Southern New England

Navy-Marine Corps MARS

Proudly Serving Those Who Serve

NECOS AND NET PROCEDURES

Net Control Station: (NECOS) - The NECOS is a station designated by appropriate authority to direct and control the operation and flow of all traffic on the net. Where practicable NECOS assignments should be rotated to take advantage of the significant training value of this key position.

Authority of the NECOS extends only to the net operations. Within their scope of authority, decisions of the NECOS are final. The NECOS does not have jurisdiction over the administration of the individual stations within the net, except for reporting network participation. NECOS is charged with the following responsibilities:

- Expedite traffic on the net.

- Maintain circuit discipline.

- Monitor net operations to determine and initiate corrective action on procedural discrepancies.

- Submit a report of net participation to the designated authority on completion of the net.

Alternate Net Control Station: (ALTNECOS): An Alternate Net Control Station shall be designated to assume the duties of NECOS when directed or when NECOS has failed to answer after three successive calls. When assuming net control station duties, the ALTNECOS will announce NECOS assumption by a transmission to NNNØALS. In the event NECOS or ALTNECOS are not present, another member of the net should assume the duties of NECOS until such time as the NECOS or ALTNECOS report into the net.

Directed Net: When operating on a directed net, stations must obtain NECOS permission prior to transmitting traffic. Record traffic may only be passed during a directed net.

NET OPERATIONS:

On Area or Region nets this procedure can be changed to have a roll call by states inserted into the call up procedure. (See roll call procedures).

The NECOS will establish the net with the following PROWORDS "ALL STATIONS THIS NET, THIS IS NNN0XYZ NET CONTROL FOR THE (net designator) NET. THIS IS A DIRECTED NET. ARE THERE ANY STATIONS WITH TRAFFIC? And end with the PROWORD OVER?"

Traffic Representative and other stations with message traffic will check-in at this time. The call sign is spoken "EN EN EN ZERO" (and the phonetic equivalent of the remainder).

Stations attempting to check into any net first and foremost, use courtesy and listen to ensure no one else is transmitting to prevent doubling, use the NECOS’ full call sign, pause (un-key the mike) then using the PROWORDS "THIS IS" followed by their call sign, Traffic will be listed by, number of messages, precedence and destination, and end with the PROWORD "OVER."

Again the call sign is spoken "EN EN EN ZERO" (and the phonetic equivalent of the remainder). Stations attempting to check into or re-enter the net first and foremost, use courtesy and listen to ensure no one else is transmitting to prevent doubling, use the NECOS’ full call sign, pause (un-key the mike) then using the PROWORDS "THIS IS" followed by their full call sign, Traffic will be listed by, number of messages, precedence and destination, and end with the PROWORD "OVER." NOTE: When checking into an Area or Region net after a roll call or out of State net, give your call sign your MARS STATE then your traffic report, and end it with the PROWORD "OVER."

Example 1: (for no traffic):

"NNN ZERO X-RAY YANKEE ZULU (pause) THIS IS NNN ZERO ALFA SIERRA INDIA, NO TRAFFIC. OVER."

Example 2: (Stations listing Traffic):

"NNN ZERO X-RAY YANKEE ZULU (pause) THIS IS NNN ZERO ALFA SIERRA INDIA, I HAVE (2) PRIORITIES FOR NNN ZERO GOLF ALFA X-RAY. OVER"

When all stations have responded to the net call, the NECOS will acknowledge each station using full call signs, and then with the PROWORD "ROGER" followed with the PROWORD "OUT".

After this the NECOS may authorize the use of abbreviated call signs (i.e. delete the NNNØ portion of the call) by transmitting the follows:

"ALL STATIONS THIS NET THIS IS NNN0XYZ ABBREVIATED CALL SIGNS ARE AUTHORIZED followed with the PROWORD OUT".

The Net Control Station will always use his or her full call sign. All members aboard the net will also continue to use the NECOS’ full call sign when communicating with the NECOS Station, but may use abbreviated call signs for themselves and all other members aboard the net when once abbreviated call signs have been authorized by NECOS.

The NECOS at his or her discretion may appoint an Alternate Net Control Station to assist in net operation as directed by NECOS, especially with poor propagation. When you are acting for or as NECOS you will always use your full call sign.

At this time the NECOS will direct the traffic to be passed, ensuring that all messages of higher precedence are passed first. Admin traffic will be passed before third party traffic. Listed message traffic has priority over all other net activity no matter the type of net (e.g., admin, training, ECOM, etc.) is being conducted. If delivery stations are not aboard the net, the NECOS has the authority and can proceed with other activities.

When all message traffic has been passed, the NECOS may direct any listed communications between members to take place.

When directing messages to be sent or one station to communicate with another, the NECOS will always end this direction with the PROWORD "OUT". The station to whom the traffic or communication is directed will answer "THIS IS NNN0XXX OVER" (or the last three letters if abbreviated call signs have been authorized). The station that started the communication or exchange will finally end it with the PROWORD "OUT".