MMSN Net Protocol

Remember, this is a DIRECTED net and the Net Control Station (NCS) has control of the frequency. Please listen to the directions of the NCS and follow them. Do not transmit if you have not been directed to do so.

During an emergency situation on the net, the NCS has the ultimate authority and, pursuant to FCC regulations, stations who intentionally interfere with emergency traffic are subject to prosecution.

Structure Of The Net

The Maritime Mobile Service Network is not a typical check-in net. Although we do accept check-ins from stations without traffic, those just wanting to say hello, it is not our primary purpose. Our primary purpose is to handle traffic from maritime mobile stations and deployed service personnel. If there are no maritime mobiles or deployed stations, we then look for stations with traffic.

We also provide high seas weather information for the maritime mobile stations, hurricane advisories and tropical weather information. We also read Amber Alerts from law enforcement agencies all over North America. We also take position reports and collect weather information from maritime mobile stations for the National Weather Service.

Once all of the above is done, then we will ask for check-ins from stations without traffic. Depending on the traffic load on the particular day, the period that we will ask for check-ins without traffic will vary. However, we appreciate everyone monitoring the net and being ready to assist.

Checking Into The Net

If you wish to check into the net, you are asked to first listen to ensure that there is no emergency traffic in progress. You will then hear the net control station (NCS) ask for check-ins according to the above format. If you are a station on land, DO NOT transmit when the NCS is asking for maritime mobiles! Likewise, if you are checking in with no traffic, DO NOT transmit when the NCS is looking for stations with traffic. We ask that you observe a degree of discipline and follow the directions of the NCS.

When the time is right to check-in according to the above format, please say just your callsign phonetically once and standby. The NCS will then call you back in the order that you were heard. When the NCS calls you into the net, please say your name, location and any traffic you may have.

In the event that you do not hear the NCS, DO NOT call blindly on the frequency. We run a directed net and you will only cause interference with other stations. If you do not hear the NCS, standby and wait for a relay station to call for check-ins. Then follow the above procedure for checking into the net.

The most important network operation that any station can perform is listening. There is nothing more frustrating and wasteful than five stations talking at the same time!

Some of the commonly used terms you may hear on the net are:

Contact: This means that you have heard a station you are trying to reach and you wish to talk to him. The NCS will acknowledge contacts and allow you to move your station off frequency.

Recheck: If you have moved off frequency and you were unable to contact your station, return to the net frequency and say " recheck ". The NCS will give you an opportunity to recall your lost station.

List: If you have traffic for a particular station or geographical area, you 'list' the traffic with the NCS. The NCS will then periodically call your station and will give you the opportunity to call your station as time permits. Under normal circumstances, the list of traffic is reviewed by the NCS every 10 - 15 minutes.

Re-Entry: If you have left the net and wish to re-enter it, simply announce your call sign followed by the word " re-entry ". Again, please wait until NCS calls for check-ins.

Two-way & Toll-Free USA/Canada: The term "two way" is used to indicate a telephone patch. You may list traffic as "two-way New York City", if you want a telephone patch to New York City. It is also used to indicate that a station has phone patch capability, i.e. This is K4EDX, two-way available, Mobile, Alabama.

You may also hear a station offer a toll-free. This indicates that the station is offering a phone patch to anywhere in the USA and/or Canada without calling collect. With the deregulation of the phones systems, this is very common.