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The next step in our evolution is about to begin! This involves expanding our net offerings as well as enhancing what we've already got on the books. The 40 meter nets have been reasonably well received and have dropped back to what seems to be a more smoothed out level of check ins. Of course we DO want to see a big increase in net participants on ALL of our nets, too! To that end here is the plan for the next four months... - Finalize 40 meter frequency change to 7195 IF majority feels this appropriate
- Expand the 40 meter net to daily operation
- Begin plans for 20 meter nets
- Get CW, PSK, and RTTY nets on 75m back into regular operation
- Recruit volunteer large area coordinators for recruiting/retention (northeast, southeast, north central, south central, western)
- Expand our outreach to encourage higher levels of participation with a goal of an average of 40-50 check ins on our nets
FINALIZE 40M FREQUENCY The rationale for moving our 40 meter frequency from 7205 to 7195 should be obvious: - HF broadcasting on 7210 frequently interferes with the net
- Moving below 7200 will allow stations outside of the U.S. and Canada to participate thereby making us truly "continental"
EXPAND 40M NET TO DAILY OPERATION The biggest challenge here is to recruit volunteer net control operators. NCS operators should possess stations which routinely are able to be heard at 59+ levels. This doesn't mean a station with a big amplifier, but certainly DOES mean an effective antenna system. If you routinely get signal reports of 57 or better then you are probably in good shape to be heard under most conditions (except, of course, the very worst conditions) your station is a good candidate for being a net control station! BEGIN PLANS FOR 20M EXPANSION We need to find a time of day which will allow consistent communications over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. As with 40M expansion there is a need for net control operators but, more importantly determining if there is sufficient interest to go this far at this point in our history. CW, PSK, AND RTTY NETS With more volunteer net control operators coming aboard we need to ensure that these modes get more attention than they have been getting in the past month. Now that we have four regular NCS operators and some new volunteers preparing to come online it will be much easier to provide NCS coverage for these important nets. Of course the assumption is that these nets are WANTED and will be supported. The history of the first two months of operation showed only limited interest with no more than 5 check ins on any of these nets. There is an important aspect of our nets: public service. By having these nets we provide not only the opportunity to exercise the multiple communications skills of our participants but the potential of introducing these modes to hams who may have never had the interest in trying these modes. LARGE AREA COORDINATORS AND RECRUITING OF NEW PARTICIPANTS These volunteers would assist in recruiting new participants to our nets by regular contact with clubs and individuals in their specific area. In addition the area contact person would be responsible for making contact with new participants (identified either on air participants or NetLogger monitors), newly-licensed amateurs, and with clubs to get our message out. We've got a good thing going here and we need to blow our own horns better. Recruiting new participants AND retaining them will ensure our long-term validity and success! HOW CAN YOU HELP? We're glad you asked! Our biggest need is in the net control operator area. It seems a little intimidating but it's really not. As NCS not only do you get the bonus of being able to work every station that checks in (if you need them) but you have broad discretionary powers on how to conduct the net. There are no fixed "rules" for how to run any session but we DO ask that you not change in the middle of a round in order to be fair to everyone on the net. Our primary concern is that a net be run expeditiously and that everyone get to make all of the calls they want to make within the time constraints of our published net schedule. Will it ALWAYS work? No, but as long as NCS makes a conscientious effort to give the same treatment to all then everybody will be just fine with how you handle a net. Our next big goal is to get our participation level increased with the goal of bringing our average participation to somewhere between 40 and 50 per net. Of course we'd be THRILLED to have more and we won't stop taking check ins just because we hit 50! We are looking for several volunteer regional contact persons and this is an ideal way that someone can help outside of net time! If you've got the time and enthusiasim to help us spread the word then you are the ideal person for this!!! |
