The Ham WeblogTM

Website Review

Volume III
January 14, 2002

Site Index
Home The Trader Get-in-Touch
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Table of Contents
ECARS East Coast Amateur Radio Service 4PMer 3905 Century Club
Green Mountain Net MARCO Geratol Net
Country Cousins Net DX YL Nets OM Int'l SSB Society
Triple H Net MIDCARS The Maritime Mobile Service Network
Well, 2002 is now upon us, so I guess there are no more excuses to offer. Just gotta "get in position, it'll all work out..." as mama used to tell me when I fumbled for someplace to start! First, let me wish everbody a Happy & Prosperous New Year...and let's hope the prognosticators of economic doom are soooooo wrong!!!

Several of my best friends are having so much fun mobiling on HF, and as one who used to operate that mode exclusively, checking out a range of nets sounded like a great opportunity to get 2002 off to a Whiz-Bang start. So, here goes. If your favorite net isn't listed here, pass it along and we'll cover it in a subsequent issue. Of course, always check Propagation first, right?


What's Old Sol up to today?
WWV Propagation Forecast. WWDX Propagation Service Center (PSC)
More Propagation Links
N6RT Propagation Report       NW7US Propagation Center                      

Morse

ECARS
"7255...all day, every day...."   I'd say that about covers it all, HI! Great net....great website. This site covers virtually everything from ECARS itself to ham radio swaps & auctions, call-sign look-up, other nets, you name it.
And, all on one page! The page is divided into 16 sections, each in its own table cell. Lots of info here, so be sure to check it out!
Let me warn you, though:   the membership list is one BIG file! Altho' it doesn't list every member that has belonged, I do see numbers above 20K! Lowest number I see is 204, so there is quite a range.
One thought in passing:   Anybody out there remember the fore-runner of ECARS:     The Short-Talkers Club? If you go that far back, let me know, ok?     Oh, and while I got ya .... I checked this site a month or so ago and saw Bob, WA1FKX's call listed; but now I don't see it. Where's Bob! Anybody know the whereabouts of Howie, K1HHN?

Morse

ToC
4PMer's
Ok all you 75m hounds, here's one for you! As the name "suggests," this net opens at 1600 hrs (Eastern time) on 3922. Check out the Certificate link....Neat!! The small photo of Lake Winnipesaukee tugs at the will-o-the-wisp in all of us, too. Remember camping on its shores one summer evening. Beautiful QTH. Uh-oh, tho'...looks like the link to Amy Lyn Edwards (photo credit) is broken. Hoped to see more pix of the lake... :(
The website also includes net controls for each day's activity. Neat Photo Gallery, too. So, check out this site and run up its counter just a bit, ok? [I'm #694, HI].

Morse

ToC
3905 Century Club
QSY down the band a ways and check out the Century Club net on 3905. Ah! Looking for that "rare" state for WAS? The Century Club's stated purpose is to help you obtain that award!
What's the net sked, you ask? Or, How do I join? Well, you'll find the answers to those questions and others in the General Info table:
  • Net Schedule Calendar
  • How Do I Become A Member
  • Club Newspaper Info
  • Live SSTV by KD3O
And, tons and tons more! There's even a section on this site to download software! There's LOTS of stuff to check out on this site, gang. Happy hunting!!

Morse

ToC
Green Mountain Net
Boy, I'll tell ya! These New Englanders sure do know how to tempt with terrific landscapes... Yep, I'd say this net is aptly named, wouldn't you agree? Check out the link in the photo, too. Leads to an informative discourse on the nature of the Green Mountains. Gotta say I've been there, HI! One of the nicest drives ever, crossing Lake Champlaign from Plattsburg, NY, then driving down to Montpelier. But, this isn't a travelouge, so back to....Nets!!
Gee, another 75m net.... Oops, forgot that 75 is the net band, HI! And, this is described as a rag-chew net, so jump on in and join the fun.
Here, too, you can earn a certificate by QSO-ing with 10 members. Checked the certificate page, but maybe the old eyesight's failing -- looks like a hat from here, HI! Maybe there's a new one "at the printer's:)
Photo Gallery, too. But, hey.... Some of these folks look lots and lots like some of the folks over on 3922??? Well, we're only 11 Kc up the band (3933), so maybe that 'splains it, HI! While you're here, check out the club's newsletter, "Drivel," too.

Morse

ToC

MARCO
The Medical Amateur Radio COuncil -- MARCO. Here's a net that spans multiple bands to offer those who work in the medical professions the opportunity to QSO with fellow practioners. Well, I guess I spoke out of turn, as they say. The net sked shows only 20m frequencies. What happened to the 40m net, gang? And, there used to be a 75m net as well. Well, maybe the sunspots have pulled the crowd a bit higher?
Check out the NEWS page to see what MARCO is all about. Some fine articles here. Check out MEMBERS' PAGES to see just who comprises MARCO. Oops! I gotta report a couple of busted links! K3FP's page downloads www.prexar.com instead of his page: www.k3fp.com/ . And, W4UVS' sunsite.utk.edu shows up as a broken link. Checked out Robin's page independently and my browser's resolving it as prexar.com
Well, let's just check these out. Both Robin and Ed are personal acquaintances, so I'll do a little snooping, HI!
  • Checked on Robin's page via QRZ. Well, QRZ lists Robin as WE1MD, and his website as http://www.we1md.com . Yep, that's Robin.
  • Here's what I think is the correct link to the W4UVS photo-page:     Westcott Photo Gallery . And, there's Ed...HI!
Both Ed and Robin are acquaintances through my long-time friend, Ed Briner, WA3TVG, who is now a Silent Key.

ToC

Morse

Geratol Net
Boy, this one had me bamboozled!! Goes to show, you have to read what's there, not what you THINK you see, HI!
Yep, you got it:   I saw Ger-i-tol, not Ger-a-tol! What's going on, you ask? Well, these guys made up their own acronym:
GERATOL:
Greetings Extra Radio Amateurs Tired of Operating Lately
Again, a 75m net -- this one dedicated to Extra Class ops obtaining WAS...but with a twist:     2-letter calls only!! And again, this net offers a certificate, its Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award. All QSOs must occur within the band segment:     3750 -3775 KHz. Two other awards, The Director's Award, and Geratol Net 500, also may be obtained.
The net meets at 0100 UTC between October 1 and April 30, on 3767 KHz. Aha! Read the entire page, gang! Two new awards also now offered:
  • Geratol Millennium Award          
  • Geratol Worked Canada Award
Interesting site........interesting concept!! If you hunt wallpaper, have at!!!!!

ToC

Morse

Midwest Country Cousins
Still on 75, gang. Well, that's where all the terrific nets always did meet, you say? I've heard that myself, 'tho I can't verify it, HI!
I gotta say, the opening graphics sure set the theme! You immediately feel real dowh-home country....well, Welcome. Meeting on 3972.5 KHz, starting at 9:30 p.m. Central Time, the Cousins invite all hams from any call area to join in.
Site layout is very uncomplicated, with buttons for selecting from 7 additional pages:
    Officers/Directors Net Controls Announcements Members 1 Members 2 Members 3 Links    
Well, I see that the Cousins have an annual convention each year. This year's will be held in Peoria, IL in September. The Announcements page also includes info on how to become a Country Cousin, and it's downright easy and sounds like fun!
The 3 Member pages list the more than 1200 folks who are Cousins. Now that's what I call cousins by the dozens!! The Links page takes you to member webpages, as well as ARRL's Part 97 ref. page. Also included are links to the Southern Country Cousins site as well as hamdata.com.
If you're a Cousin, or if you've read the mail on 3972.5, you owe it to yourself to check out this site.

ToC

Morse

DX YL Nets
Well, although not an entirely current listing, this site attempts to report on some 34 YL DX nets, no mean feat! And, it truly does represent a DX community. Nets from virtually every point of the compass are included:
    New Zealand? In there! Finland? Covered! South Africa? Yep!
    Italy? Si! Belgium...Germany? Uh-Huh South America? Sure
Like I said, just about everywhere's covered. If you're a DXer, or a YL looking for other YLs to QSO with, give these nets a look-see. I think this site is associated with a couple of other YL pages, as it has links to:

Morse

ToC

OM Int'l SSB Society
Well, not to be outdone by the YLs, now we've got the OM Int'l SSB Society as well, altho' I do see that YLs also are represented in the net control listing.
Haven't heard 'em myself, but looking at the list of net frequencies, OMISS appears to be a very active net. It's active on 10, 15, 17, 20, 40, 75, and 160, so you should be able to hear it on one of these! Sounds almost like ARRL's operating sked, huh, HI! Check out the website for times.
Membership is stated as open to all, although you do not have to be a member to participate in the net(s), or to use the net's Free QSL Bureau. Membership is required for awards, however; but, according to site info, there is but one, lifetime membership fee:   $7.00.
Site includes many links to OMISS info, such as membership, newsletter, a photo gallery, downloads, membership application, and an OMISS e-mail directory, to list but some of the resources available. All-in-all, this is a well-organized site. Check it out.

Morse

ToC

Triple H Net
W2LTP founded Triple H in 1976 as a WAS and DX assistance Net.
The Net operates year-round on 7235 KHz, starting at 0700 Z. The first 30 minutes are reserved for check-ins, with DX stations given priority. The site description states that "...stateside check-ins are taken according to call districts that coincide with the day of the month." Ok, but I don't quite get it; what comes after the 10th of the month?
A New Years Eve QSO party is run each year for members-only who hold WAS certificates from Triple H Net.
As with several other nets reviewed here, Triple H also offers a Free QSL Bureau. This is a neat feature, as it lists those with envelopes on hand at the Bureau.
The site also offers a callsign lookup [link to QRZ.com]. And there is a photo gallery. If you're looking for WAS or help with DXCC, checking in here will most likely be helpful.

Morse

ToC

Hint:     This ain't what you think it is, HI!         MIDCARS
Surprised? Wasn't what you expected, right? Well, I was surprised as well. Like you, I was expecting a link to the Midwest Amateur Radio Service... aka 7258! 'Course, I haven't been active on 40 for a number of years, so my info just might be antiquated, HI! No, not me...just the info.......
Well, we've been transported from middle-America to Merry Old England, by Jove! Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society .....right, 'guvnor. The site is just a wee bit brief, so I do hope additional info will be added. Sounds like a typical crowd of hams...out to have a bit of fellowship and a few technical topics thrown in for good measure. Maybe a pint or two as well, eh chaps?? I'd like to report more content, but you'll see it all on one screen just by clicking on the link, above.

Morse

ToC

Maritime Mobile Service Net
A service of long standing, the Maritime Mobile Service Net is exactly what its name implies. The Net meets daily from 1200 hrs to 2200 hrs Eastern Time on (1700 - 0300 UTC) on 14,00 KHz. Need more background? Check the About Us page.
This site is well organized! Although nothing was posted at the time I checked, there is a Net Notices page, which is an excellent way to get the word out.
Why doesn't it surprise me that MMSN has its own Newsletter? The only thing that does surprise me here is that the newsletter seems to have languished a bit...It appears that the most recent story update has a dateline of March 26, 2001.
Now, here's a neat link, 'tho it does take you off-site:   UTC Time! And, it claims accuracy to within 0.4 seconds! That's close enough for my needs, HI!!
Check the MMSN Weekly Schedule, effective 11 January 2002.
Be sure to check out this site. There are dozens of pages and links to keep you busy for quite awhile, HI!

Morse

ToC

Well, that wraps it up for today. Please, drop me an email and let me know what you think about The Ham Weblog, ok? Also, I'm always open to ideas and suggestions for other content to publish on this site. What do you want to read about? It's easy; just Email K3LBP!

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