites for this system use a 67.0 Hz PL tone. This system is also linked to a 224.16 MHz repeater system.  If the 145.110 is not available, the designated backup repeater is the Miami Valley FM Association (MVFMA) 146.640 MHz. If Dayton SKYWARN is active and the 146.640 is in use, the net will be moved as determined by the DEC or NM and Net Control operators. As a final option, listen on 145.11 simplex for any announcements as to where the net has moved.

Revised 2 July 2008