We encourage everyone to check in to one or more of our weekly nets.  Checking in to a net is a great way to periodically check your equipment to make sure everything on your end is up to par.  Even if you do not participate in the net beyond check in, it is a good idea to listen to how the net is conducted and observe what the sequences and protocols are.  Don’t wait until SHTF to find out if you will be heard in an emergency situation.

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Let’s see if we can make it more interesting with a little competition.

 

Between August 1 and November 30, 2025 you will earn points for each check-in to a UCARS net, ONE point for each check-in to a VHF/UHF repeater net, TWO points for check-in to the 6 meter net.  At the end of the competition period, the totals will be tallied, and the high scorer will receive his/her choice of a new HT, either a Baofeng DM32 DMR HT or a Quansheng TK-11, or a $100 gift certificate to DXEngineering.  The winner will be announced and prizes delivered at the club Christmas party in December. There are a few simple rules:

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1. You must be a member of the club or a UCARS net controller at the time you check in. Officers are not eligible.

2. You do not need to do anything to “sign up”.All you need to do is check in to any one or more of the weekly nets; you can announce yourself as “out after formal” or “in and out”. Of course, you are more than welcome to stick around for the rag chew.

3. You must complete your check-in any time BEFORE the net is officially announced “closed” by the net controller.

4. A “check-in” is complete and counts for a score when your check-in is acknowledged by the net controller. You must have a clear enough signal that the net controller can hear your call sign accurately and transmit it back to you.  Your check in will be recorded in the net log, and the net log will control all questions about who checked in. We will make net logs available for inspection.

5. Winners must be present at the club Christmas party in December to claim their prize(s).

6. The person with the most points (check-ins) wins.If there is more than one person with the same high score, there will be a drawing among those persons to determine who wins the top prize.The person(s) in the drawing not winning the drawing will each receive a consolation prize TBD.

7. The club may alter these rules at any time to add additional prizes and awards, and to award extra points for logging in to specific nets during specific periods.

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Note that all nets are currently conducted on VHF and 6 meters only.  Our net schedule is available online at https://www.nc4uc.org/net-schedule.

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Have fun, and good luck.