I just had a quick etiquette question about interrupting Nets while out on SOTA activations, and how folk tend to go about it?
I was out on a recent activation, and arrived at the summit just as the post-GB2RS net (Glasgow area) was starting up, and wasn’t quite sure what to do about possibly interrupting/joining in. As it was, I just kind of ignored it and was able to make my activation contacts without it, but it did take me a wee bit longer than I would’ve ideally liked. The net sounded like a really good source of 5/9 operators well within range of me, but it also seemed to have absorbed most of the people who might’ve been active on 2m in the area.
My question is mostly on what the general etiquette in terms of joining or interrupting a net like this would be. For example: would I (politely) break in and advertise that I’ll be available on another frequency, or would it be acceptable to make my SOTA contacts directly on the net frequency? I don’t think I’d feel too bad breaking in on a couple of guys having an informal rag chew, but I think on a bigger net like that, I can imagine it being a bit of a pain in the bum for the net controller and the participants who’re trying to keep things in order for some muppet just to crash in for a hit-and-run right in the middle of things.
In this case, like I say, I didn’t end up really needing the net participants to make my activation, but I was very much focused on trying to get my contacts and get out of there as quickly as possible, and I could imagine on another day quite easily getting to the stage where I might need any contacts I could get my hands on.
Any help, suggestions or advice very much appreciated!
The Aberdeen area net is probably a good bit smaller than the Glasgow one, I guess, with maybe half a dozen ops.
This week, both @GM5ALX and me have used it on separate days to qualify hills during the HF blackouts. The guys are quite good at letting us in because it is a bit of excitement and variety for them. However, we generally try and email in advance the groups.io group they have set up for NE Scotland. That way they are prepared for someone that the net controller will try to prioritise for a round of contacts, and who probably won’t hang around for long.
A thank you email with a couple of photos usually goes down well, especially if it shows our arduous conditions!
We’ve had visitors to ES the past few years who are 2m FM specialists and they often timed their activations around the net, and the guys loved it. @M6BWA@M3ZCB.
On other occasions, I’ve heard two hams chatting on 2m and asked to break in for a contact or two. Usually this is welcomed, but on occasion I’ve been ignored.
I’d say that would be frowned upon. You would have to join your net and wait your turn, I guess.
had that a few times as well, especially in bad weather the (“made to be”) chasers were always happy to help me get done with the activation and fully understanding about the situation/my reason to interrupt them.
On the odd occasion I’ve been desperate for 2m FM contacts, I’ve broken into nets and also QSOs. Always been very polite and apologetic, explaining why I’m doing it and I’ve never had any issues.
Echoing what Fraser said, the folks on the Aberdeen net have always been particularly helpful.
This was how I rescued my first activation on G/SE-009!
2m QSOs can be a bit thin on the ground in G/SE land. I had planned to activate using hf, but due to a forgotten antenna adapter had to chance it on 2m. Despite many calls I was starting to think I wasn’t going to get the required 4 contacts for the point. But then I stumbled across a local net! At an appropriate moment I broke in, explained what I was up to, and asked if they would be kind enough to let me have an over with anyone who could hear me. They were only to pleased to help out.
I have used nets previously to complete SOTAS and POTAS! I usually find a polite word to the net controller is enough and they will let you work as many as you want/need… and sometimes if its a big net, ill work a seperate frequency but let people know where i am, and people do/will come to work you!
I think in a smaller net that might’ve been OK, but it sounded like it might’ve been longer to sit and wait on this one coming round than just chancing it and seeing who else was around.
I’ll definitely have a look at contacting net controllers in advance if I know there’s anything upcoming though, that’s a good shout!
Aye, it wouldn’t be my first choice for a method of operation, but I guess as long as you’re not just barging in with a sense of entitlement, I could imagine most people being quite understanding of the predicament.
I think that’s probably what I’d have had to do in this case - it sounded like there were plenty of people checking in, so I’d have had to wait a while to get my turn, and would’ve likely made a big mess of the running order to try and get SOTA QSOs, so it’d probably have been less intrusive to do this off the main net frequency.
The ideal time is the pre-checkin when everyone’s lurking on frequency and I can often get my 4 contacts without interrupting anything.
Waiting for the end and ‘any final comments’ can work too, but many have gone by then.
I have waited for the end of a round and the ‘any late checkins’ - but that generally leaves me getting reports from each participant as their turn comes round (if they remember). Which is good for the net (no interruptions), but slow going for me.
Planning for an activation isn’t only thinking about how to get there, but also take into account any radio-activity, weather and radio-conditions. Eg when you bring your SOTABeams Bandhopper and try to activate during the CQWW CW contest, you’re going to have a tough time with the limited bands you can pick and the “tiny” signal. Obviously local rounds are more difficult to find out about if you’re a stranger to the area.
I would assume those listening to the net would surely notice your self-spot (if possible) and QSY from the net to work you, so it would not be necessary to join the net and tell about your activity.
I’m never entirely sure how effective the spots are at drumming up any extra traffic. Out of curiosity, I’ve tried Alerting but not Spotting, Spotting but not Alerting, sometimes neither, sometimes both, and generally the number of contacts I’m able to reach ends up feeling round about the same.
I activated only on HF. I have tried to call CQ without self-spotting in SSB, but found the response very low. In CW things are easier as the RBN picks up your call, the SOTA servers then see your call within the timeslot for the alert, and automagically create a spot for your frequency. Self-spotting is usually only useful if you do voice activations.
I have almost 100% positive experience gatecrashing a net to help me qualify an activation. Nets are usually very boring, so some nutter on a cold windy wet mountain keen to work everyone on frequency seems to bring something interesting to otherwise mundane lives
I have found every format effective - joining the net and working everyone, or a subset of them, or indeed advising your working frequency and inviting those interested to briefly QSY and work you there.
Go for it I say. It’s a hobby after all and most people doing it are genuinely interested in it!
The only net I’ve found that isn’t so suitable for this purpose is the Sunday 80m RAFARS net.
I think your personality probably shines through when you call in. When my FT817 was unscratched and before SOTA made it to VK, I tried to get some contacts via nets. I was almost always in a park well out of town and had a weak signal. Often I got a single acknowledgement by one station, no report and then total ignoring.
My desperation for a couple of reports may have been amusing for them. The message was clear. You are not welcome on OUR net.
I think it’s now a mixed bag in VK but unless you are known to the participants, many VK nets won’t be helpful. Europe seems more adult.
Or the somewhat farcical “Somebody programmed this Baofeng for me and I no longer remember how to change the frequency”. Yikes! This, when I was tail-ending repeater nets and asking for simplex QSO’s
