Ideas for ZSARC HF Net & EmComms:

[North Force]

Ideas for ZSARC HF Net & EmComms:

Have more than 1 band - Depending on Band conditions, the HF bands can be a Charlie Foxtrot or totally open. If only one band is chosen for a HF net, you/we may not be able to get through without much searching for a semi-clear frequency – especially in the general portion of the bands.

80m & 40m are generally good for Night
20m & 17m are generally good for Day

While those are general conditions for those bands – if the conditions are real good, you can talk countrywide on 10m until late into the evening.

Also might be a good idea to assign 2 freq’s in each band as a SHTF comm freq to be checked/monitored for 3-5 minutes on each band starting at the top and/or bottom of each hour in case of SHTF situation – depending on your situation.

While we have widgets now that show us what bands are or will be “open” - this option is internet only, and may not be available, and it will be helpful to have multi-preset freqs to try.
This way you are not spinning the dial to hopefully find a contact.

Those with CB’s only can also follow this by choosing multiple channels – preferably in USB or LSB.

Maybe have a few Batteries only Bugout Nets as practice. This will give needed practice on setting up antennas/radios and conserving your batteries.
These and some of the other nets don’t need to be rag chewing nets – maybe just have them as a check-in/out & your location net to see if you can even make contact.

Just some ideas…

[packn_rn]

We should pick 1 frequency in each band, with a protocol to go up by 5's until a clear frequency is found), maybe try a customized CQ call for the ZSARC) then we could randomly check in at a time such as 10 minutes before the top of the hours. Would something like that work?

[NYKh]

I’m in.
My only recommendation would be keep the Freq in the general portion of the band.
“2 freq’s in each band as a SHTF comm freq to be checked/monitored for 3-5 minutes on each band starting at the top and/or bottom of each hour in case of SHTF situation”

“If not clear with a protocol to go up by 5's until a clear frequency is found”
Both sound like good practice.

For the call something from CW:
CQ CQ CQ KB3XXX KB3XXX KN ZOMBIE RADIO

[Moose1247]

I like the idea of multiple bands with a primary and a backup frequency and/or some other protocol if that frequency (or frequencies) is/are busy, etc.

Something to the order of this:
-Initial callup is made on the lowest band (I vote 40 meters as a 40 meter dipole is pretty easy to deploy and 40 meters is usually pretty quite compared to 80) primary frequency
-After X minutes, switch to secondary frequency (or follow busy freq protocol) if primary is busy, etc.
-After X minutes if no stations heard or lowest band is charlie foxtrot switch to the next highest band (20 meters if 40 is the first band) primary frequency
-After X minutes, switch to secondary frequency (or follow busy freq protocol) if primary is busy, etc.
-Etc., etc. with as many levels as desired (can be a simple or complex as we want, probably the simpler the better)

We could also establish primary and backup calling frequencies on all bands as a backup regardless of whether or not they are part of the EmComm calling protocol or not. This will allow for even more redundancy to allow for the "all plans are great until the first shot is fired" problem. If a significant event is known to have occured and yet no traffic is heard on the EmComm net these other bands and frequencies can then be monitored. An offband frequency or two for those with that capability might not be a bad idea also .

The specific frequency schedule probably doesn't matter that much as long as it is followed with the utmost discipline by both those listening and by those transmitting. Otherwise you may be broadcasting in the dark not knowing that stations are listening elsewhere. Some training nets would be great. We would also want to establish some basic criteria for when one might get on those freqs and listen so we know to get on the radio when news of a certain event is heard. There may be a disaster in your area but it may not be affecting me or vice versa.

Anyhow, those are my thoughts.

[ke4yqd]

I would suggest +/- 5 khz of the QRP calling freqs. It is in the general class license in all cases. And there is only one minor deconfliction to be made. 40 QRP calling freq is 5 khz below the AM calling freq, but no one really uses .290 for AM calling any more. I haven’t heard one in years and emergency communications trump EVERYBODY ELSE any day, but it is important to be mindful of them.

Schedule for EOP (Emergency Operations Procedures)
0:00 80 = 3.980 (top of the hour), 0:05 3.990 (5 after and so on)
0:10 40 = 7.280, 0:15 7.290 (7.290 is AM calling freq)
0:20 20 = 14.280, 0:25 14.290
0:30 17 = 18.135, 0:35 18.145 (had to make this one up)
0:40 15 = 21.380, 0:45 21.390
0:50 10 = 28.380, 0:55 28.390

You may be aware that we have biweekly nets on echolink. We use the *UNODE* server for the time being. But what say you to having a go at a HF net same day, 30 min prior to or after the echolink net?

The next ZSARC echolink net will be on the 27th of May at 18:00 central, 21:00 zulu. We could try HF at 17:30 central, 20:30 z or 18:30, 21:30? What say you to 7280 KHz?

Example Preamble:

CQ Zombie Squad, CQ Zombie Squad, CQ Zombie Squad, this is (YOUR CALL) net control station for the Zombie Squad Amateur Radio Club. My name is (YOUR NAME) and I am located in (YOUR QTH). This net meets every other Sunday at 20:30 (or 21:30) zulu on a frequency of ######.

This is an informal net that is open to all amateur radio operators. If through the duration of the net there are any emergency or priority traffic please say “Break Priority or Break Emergency” and you will be recognized.

We will now take check-ins. If you would like to check in please give me your call sign phonetically followed by your name and location. Please call now.

[NYKh]

I'm in. i've been having the best comms on 20m lately so I'll try for that.

[ke4yqd]

I was on the air all day today. 20m is still rolling right now. So I might suggest using 14.280/90 for next week. I'll keep listening...

It is now 1023pm, 323z, and DX is still coming in on 14.273. Mostly Africa / Horn of Africa countries. Less Europe (those guys are all sleeping).

Also for the customized call. We (ZSARC) are already talking about getting a "Club" callsign. Now that we are an official ZS club/chapter. We need a trustee for the call, and usage of the club callsign will need to be cleared through that individual.

There is some difficulty when it comes to a geographically separated club using one call though. Especially if some no coder starts playing with privileges that don't pertain to their station class...

[ke4yqd]

Ok. Right now on 7280! if no one is heard, I'll be switching to 14280 at 15 till.