South Coast Amateur Radio Service, Net Control Stations Operations Manual. A Guide To Aid In Uniformity And Consistency. (Revised January 2026)
South Cars has been in existence for more than 55 years, and like just about everything else has evolved over the years and will continue to do so. We have a Net Control Station (NCS) for each of the 28 hours per week the net is in operation plus, several alternate NCS’. We have over 14,963 members as of this writing. It goes without saying consistency in our operation is of prime importance. If we do not each conduct our net sessions in a similar manner, our net members can easily become confused as to our procedures. This in turn, leads to disenchantment and eventual “fading” away of our members. We need to make them feel welcome.
We realize that folks, hams in particular, hate to read, or refer a to manual unless, or until, all else fails! However, we ask that you PLEASE thoroughly read this manual and that you work with us in following the procedures and guidelines accordingly. Each one of you, and the service you provide to the success of Southcars, is greatly appreciated. Without each of you, we wouldn’t have a South Cars Net!
We do ask, in return for the fun, satisfaction, and enjoyment that you receive as a net control station, that you help us by adhering to these guidelines.
This manual is for all of us, “old timer” NCS’, Alternate NCS’ as well as new NCS’ and anyone else interested in knowing, and understanding our preferred guidelines in our everyday net operations.
We also have net control stations that are giving out, from time to time, erroneous, and/or completely outdated, information. We have means in place for each of you to stay up to date on changes in procedures. We don’t want to change your personality. Everyone has his, or her, own unique personality. We do, however, ask that we all be consistent in our procedures, hence the issuing of this manual. Keep up on changes and updates.
Remember, if you allow deviations while other NCS’ properly adhere to the rules you are not being fair to your fellow NCS’, as deviations will probably propagate hard feelings by the members towards those NCS’ who are following the rules. Your help and cooperation, coupled with your willingness to take time out of your busy day to conduct your net session(s) are appreciated!
No Prelists!
If you are opening the first hour in the morning and hear others on the frequency waiting for the net to start, do NOT put them on your check-in list. Let them check in along with everyone else. If asked to do so, just indicate that, in fairness to all, we don’t take prelists.
All sessions Read the Announcements posted on the Web Site At the start of your net.
Finally, if propagation is “long” and you are not hearing stations close to you, try to, at least once during your session, pick another NCS located far from you to take a list of Mobiles and then a list of “anyone, anywhere”, thereby affording more people the ability to check in. Be clear to the assisting NCS as to what you want him, or her, to do, so that you don’t lose control of your session.
SESSION FORMAT:
8AM Session every day: Have a copy of the Preamble ready for opening this session!
Open your session. Please read the actual up to date preamble and don’t try to wing it. The first session only, then follow the format below.
ALL NET SESSIONS SHALL FOLLOW THE FORMAT OUTLINED BELOW.
Read the SK list if one has been provided by the Database Manager.
Read all current ANNOUNCEMENTS from the website.
Check to see if anyone is celebrating their birthday. If so, welcome them and let them check in, and wish them a Happy Birthday. Have everyone on frequency say “Happy Birthday,” followed by their complete call ( Keep them legal! ). Do this “in mass!” The bedlam created usually impresses the birthday celebrant!
There are only two types of list taken!
a.) Mobile ( Car, Truck, Boat, Plane ETC ) On an antenna physically mounted on the vehicle.
b.) Fixed (anyone anywhere ie… Base Stations, Portable and QRP Stations listed as they are heard. ) Mobile’s nor any station gets priority on this list.
Always ask for check-ins by “suffix only, slowly and phonetically, one time only!
If you hear someone checking in with their full call, repeat your request and emphasize the SUFFIX ONLY. If we all are consistent on this, they will or SHOULD, soon get the point.
Remember! Short timers are NOT given priority.
c.) Mobiles have their own priority list, which is the mobile list that you take when you call for mobile check-ins. They are not given priority on the anyone anywhere list, but taken in the order they are heard.
d.) No one is to be added to your list ahead of any others, i.e. they provided a relay for you. Or, they made contact with a member that checked in and you want to put them on the bottom of your list. This is a NO! Everyone must run the gauntlet when taking check-ins. All are taken in the order they are heard. Always read back the list you heard before you start checking folks in. Let them know who was heard. Not everyone can wait to see if they “made it or not” as they may well have other things they can be doing.
Start by asking for “Mobiles and mobiles only”. After taking the mobile list do NOT repeat it until after you have taken a list of anyone, anywhere. Now alternate back and forth between mobiles and anyone, anywhere. We have heard NCS’ take 3 or 4 mobile lists at the start and it’s 30 minutes into the session before the first “anyone, anywhere list” is taken. Again, this will contribute to stations indicating they are mobile, when they are not! Let’s PLEASE alternate.
If while you are running your list, you hear someone say “check-in’ or they give their call, trying to get on the list, it’s best to simply state you are “not taking a list at this time but will be taking more lists shortly. Please stand by”. Move on with your regular list.
If people are talking to you or anyone else on the frequency prior to your starting up your net, do NOT add them to your list. They should check in just like everyone else. Again, consistency is required. If one NCS deviates from the normal, then you make others upset, or worse.
Always be aware of first time check-ins. Tell them about the web site www.southcars.com , and the join SCARS tab !
Remember to announce our need for NCS’ and alternate NCS’. Also, announce the Traders Net. Announce and refer everyone to our website www.southcars.com.
Remember that you have a relief station coming on for the next hour. Be aware of the time. Don’t take a list that can last past the top of the hour when you get near that time. Keep your lists short, even one or two. Turn your session over in a timely fashion to the oncoming NCS. Treat him, or her, as you would want to be treated! At the conclusion of your session conditions may prevent you from communicating directly with your relief station. If this is the case ask another station who is hearing you well, to call for the relief station to be sure he, or she, is there. Do NOT continue on with your session until you have exhausted every effort at turning it over to the incoming NCS. We have heard NCS stations try to make contact but failed. They proceeded on with the net under the assumption the other NCS wasn’t there when they actually were present! This is REALLY frustrating to the incoming NCS and our members.
When you turn over your session let the incoming NCS know if you have any “carry over’s.” Remember, we are taking suffixes only. This IS legal. HOWEVER, we are required to identify every 10 minutes, maximum. Therefore, when you take a list mark down the time by the first one on the list, watch your clock and when you get near the 10 minute mark, indicate that you will be calling on a given station next and that you want the following stations to identify with their full call. Then read the suffixes off (the entire remainder of the list!) And ask that they ALL ID now. This helps speeds things up, for it takes a long time to go through them one by one. All we need do is read the list and let them do it all at once. That keeps them legal. Note the time and proceed on through the list. Obviously, remember to ID your own station!
If you notice intentional, or malicious, interference on the frequency the worst thing you can do is comment about it. This just eggs them on because they know they are accomplishing what they have set out to do! If others comment about it ask them not to do so. They (the offending perpetrator) will usually go away. When you have a station that says “contact”, this should be used strictly for the purpose of contacting the station that you are currently checking in. This should not be a means for them to get onto your check-in list. Politely discourage this process.
One more suggestion: It would be strongly recommended that you check in on various other sessions. This helps to keep you aware as to what is going on. We have some NCS operators who we never hear from except on their net session. You are MUCH appreciated as an NCS but we sure would like to see all NCS participate in other net sessions. This is obviously somewhat more difficult for those who work but give it a try. Get to know your fellow NCS ops.
12 – 1PM session
Solely at your discretion you can keep the net running longer than the posted hour. If one stops to think about this, there is no other NCS to turn the net over to, and in many cases you might be very surprised at the number of additional stations that will participate.
This holding the net open is by no means a requirement and is only suggested if you feel so inclined and have the time to do so.
End the net and return the Frequency back to regular Amateur use by reading the Postamble.
One Specific note should be made to the stations conducting the net from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesdays as the trader’s net follows as shown below and timely transfer is required.
Traders Net
Southcars operates a Traders Net. Although you probably, as an NCS, won’t have anything to do with the operation of this Net, however you should be able to answer queries from other hams about it.
The Traders Net is every Wednesday immediately following the close out of the 9 to 10 a.m. session. It is on 7.251 MHZ from 10am to 10:30am, at which time it changes to a regular check-in session until 11am. Check the website for further information about the Traders Net.
Contrary to some popular opinions no one lists Trader’s Net items on our website.
NCS Responsibilities to Others:
We, as net control operators, have agreed to assume the responsibility of being dependable, both as to our sessions (by showing up on time, starting on time), and turning it over in a timely fashion to our relief NCS.
Obviously, there will no doubt be times when you just can’t make your session. However! PLEASE notify the Southcars NCS Scheduling Manager when you are going to be “out of pocket” so the team can find a temporary fill-in. Do not wait until the day of your session to call. If something happens that you find at the last moment you can’t make it (thunderstorm, medical emergency etc…), then pick up your phone, get your NCS Roster and call one of the alternates or full-time NCS’ to see if they can pick up your session. At the very least, please call the Southcars NCS Scheduling Manager or the Net Manager. All contact information is available on the website Contact US tab!
When your hour is close to winding up be SURE to keep your lists short (take them one, or two at a time!) so as NOT to run over into the relief NCS’ time. After all, if he, or she, can be there in timely fashion then it surely isn’t very polite to keep them waiting while you continue on. Please turn it over in a timely fashion! All that is necessary is to let stations “out there” know that it’s time for a “shift” change and do it. They will understand. Asking the incoming NCS to “Stand by” while you continue your session is strongly discouraged as they most surely will agree to it, but we wonder how they really feel about it!
First Time Check-Ins:
We have definite procedures for first time check-ins. We receive inquiries from hams, far too often, regarding their having checked in before and still not on the roster. Many of these folks really enjoy their participation in the net activities and we are really remiss if we don’t follow the procedures below.
At least once (preferably more) during your session announce that any first time check-ins please “let me know that you are a first timer”.
When you get a first time check-in, make them feel welcome!
Quickly inform them of our hours of operations and about our website. They can go to www.southcars.com click on the Join Southcars tab on the menu and to follow the instructions for joining Southcars. Let them know it will take about 24 hours before they are placed on the Roster. Also tell them that they may (not guaranteed ) receive an E-Mail reply from the Data Base manager !