Your Local Net

They are everywhere VHF, HF, Echolink, and DMR, to name just a few. Whether you prefer the Question and Answer, ARES/RACES Nets, Tech nights, or your average swap meets, there is something for everyone.

Hopefully, in your ham radio journey, you’ve gotten to participate in one. Let me encourage you to try it if you haven't.

“But I have mic fright!”

Is that the first thing that popped into your mind? Well, nothing is more exhilarating than tripping over your callsign, cracking your voice to get out, “This is N1JUR. And I have no traffic…” Trust me, after you get over the first step, it gets easier.

But this isn’t my reason for this blog post, and I wanted to share something fun and unique about nets that I think most people dismiss when you ask.

”What do/don’t you like about nets? “

Participating in your local repeater nets keeps the airwaves active and creates something for others to hear. Every time you press the PTT or the “transmit” on the Echolink app, you can pass on knowledge to those around you and give others the hobby of getting to know you.

Skip the argument over whether it’s “real radio,” as radio and RF aren’t anything without our voices, and the people behind those voices make this hobby so exciting.

Taking time to use our ears to hear and communicate with our voices is what Ham Radio is about to me.

So take some time this season to open up and share your stories with others on the next net. Try to make a new “physical connection” through Radio.