AFTER ACTION REPORT
Net began as planned on 145.29 repeater. The exercise plan was reviewed before starting the simplex components. There were 9 checked in stations, one station was out-of-area. All stations were recorded in NetLogger and several stations monitored the exercise using NetLogger.
There were 3 alternate control stations assigned. Several stations were assigned as ANCS to guard on 145.29 for additional check-ins. The exercise operated on 144.200, 145.29, 146,55, 3.820, 12.220 and 28.410. Signal reports were performed on all simplex frequencies. Digital message were passed using FLDIGI and SLOWSCAN.
The following frequencies had the best simplex signal reports: 146.550 and 144.200.
There were four HF capable stations in the exercise. The HF signal reports had mixed results. Some stations were weak-readable and others stations were not heard. It must be noted for the HF exercise portion, all stations had antennas with various orientation and power emissions. Those stations with directional beams had the best results and stations whose antenna were in parallel with others stations in the same east-west orientation were less likely to hear each other. This means when using HF we would need to rely on message relays.
The following feedback was provided
- All stations were good readable
- 2m SSB capability had best coverage
- Need more stations with 2m SSB capability
- Exercise demonstrated good simplex area coverage
- Stations should check their HF capability before the exercise
- Stations can try to arrive on time to the net
- Proword use has improved
- SlowScan images needs to improve
- Stations should test FLDIGI capabilities including acoustic coupling
- Need more stations with digital capability in the exercise
The official exercise concluded at 11.50am. Following the exercise, three stations tested other HF frequencies with mixed results. N1QFH could hear all stations but was not readable by any. This may have been due to antenna orientation of east west and in parallels to KO4AEP and close proximity to that station and N1QFH was using a terminated folded dipole. KO4AEP was heard by both N1QFH and KE4JQ and used a wire fed at about 35 feet in east west orientation. KE4JQ and KO4AEP had the best station to station contact on 12.220 and 28.410. All HF stations tried a signal report on 60m Channel-1 (5330.5 mhz) with no contact made by any station.
The exercise ended at 12.30pm
CLICK for Station Capability
DATE: Saturday 3-July-2021
TIME: 11.00 am
DURATION: 45-90 MIN
FREQUENCY: Net begins on 145.29- PL110.9
LOGGING: NetLogger for station and assigned alternate NCS
VHF SIMPLEX:
Analog – 146.55
SSB – 144.200
DMR 145.510 CC-1 TS1- TG-99
UHF SIMPLEX:
Analog – 446.000
DMR – 441.000 CC-1 TS1- TG-99
HF SIMPLEX:
Analog – 80M use 3.820 mHz, 10m use 28.410 mHz
Please note – the HF frequencies are planned as long as they are not being used. NCS will assign stations to check the frequency use before making any official call to use those frequencies.
GOAL:
- Station check into 145.29 at net start time
- Stations operate on assigned simplex frequencies
- Stations be ready to RELAY messages and stations
- Stations be ready to assume Net Control duty
- Stations begin using pro-words and other practices for simplex nets
PREPERATION:
- Monday 7pm Voice Com Net on 145.29
- Daily 6pm NTS Nets on 146.61
NET CONTROL STATION SCTIPT: CLICK for the script
Before the net is established, stations are encouraged to:
1. Fully test radios
2. Setup the 2 simplex frequencies on their radios
3. Become familiar with programming their radios
4. Know how to use reverse when on the repeater
5. Know how to turn on and off squelch
6. Have set up best power and antennas options
7. Have identified a location for optimal performance
8. Station be ready to relay other stations
The Simplex Exercise will be established on 145.29 mHz and stations will check in.
Once NCS has checked in all stations, the following will occur:
1. NCS will assign an alternate NCS (ANCS)
2. NCS will direct stations to QSY to simplex frequency
3. NCS will make a call for stations on simplex frequency
4. Each station will provide callsign and signal report
5. NCS will record each station’s signal report
6. NCS will direct station to QSY to 145.29 mHz
7. NCS will report findings on the 145.29 mHz Net
8. NCS will ask for comments and then close the net
Stations may desire to remain on the repeater after the net closes to troubleshoot any problem that arise.
Because these exercises test our abilities and capabilities on simplex frequencies, we need to rely on clear communications. Using prowords and signal reports helps remove any use of coded communications such as 10-4 or “copy that”. Please note the use of the proword and when they are used by examples.
READABILITY AND SIGNAL STRNGTH
PRO-WORDS
For these exercises, stations should become familiar with use of this list of pro-words.
AFFIRMATIVE – station response to YES or NO question
CORRECTION – error made, continue with last word correctly transmitted
FIGURE (S) – Numerals or numbers follow
I SAY AGAIN – station repeating transmission or portion indicated
NEGATIVE – station response to YES or NO question
OUT – end transmission, no answer is required or expected
OVER – end transmission, response is necessary, go ahead transmit
RELAY (TO) – transmit message to all addressees
ROGER – station acknowledgment of message copied
SPEAK SLOWER – transmission is too fast, reduce speed
WAIT – pause for a few seconds
Examples of use
BB1AA THIS IS AA1BB NEGATIVE OVER
BB11AA THIS IS AA1BB ROGER OUT
THIS IS AA11BB SAY AGAIN CALLSIGN OVER
BB1AA THIS IS AA1BB ASSUME ALTERNATE CONTROL OUT
THIS IS BB11AA FOR NET CONTROL ADDITIONAL STATIONS OVER
BB1AA THIS IS AA1BB RADIO CHECK OVER
AA1BB THIS IS BB11AA WEAK WEAK READABLE OUT
“THIS IS” may be omitted by stations for brevity.
DO’S AND DONT’S
WHEN CHECKING IN, SAY YOUR CALLSIGN SLOWLY EG: “AA1BB OVER”
WHEN CHECKING IN, NO NEED TO SAY “THIS IS”
WHEN CHECKING IN, PLEASE PAUSE BEFORE TRANSMITTING
PRACTICE AND USE PRO-WORDS
ADVOID SAYING YOUR NAME, BREVITY IS BEST
SLOWDOWN, KEEP COOL, PAUSE AS NEEDED
CAPAPILITIES TO EXERCISE
Capabilities for this exercise follows:
- ID stations capable of DMR, SSB, FLDigi and SlowScan
- Station use FLDigi and SlowScan as assigned by NCS
- Use approved pro-words
- Pass station messages eg brief news item
- Assign stations as Alternate NCS
- Alternate NCS report checked in stations
Capabilities to test for next exercise follows:
- Test HF and integrate component
- Signal reports and QTH all stations
- Passing health and welfare
- Pass digital traffic
- Pass slow-scan pictures
What we choose to exercise will be by consensus and as suggested by participants.