last updated: 11.04.24
VERSION 2.1 CHANGES
NETS ON SUNDAYS @ 1900 Pacifc Time (0200Z)
So the net has been running for a few months and I’ve been trying different NETFLOWS to see how it can be the most efficient and have come to the following conclusions.
In grid-down, having a persistent JS8Call station is optimal, a known NET TIME sub-optimal but important for those who can not keep their stations on the air 24/7 in SHTF.
Having the net in a “watering hole” (7.078) aids in adding people (information) to the group by getting exposure.
Making things as automated as possible adds to speed robustness by not requiring people be at their stations during the SKED time, as well as receive traffic in off times.
Realizing the above, I am doing a complete re-write here in one document. If you are sharing the net, please continue to direct them here. (https://pnwminuteman.com/s/pnw-js8call-net)
THE NETS PURPOSE
This net is about passing traffic in a fast and orderly way in austere conditions. This is done by a simple netflow during a specific time and/or passing traffic to @PNW to be relayed at the weekly NET.
The point is to pass as much information possible in a small COMMS WINDOW when the grid is down and normal means are not available, on a weekly basis at minimum in SHTF. It’s also to allow that info to be passed without anyone but the NCS at their station.
NET USE SCENARIO
The USA grid has been taken down by a hostile state actor with no ETA on of it coming back.
So a short COMMS WINDOW is in your interest and having pre-loaded information (your STATUS field) to have retrieved by NCS and disseminated to the group is crucial!
The COMMS WINDOW should be no longer than 30 minutes (1900PST-1930PST).
NET MEETING TIMES / FREQS
[SUNDAYS 1900PST/PDT 7.078MHz]
If I cannot be on-air to run the net, I will at least try to leave my radio "on station" with a message to pass on from my STATUS field during net times so others can practice pulling that information from an unattended station. I encourage all that participate to do this if not able to be at their radio during the net.
If you see other stations online (@PNW>) and it’s 5min after the hour, start the net by using the NETFLOW below.
First one to step up to the "mic" is the designated NCS for the night.
GENERAL NET RULES
All traffic is sent to @PNW, not individuals or the NCS. This way stations that can't hear NCS can follow traffic and those unattended stations will have messages stored in their JS8Call "Directed" center window to retrieve later.
ALL TRAFFIC TO SEND IS ENTERED IN THE "STATUS" EXPECT FIELD.
Keep it short and sweet, this ensures the most important traffic is passed ASAP at the beginning of the net, more information can be exchanged (conditions permitting) at the end of the net but the point of a nightly net is to get nationwide intel in a timely manner WITHOUT having to spend an hour on the radio "ragchewing" to accomplish that goal.
The ability to pre-load a message for the net into your STATUS field to be disseminated by the NCS to the @PNW group is the key feature of this net protocol.
The AmRRON STATREP is sent first then any news preceded by the date/time of when it was made known to you.
example: A OR H 20240322:1800z TROOPS SEEN MOVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE-5 MARTIAL LAW DECLARED IN OREGON.
If you have nothing to report, just send your AmRRON STATREP in short form.
example: A OR M = Normal Oregon Mobile
The White Paper for the Abbreviated STATREP can be downloaded at: https://tinyurl.com/abrstatrep
NETFLOW
All commands are sent by having the @PNW group selected and entering the following commands.
1900PST send SNR? to group to see who is on station and what propagation looks like to NCS.
1. SNR?
See if anyone is on station to start a net. Give it a good 10 minutes though as some are going to be late to the radio from time to time. If you send several SNR? and nothing comes back, NCS will send “nothing heard, no net tonight”.
PULL status from stations, STATUS = Abbrev. AmRRON STATREP followed by short news to pass to the group.
2. STATUS?
This is the workhorse of the net flow. All information you have to pass should already be in your STATUS field on JS8Call.
This one simple command should gather all information from everyone on station that has @PNW in their groups.
Send STATIONS HEARD to the group, Ask for relays.
3. HEARD = "sfx", "sfx" - MISSED STATIONS, FORWARD/RELAY YOUR STATUS NOW
e.g. = JLJ: A OR H, EDC: A OR M, etc, etc
Suffixes are used to prevent triggering on a valid callsign.
NCS collects all data from the STATUS’ received and forms a NETSUM MSG with date to be sent to @PNW at end of net and stored as E? PWNSUM if using JS8Spotter.
Send NET SUMMARY (SUFFIXES and STATUS’) to the group as a MSG and ask for late traffic.
4. MSG NETSUM NOV10 = JLJ: A OR H, YSX: A ID H, etc. etc. - LATE TRAFFIC COME NOW.
If you have a correction to make to the NETSUM just sent, are late to the party, have a relay for an unheard stations or have something critical to pass, now is the time.
NCS WAITS FOR LATE TRAFFIC (2 cycles) THEN PUSHES FINAL NETSUM TO ALL STATIONS AS A MSG
5. MSG NETSUM NOV10 = JLJ: A OR H, YSX: A ID H, ANY LATE STATIONS INSERT HERE
The purpose of this is to send the NETSUM out to everyone in the group so that unattended stations will have the whole net information waiting in their inbox when they return.
If you RELAY as station’s STATUS into the net, YOU are responsible for pushing the NETSUM to them at the end.
If you are using JS8Spotter, this information along with the date/time should be stored in the expect “PNWSUM” for retrieval at a later date with “E? PNWSUM” from K7JLJ or anyone else using JS8Spotter. E? Expects DO NOT work on groups, so sending to E? PNWSUM to @PNW will get no return.
Close net
6. LAST REMARKS ENTER HERE - PNW NET CLOSED, 73
This closes the official part of the net. The whole process should take 30min tops without relaying.
NOT ABLE TO BE ON-AIR DURING NET
If you are not available during net time, try PUSHING your STATUS as MSG to K7JLJ when you can during the week and I’ll include it on air as a relay.
I am persistent on 7.078MHz most of the time and will add late traffic to my JS8Spotter Expect as well as relay pushed MSG to my station during the week.
If you send “E? PNWSUM” to my station (K7JLJ) anytime it is reachable, it will send you the NETSUM (total traffic) and date/time of the last net held.
ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE APPRECIATED! LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.