Hiya Gang;
I'll be making my debut as NCS for our weekly KnightLites net tomorrow
(Sunday evening)... Oops... guess it's Sunday already... so look for us
tonight.
Tune in to 3686.4 KHz +/- and give a listen for:
CQ KL Net de WQ4RP QNI? k
I'll crank up the linear and open up the throttle on the generator to
make sure I'll be clackin' along at a full 5 watts. It you can hear me hang
in there... I'll hear you right back. I'll pick off the high rollers first
to get the channel clear for all you QRPp'ers, so once I acknowledge them,
I'll have them all standby and listen for you. Let's see how many of you can
make it in tonight. Here's the scoop on the net:
Frequency: on or about 3686.4 KHz
Start Time: 9:30PM Eastern Standard Time (2130 EST)
8:30PM Central Standard Time (2030 CST)
7:30PM Mountain Standard Time (1930 MST)
6:30PM Pacific Standard Time (1830 PST)
2:30AM Greenwich Mean Time (0230 UTC)
Duration: 90 minutes, 1.5 hours, until 0400 UTC.
End Time: This is left as an exercise for the student :-)
Net Control: WQ4RP (this is our very own KnightLites callsign)
NCS Operator: QNN N3GO, Gary in Raleigh NC. (First KL Net of each month)
Format: Informal...
NCS calls for check-ins (QNI?) and stations ID with callsign.
NCS acknowledges stations heard (QNS), asks for standby (AS)
while continuing requests for check-ins (QNI?).
When QNS list appears complete, NCS asks for relays (QSP?} from
others who may be hearing stations attempting to check-in
but who are not being heard by the NCS station. Obviously;
if you hear somebody attempting to call me that I haven't
yet responded to at this point, identify yourself, and I
will respond with "yourcall" QSP, tell others on the net to
standby (QNE) while you get the info from the unheard
station, and relay that information to NCS.
NCS then rotates through the list of stations and asks for
comments. Give your name, QTH, Power, antenna, rig, and
add what comments you would like to share with the gang.
NCS will interject between "chats" and check for addtional
check-in's (QNI?). Stations hearing weak stations attempting
to check-in without success, feel free to break in with QSP.
I will direct the net to standby for the new check-in.
NCS will get very tired as some point and throw in the towel
with QNF (Net is free).
I will be using my hand key, so I can QRS to whatever is comfortable for
you. I can QRQ to 15WPM or so in this mode, and upwards from there only after
the net closes. I will be listening hard for all you folks out on the fringe,
and other ears will be listening to help you get in if the going gets rough.
PLEEZE be persistent if you don't succeed right away. The band will be changing
as the night wears on, and at some point, you will likely make it in.
BTW... if you are on the fringes (lets say 1000 miles or more from NC),
feel free to break in with QNI between exchanges. If I hear something in the
channel, I'll hold the others off and get there ears focused for you.
Let's see how many QRPp folks we can squeeze in here too. Chuck... this
means you... Fire up the 950 milliwatts and give us a shout. We got you during
the "Knights before Christmas" event, and we get Ray in El Paso on a regular
basis, so see if we can't get you on our KL net roster tonight.
For those who might feel a bit uncomfortable trying to participate in
a net, now is your chance to give it a go. This is my first time as Net control
so if you don't botch it up... I will. In any event... we will both have great
fun, and its a chance for us to all learn together. There is no wrong way to
do this. You just got to keep plugging away until one of us hears you and lets
you in. To help you neebies to this net stuff... Here's some of the Q-signals
you may (or may not) hear and what they should mean when they are being used.
QNE - This is sent by NCS to ask all stations on the net to stand-by.
Its use will be slightly different in that it will apply to only
those stations who have successfully checked in. It is a way for
NCS to hold back the chatter long enough to pick up some of the
QRPp folks, as well as some of the DX stations who may not be
able to be heard otherwise.
QNF - This may get used at the end of the net to signal that the net is
over. Many who have stayed around until this time will sometimes
respond with 72, dit-dit, GE, or some other salutation before the
frequency goes quiet :-)
QNI? - The net control station (NCS) will use this to ask you to report in.
QNN "call" - Identifies the station who is participating as NCS. This will be
QNN N3GO tonight as I will be NCS for this session. You can also use
this as QNN? if you don't know who the NCS operator is but wish to.
QNS - This is followed by a list of callsigns... These are the stations
heard by NCS who have checked into the net.
QRS - Use this to ask NCS to slow down to your speed. Send at the speed
in which you are comfortable copying. Don't go much over 15 WPM for
the benefit of others on the net who wish to copy your comments.
QRZ? - This means who is calling me. If you get this response... it means
to give it another try... I may hear you, but am having some trouble
getting 100 percent.
QSP? - I will send this to signify "will somebody relay unheard stations?"
If you didn't hear the station on the QNS list you might want to
respond with QSP de "call" to let me know you hear somebody new
and can serve as a relay for them.
Some other stuff you might hear:
KL - An abreviation of KnightLites for use by the net.... I wonder why??
AS - Run together as one character... signifies wait. It is often used
in place of QNE, but more appropriately is used for an individual
station.
72 - The QRP community have adopted this altercation to 73 to imply
reduced power best regards. Haven't heard 87 used just yet, but
as the YL's start showing up, it's bound to happen.
Just about anything else... - Just ask...
I'm looking forward to a QRO list of QRP and QRPp check-ins. Lets make
this a record bash before summer starts to drown us out.
72 de N3GO ... QNN for WQ4RP Sunday night KnightLites net.
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