How to participate on the WASA Net – answers to the basic questions …

Welcome to the WASA Net. We thought it would be helpful for you to have an overview of some of the basic things to know when participating on the Net.

What is Netlogger?
Netlogger is a free application that can be downloaded from netlogger.org It allows you to track who is checked in and monitor your Net QSOs. Operating NetLogger can appear to be a daunting task, but it is fairly intuitive for most people and fairly easy once you get the hang of it.
Once you open NetLogger and select the net, there are several sections/windows available.

• The Header Section contains basic information about the net, i.e. net name, frequency, net control station ID, etc.

• Usually appearing below the header is the Check-ins window. It
  contains a list of all stations checked in to the net. Once you are officially checked in to the net, a line will appear listing your call sign, name, location, etc. (See QSL Info for an explanation of the contents of that field).
• The Net Control Station (or his designated logger)
  makes the entries into the Check-ins Window. Nothing you type there will be visible to anyone else on the net. (You cannot check in to a net by entering your call sign on a blank line.)
• The AIM window can be opened by clicking on the button in the header section. (See AIM for guidelines on the use of AIM.)
• A contacts window is also available. It shows all of your NetLogger logged contacts. This log stays in your NetLogger files and is a permanent record of all of your NetLogger contacts.
• Finally, a Monitors List window is available which lists all stations who are monitoring the net, whether checked in or not.
  You can view any or all of these windows in turn or simultaneously by sizing them and dragging them around on your screen. I find it very helpful to have the Header, Check-ins Window and the AIM Window “paned” on my screen so all three are visible. By dragging the line at the bottom of the screen, I can bring up the Contacts Window to log or check a contact.
• To log a contact, click on the line number of the station contacted, then click on the “Log Contact” button in the header. You will need to bring up the Contacts Window and manually enter both signal reports. All other contact information will already be recorded there.
• Lines in the Check-in Window will appear in different colors. The meanings of the various colors are accessible by clicking “View” at the top of the NetLogger window, then “Color Legend”. Of particular interest is the “Pink Line”. It usually indicates whose turn it is to make a call.
• Also at the top of the window is a “Help” button. It contains much more information about using NetLogger.
• AIM – (Almost Instant Messenger) is a feature of NetLogger which allows operators to interact via chat format during a net. The AIM window can be opened by clicking on the AIM button in
  the header section. It is a good idea to monitor AIM if you can. Net Control may post important information there, especially if band conditions are less than optimal, i.e. net frequency changes, notifications to one or more operators on the net, etc. You can post to AIM by entering text in the box at the bottom of the AIM window. Your post will appear in the main AIM window. There may be a considerable lag time for posts.
• On the WASA Net, the Net Control Station will also accept check ins on AIM.
• If you must leave the net before it finishes, please post something like “Line # __ checking out.”
• Please wait for a NCS or a relay to administer your turn on the net, it will help with the NCS control the flow of the net and helps to prevent lots of doubling.
• Some shorthand expressions commonly used on AIM
  WW – working
  BTN – back to net
  COOA – checked out on AIM
  RR – roger
  UA or U/A – unavailable
  C/I – check in
  C/O – check out
  NJ – No Joy – didn’t make contact

Exchanging Signal Reports

When making a contact, the key component to a good contact is the exchange of signal reports. We pass signal reports in order to confirm contacts. The mininum report is a 2 1 (given over the air as “Two One” or “Twenty-one”) – which means “I can hardly hear you”. The maximum is a 5 9 (“How do you want your coffee?”)Therefore, we ask that when a station gives you a signal report, you then repeat it back so that Net Control (or relays) can confirm that it is a good call. Likewise when you return a report to the other station, they should then repeat back to you the report that you gave them.

• Signal reports are sometimes accompanied by a code word to make the report more understandable in difficult band conditions. Some common signal reports and their code
  words are as follows:
  2 1 – Blackjack or Minimum
  2 2 – Rifle Shot or Bang-Bang
  3 3 – triplets
  4 4 – Magnum
  5 5 – Speed Limit or Nickle’s
  5 7 – Heinz Variety
  5 8 – Roller skates
  5 9 – Maximum
• In general, please do not post signal reports on AIM. An exchange of signal reports is what is necessary to ensure you and the other station have made a ‘good contact’
• What does give “a long string” mean. When a station is trying to hear you in rough conditions they may ask you to “send a long string”. They are asking for you to send ONLY the signal report numbers several times. We recommend giving the report 3 to 5 times slowly and use the slang terms as well. Often you can complete a “good contact” by using this method. DON’T give callsigns again at this point, just send your signal report numbers 4 or 5 times and wait for a roger from the other station or a “good contact” from Net Control.
• What does it mean to go “Up For Grabs”? Going “up for grabs” is like calling CQ and taking calls from whoever answers. To do this, say “This is [your callsign] in [your state], UP FOR GRABS!” You will get stations giving their callsign in response, pick up to two stations to answer and exchange signal report with for your log. Sometimes NCS will offer you the opportunity to go up for grabs again to accommodate a large number of stations wanting to work you.