Net Control Protocols and Procedures
Tips for Effective Emergency Radio Nets
Communications during an Emergency Response incident are very different than normal,
day-to-day, communications, especially when using radios. During the initial hours of a disaster there are
often dozens of important messages that need to be sent to and from the disaster site to an agency that can
provide assistance. At such times, it is important that each message sent over the radio is as clear,
concise, and purposeful as possible. Amateur Radio operators have developed protocols and procedures
for handling these important messages very efficiently, through the use of radio Nets.
During any type of disaster where communication systems are impacted, “Air” time is an extremely
valuable, limited, resource. There is no time for extraneous, unnecessary exchanges of information. Each
word counts!
Radio Nets:
Directed Net: A Net Control Station, often the first operator to assume control of a repeater or frequency for
the purpose of managing emergency traffic. Net Control takes charge of the many stations that are on the
frequency – directing what messages are relayed to specific destinations. Operators on the Net are directed
to send messages only when directed to do so. They must ask permission to send a message, or leave the
net, and are very disciplined in nature.
National Traffic Net: A radio net dedicated to relaying long distance messages from individuals in one
location to recipients in other parts of the country. These nets occur several times daily, and are often
routine in nature. During a disaster, these nets serve to link relatives in different parts of the country.
Health & Welfare Nets: Nets set up specifically to relay messages from people in a disaster to family
members outside the area. These are usually delayed for 48-72 hours, before sending traffic. The FCC
usually places a moratorium on messages into and out of a disaster area for that period of time.
“Rag Chew” Nets: Nets for general conversation between interested radio operators. Some have a
purpose and others are just chit-chat.
Types of messages:
Tactical Messages: messages that require a simple exchange of information, not requiring a legal record.
These should be recorded in a log, but do not need to be written down word-for-word. Examples: “Capt.
Rogers is looking for Lt. Jones – is he at your location?” “The emergency generator will be arriving at your
location in about 30 minutes”
Formal Messages: messages that need to be recorded precisely for a legal record. These may be
resource requests, damage assessments, or specific items of information that require a definitive response.
This type of message must be logged, as well as recorded on an official message form.
ARRL Messages: There is a list of pre-formatted messages, customarily used in NTS, to relay Health and
Welfare or routine NTS messages. They do not usually have a place during an emergency response.
Net Control Protocols:
Most Nets, especially Emergency Nets, start with a Preamble. This Preamble establishes the fact that a Net
is in progress, and what the operating protocols are. The Mission number is announced, as well as any
instructions for the operators, and any operating parameters, such as linked frequencies, reporting formats,
etc.
Tactical Call Signs: Tactical call signs are the pre-identified location code for a radio operating position.
These are generally used for a fixed facility location. An Amateur Radio Operator assigned to such a fixed
location should identify with the TACTICAL location first, not his/her personal FCC call sign. The reason for
this is that radio operators can change locations and shifts, whereas a fixed position is always in the same
location. The FCC only requires that a licensee ID every 10 minutes.
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Net Control Protocols and Procedures
Tips for Effective Emergency Radio Nets
Message Precedence:
Immediate:
Message that involves life safety requires a response within one hour of receipt of
message.
Priority:
Message that requires a timely operational response within 4-6 hours of receipt, in order to
address the specified emergency.
Routine:
Message that reflects routine data transfer for administrative, logistical or operational
means, which requires no response or a response within 12-18 hours.
Message precedences are in the “eye-of-the-sender”. Every person who composes a message during
a disaster thinks theirs is the most important message of all. The Radio Operator who relays the message
often is aware of the “bigger picture” and can negotiate the precedence of the message. If the building’s on
fire – this is an immediate precedence. If the administrator wants to know if his family is OK, this is a routine
message, in the grand scheme of events.
Messages: Verify the content and meaning before sending it!
If someone hands you a message to send out, make sure it makes sense to you. If you can’t understand
what a message means, then the person on the other end of the radio surely won’t understand it. ASK FOR
CLARIFICATION!
Clear Text: Avoid using jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. The message recipient probably will not
understand what they mean. Use CLEAR TEXT only.
Leaving the Net: If you have to leave the Net for personal reasons, or to change frequencies – TELL Net
Control that you are away, and then check back in to the Net when you return. It is very important that NC
know where you are.
THINK BEFORE YOU TALK! Compose your message, on paper or in your head, before you start talking.
This makes for clearer, more concise, messages, and takes less airtime.
LISTEN!!!! Don’t Tailgate. Allow spaces between transmissions. Make sure that the sender is through
transmitting, before replying. This also allows time for a breaking station to send an Immediate or Priority
message if necessary.
S P E A K S L O W L Y! When sending messages, speak only as fast as you can write down the message.
If the receiving operator needs to write it down, then you need to be able to record it at the same speed.
Avoid the use of phonetic spelling of common words. The receiving operator will ask for a repeat on
anything he missed. Names and uncommon or technical words can be spelled phonetically if necessary.
Time References: when referring to time in a message, use specific ‘clock-time’ not elapsed time. Also
use local time unless you are sending a message into another time zone.
Example: “The ambulance will be arriving at the hospital in 15 minutes” does not tell the recipient when the
message was sent, and he may receive the message from the radio operator an hour after the ambulance
showed up. “The requested supplies are needed by 16:30 PST on May 10.” This tells the recipient the date
and the time when he really expects to get the needed supplies delivered.
EXAMPLE EXCHANGES:
“ THIS IS WB7ZYX ASSUMING NET CONTROL. THIS IS A DIRECTED NET, RESPONDING TO THE
EARTHQUAKE WHICH OCCURRED AT 14:30 LOCAL TIME. THIS IS A DIRECTED NET - ALL STATIONS
SHOULD IDENTIFY WITH THEIR TACTICAL ID, AND REPORT STATION STATUS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE
STATE MISSION NUMBER IS 99-9999. IF THERE IS IMMEDIATE OR PRIORITY TRAFFIC, PLEASE COME WITH
IT NOW.”
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Net Control Protocols and Procedures
Tips for Effective Emergency Radio Nets
“MED-NET CONTROL ASKING FOR ALL STATIONS ON FREQUENCY TO CHECK IN AND REPORT FACILITY
STATUS AT THIS TIME. ”
“MED-NET CONTROL, THIS IS SWEDISH – I HAVE A DAMAGE REPORT”
“SWEDISH – MED-NET CONTROL – SEND YOUR TRAFFIC”
“MED-NET CONTROL – THIS IS GH EASTSIDE – IMMEDIATE MESSAGE”
“EASTSIDE – MED-NET CONTROL – GO AHEAD”
“MED-NET CONTROL – EASTSIDE – FACILTY HAS BUILDING COLLAPSE, EAST WING, REQUIRE REDMOND
FIRE ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY. “
“MED-NET CONTROL – THIS IS OVERLAKE.”
“OVERLAKE – PLEASE STATE THE NATURE OF YOUR MESSAGE”
“MED-NET CONTROL – OVERLAKE HAS A RESOURCE REQUEST”
“OVERLAKE – PLEASE SEND YOUR MESSAGE DIRECT TO AMERISOURCE BERGEN ON 146.48 SIMPLEX OR
PACKET RADIO IF AVAILABLE. CHECK BACK IN WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE NET”
“AMERISOURCE BERGEN – THIS IS MED-NET CONTROL. DO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE CONTACT AND ABLE TO
SWITCH TO SIMPLEX?”
“MED-NET CONTROL – AMERISOURCE BERGEN ACKNOWLEDGES AND IS SWITCHING TO 146.48 SIMPLEX
AT THIS TIME. “
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