Emergency Communications Simplex Test Net Procedures

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Procedures for a Simplex Test Net

These are some procedures for running a simplex net to test out radio propogation among locations within VHF or UHF frequencies and range.

Preparations

Arrange for stations to monitor a repeater that is designated to coordinate the event.
Allow 30 minutes prior to the start of the net to test out various sites.
Inform them that they will receive a tactical callsign "Unit X" where X is a letter designation for that location.
Inform the stations that the NCS station will call for IDs once every ten minutes. Inform the stations to announce in sequential order only their Unit designation and their amateur radio call sign.
Assign a scribe to the NCS station to log the results. Instruct NCS to observe the progress of the scribe and not to proceed to the next unit until the signal report is correctly noted and logged.
Give periodic announcements on that repeater on the status prior to net time.

NCS Procedures

Announce and open the net. Give a one line description of the net and the simplex operating frequency for the test. Inform the stations that you will:

Take check-ins and assign a tactical call sign.
Use high power at the beginning of each series of tests to announce the test.
Start at the highest power level and work down to the lowest power level.
Call each station in order. You want only their tactical call and power level first so you can observe their power level.
After you give your report to them, you want their report consisting of:

Your power level heard [Roger your XX watts]
The S-meter reading observed [You are S#]
A subjective description (full quieting, 90% quieting, intermittent, only a few words, etc.) [and 90% quieting]

Report

Go to high power and give an announcement of the upcoming power level.
Give a test transmission at the given power level.
Call each station in order. You want only their tactical call and power level first so you can observe their power level.
NCS observes and logs the received signal. If NCS has a scribe, NCS calls out to the scribe the received signal report as you read it off the S-meter while the other station is transmitting. [That is why it's very important the the other station gives only their callsign and power level, so as not to confuse the NCS.]. Give the station a signal report consisting of:

Your power level [This is XX watts]
The power level heard [Roger your XX watts]
The S-meter reading observed [You are S#]
A subjective description (full quieting, 90% quieting, intermittent, only a few words, etc.) [and 90% quieting]
QSL?

Copy his report to you, consisting of:

your power level heard [Roger your XX watts]
the S-meter reading observed [Your are S#]
a subjective description (full quieting, 90% quieting, intermittent, only a few words, etc.) [and 90% quieting]
As you hear your report from him, memorize the report and repeat it to your scribe.
The scribe should acknowledge correct copy of both reports.

Acknowledge the report [Roger] and move onto the next station.

Wrapping up the Net

Request the following description from each site:

Radio, maker and model.
Antenna, height.
Length and type of coaxial cable.
Power levels available.

Which units they could copy, and which units they could not copy or copy with difficulty.

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