TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATERUS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 11.05 DATE: January 30, 2011
SUBJECT: DON'T LEAVE THE NET
A net is a short way of saying network. On radio, a network is a group of operators that gather for the purpose of passing information from one person to another, or to a group. When you check into a radio net you are letting those in the net know that you are there, and that you may be ready to participate in whatever activity might be going on.
When you check into a net you are also testing your radio equipment. Once you check into a net, whether or not you have traffic or comments, you should stay in the net until the net is closed, or you have asked the Net Control Station for permission to close your station. It's possible that someone may want to communicate with you, since they know that you're on the net. If you just leave the net then you may miss an important communications.
A net is used to let radio operators practice for a real emergency. On some emergency nets you may sit for hours without saying anything, but you may be needed at any time. If you have to close your station down because of foul weather such as lightening, try to let the Net Control Station know. If you are unable to let the Net Control Station know that you need to shut down, try to check back into the net at a later time to let the Net Control Station know why you had to leave. The Net Control Station may have some information that you may have missed.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV