Everybody following the proper net etiquette benefits us all with a smooth running net where all wish to participate.
Here are some common aspects of a net.
First the Net Control Station (NCS) will begin the net, and request certain types of check ins. When appropriate others and yourself will check in and advise the NCS if they/you have traffic or not.
Here are some of the common words you might hear/use during a net:
CHECKING IN: When you check in with NCS with your callsign with no traffic meaning you have nothing to share with the net. If you check in with just your callsign NCS will assume you have traffic, PLEASE if you have something to share check in with your callsign followed by with traffic. This helps keeps confusion to a miniuim during those pileups!
CONTACT: Used if you, as station are monitoring a net, hear another station on the frequency that you would like to call. Example: you are monitoring one of the nets, you hear a buddy of yours check-in with the NCS, you say the word “contact”, followed by your callsign, and standby and wait to be recognized. NCS will give a “contact” station priority, knowing you have just heard a station you would like to talk to. Do not use “contact” to just check-in.
RE-CHECK: If you had left the frequency for period of time to meet a station that you left the net and could not make contact elsewhere you would say “re-check” followed by your callsign, and standby and wait to be recognized. Including your callsign here is always important. The NCS should give you priority to see if your station had returned to the net and try your contact again.
RE-ENTRY: If you had left the net for a period of time and would like to advise the NCS that you are back, say “re-entry”, followed by your callsign, and wait to be recognized.
COMMENT: If you wish to comment or add to, someone else’s traffic, simply say… “Comment” followed by your call, Wait to be recognized by NCS.