Hello Everyone,
This is a reminder that we have scheduled our first (and hopefully, first
of many) gathering next Monday evening, January 24, at 7:30 PM local time.
Our goal is to encourage people who are interested in learning and using CW
and to get to know one another in a relaxed environment. For this first
meeting I will take responsibility for "calling" the net; hopefully others
will volunteer to take the lead in subsequent meetings. I will begin
sending at approximately 15 WPM with extended spacing between letters and
words (Farnsworth spacing). We will adjust our speed to accommodate
everyone who joins the group. Don't be shy: we are here to have fun and
perfect our skills at the same time.
While this "gathering" is in no sense a formal Net, I think it would be
useful to employ a couple of the specialized QN-signs designed for CW
traffic nets. I will announce the net around 1930 by calling CQ VN (x3) de
K1MZM QNI. QNI is an invitation for stations to join. I ask that you
reply with your callsign trying not to step on other stations who may be
calling at about the same moment. After I collect a few callsigns I will
acknowledge those stations I heard with their callsigns and ask for any
additional stations that I may have missed.
After everyone has joined, we will begin our session. I will transmit a
list of the stations that have signed in, and then ask the first person on
the list to make their comments. Thereafter, that station will call the
next station on the list until we get to the bottom of the list. The last
person on the list should pass it back to me.
After ten minutes have passed, we should pause to ask for additional
check-ins by either calling QNI? and signing your call or passing control
back to me temporarily to make the request for sign-ins. If it is directed
back to me, I will pass control back to the next person on the list after
adding the newcomers to the end of the list.
For our first gathering I suggest that you tell everyone your QTH and the
equipment you are using. Let's keep things fairly brief since CW can be
exhausting for people on the learning curve. After a round or two we can
wrap things up and call it quits. I will make a brief announcement and
then send my callsign followed by QNF which means the end of the formal
gathering; anyone who wants to stick around and continue to chat is more
than welcome.
For your information, I have included the full list of QN-codes below.
Many of them are seldom used.
I look forward to seeing you on Monday.
73,
Alan K1MZM
ARRL QN Signals For CW Net Use[edit
<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=QN_Signals&action=edit§ion=1>
]
QN SignalMeaning/Question
QNA* This is a request from the Net Control Station for all respondents to
answer in a prearranged sequence, as a congestion avoidance measure.
QNB* This is a request from the Net Control Station for one station to
relay traffic between 2 other stations who cannot read each other.
QNC An announcement alerting all stations on the Net to standby for an "All
Stations" message, that is, a message of interest to all stations on the
Net.
QND* An announcement by the Net Control Station, that the Net is currently
operating "Directed", that is, the Net Control Station is controlling all
traffic. Often done during times of high Net usage. c.f. QNF.
QNE* A broadcast announcement to all stations by the Net Control Station,
asking all stations on the Net to stop transmitting and stand by.
QNF An announcement that the net is no longer "Directed", but is now free.
c.f. QND.
QNG A request for a named station to assume the role of Net Control Station.
QNH A notice to a named station that the frequency that the station is
transmitting on is higher than the Net's nominal frequency. c.f. QNL.
QNI When used by the Net Control Station, this is a request for all
stations to announce themselves. When used by a regular Net member, it
simply is an announcement that they have joined.
QNJ When used by itself, this asks the Net if the calling station can be
heard. When used in conjunction with a station's call sign, it is asking if
the Net can read that particular station.
QNK* A request from the Net Control Station to send a message from a third
party to a specific station.
QNL A notice to a named station that the frequency that the station is
transmitting on is lower than the Net's nominal frequency. c.f. QNH.
QNM* A notice from the Net Control Station to a particular station or
stations, informing them that they are causing interference on the Net, and
asking them to stop transmitting.
QNN As a question, asks whom the Net Control Station is. As a declarative,
it announces what station is the active Net Control Station.
QNO An announcement by a particular station that they are signing off from
the Net.
QNP By itself, announces that the sending station was unable to understand
the last station. When used with a station's call sign, announces that the
sending station was unable to copy that named station.
QNQ* A complex request from the Net Control Station asking a specific
station to change frequency to a specified one, then to wait for a named
station on that frequency to finish whatever traffic it is currently
engaged in, and then to send that station traffic on behalf of yet a third
named station. c.f. QNV.
QNR Requesting that any station please respond to a specific named station
and receive traffic from them.
QNS* As a question, asks for a listing of all stations currently on the
net. As a declarative, announces what stations are on the Net, followed by
the list thereof.
QNT Request by a station to leave the net for a specified number of minutes.
QNU* An announcement by the Net Control Station to a specific station,
informing them that there is Net traffic for them, and to stand by to copy
it.
QNV* A complex request from the Net Control Station asking a specific
station to make contact on the current frequency with a named station, and
upon successful contact, to move to another specified frequency, and then
to send that station traffic on behalf of yet a third named station. c.f.
QNQ.
QNW A question from a station inquiring on how to route traffic for a
specific named station.
QNX As a question, a request from a station to leave the net. The Net
Control Station will then reply with the same code, informing them that
they may leave.
QNY* A request by the Net Control Station for a station to change to
another specified frequency and exchange all pending traffic with another
named station.
QNZ A request from one station to a second, asking that station to "Zero
Beat" with the first station: a method of ensuring 2 stations are on the
same frequency by transmitting simultaneously and fine-tuning the frequency
until no acoustic beat <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(acoustics)> is
heard.* QN-codes marked with an asterisk (*) are only for use by the Net
Control Station.
