The MARCO Net Schedule

Due to the declining solar cycle, we have greatly trimmed the MARCO net schedule.

MARCO Grand Rounds is a discussion of medical topics of interest to professionals, paraprofessionals, and patients. Earn one hour of Category 2 CME credit at Grand Rounds!

MARCO Grand Rounds:
14.307 MHz
Sunday 1500 UTC (Winter Months)
Sunday 1400 UTC (Summer Months)
Net Control is KD4GUA

During MARCO Grand Rounds, you can listen to streaming audio of the net, as heard at the station of N5RTF in New Orleans, LA.

Chip is archiving the discussions for download at other times. Here is his explanation of "how-to-do-it" as of November 5, 2006:

I have also set up an FTP site to download previous Grand Rounds audio. The link is:

ftp://tkeister.net User name is marco. Password is wb5d.

Files are listed by date. To download, you will have to have your browser set to active FTP. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, on the top toolbar, click Tools, then Advanced, then scroll down to an entry labeled: Use Passive FTP (for firewall and DSL modem compatibility). Uncheck this box, then click Apply, then OK. Go back to the file list and click on the desired archive, then follow the instructions from your browser.

This is not real audio on demand, but will allow people to catch Grand Rounds when they couldn't be on the air in person. Please send comments, positive or negative.

CW Net Information

MARCO members are encouraged to check into the CW net convening on 14.307 MHz one-half hour before Grand Rounds. This is intended to be a slow-speed net open to all interested participants. Danny Centers, W4DAN described the net operation:

CW interest has increased within the last six months among many of the MARCO members.  The number of check-ins before the SSB net on Sunday mornings has increased.  There are several more that listen, but are reluctant to check in because their comfortable CW speed is slightly slower than many that are regular and have checked in for years.  While interest in CW is on the upswing, and we have the potential of increasing participation in the CW net, maybe it is time to organize net procedure to accommodate all comers equally.  If a formal roll call is implemented at the beginning of the net to recognize everyone that wants to check in, an efficient and orderly net will result.  After all have checked in, then declare it a free net for comments.  To oblige those that prefer slower operation, care should be taken to call the net at a slower than usual speed until everyone eventually gets up to speed.  This would encourage more check-ins.  After a fashion those new to CW net operation will become confident and comfortable with higher speeds.  Of course, late check-ins should be listened for and permitted even after a free net has been declared.  

There is a good potential of having a very successful CW net, but maybe we should have a little organized direction.  VE3OQM has served as CW net control for many years.  WB6OJB has done a great job of picking up the net when Bob was not on frequency or could not be copied.  I would suggest that Bob could call CQ MARCO de VE3OQM QNI.  As soon as he has taken all stations he can hear, Arnold would call CQ MARCO QNI.   Because of their locations, most on frequency should hear one or the other of them.

Each station wishing to check in should reply with their call sign followed with QRU if they have no messages or QTC if they have a message.  Net control should recognize the traffic and allow the message to be transmitted to the desired station.  After everyone has checked in and been recognized, net control could send the QNF signal which declares the net free or uncontrolled.  At that time individual stations could call each other and QSO at will.

Example:
CQ MARCO, CQ MARCO, de VE3OQM VE3OQM  QNI QNI K
VE3OQM de N6DMV QNI QRU K
VE3OQM de WB6OJB QNI QTC K
VE3OQM de KD4GUA QNI QRU K
............. until all have checked in that VE3OQM can hear

VE3OQM recognizes each check in by sending QNS and listing all check ins,
he then asks WB6OJB who he has traffic for.  When WB6OJB says he has traffic for KD4GUA, then VE3OQM requests that KD4GUA call WB6OJB to receive the traffic.  Then Warren sends WB6OJB de KD4GUA QRV K.  Then WB6OJB tells KD4GUA what he has to say.

After this takes place, VE3OQM calls WB6OJB to take QNI.  WB6OJB then takes check ins in the same manner as described above.  After the QNS by WB6OJB, then Arnold can declare the net free by sending QNF.

I am not saying that it is best to use the Q signals.  This could be done without using Q signals by the net control station(s) formally taking check ins and recognizing them.  I really see no problem with that, as long as there is a quick and orderly fashion of everyone getting checked in.  Remember to slow down, so that everyone participating can copy and recognize all the calls.

As stated above, I thought this should be brought up for discussion because I know for a fact that there are members that listen but are reluctant to participate because they are presently not confident to operate at faster code speeds.  Lets give everyone a break.  Encourage as many to check in as possible and we could very well have one of the most successful CW nets on the air.  I see interest growing.  To do this, I would suggest the CW net begin at 9:30 EDT and try to have QNI over by 9:45 EDT so the free net can be enjoyed as usual.

-W4DAN

Here is a list of "Q" Signals and standard abbreviations for use during net operations.
INTERNATIONAL Q SIGNALS

A Q signal followed by a ? asks a question.  A Q signal without the ? answers the question affirmatively, unless otherwise indicated.

QRA   What is the name of your station?
QRG   What's my exact frequency?
QRH   Does my frequency vary?
QRK   What is my signal intelligibility?  (1-5)
QRL    Are you busy?
QRM   Is my transmission being interferred with?
QRN   Are you troubled by static?
QRO   Shall I increase transmitter power?
QRP   Shall I decrease power?
QRQ   Shall I send faster?
QRS   Shall I send slower?
QRT   Shall I stop sending?
QRU   Have you anything for me?  (Answer in negative)
QRV   Are you ready?
QRW   Shall I tell ....... you are calling him?
QRX   When will you call again?
QRZ   Who is calling me?
QSA   What is my signal strength?
QSB   Are my signals fading?
QSD   Is my keying defective?
QSG   Shall I send ..... messages at a time?
QSK   Can you work breakin?
QSL   Can you acknowledge receipt?
QSM   Shall I repeat the last message sent?
QSO   Can you communicate with ..... direct?
QSP   Will you relay to .... ?
QSV   Shall I send a series of V's?
QSW  Will you transmit on ..... ?
QSX   Will you listen for ..... on ..... ?
QSY   Shall I change frequency?
QSZ   Shall I send each word/group more than once?
         (Answer, send twice or .....)
QTA   Shall I cancel number ..... ?
QTB   Do you agree with my word count?  (Answer negative)
QTC   How many messages have you to send?
QTH  What is your location?
QTR   What is your time?
QTV   Will you keep your station open for further commication with me?
QUA   Have you news of ..... ?		 ARRL "QN" SIGNALS FOR CW NET USE

QNA* - Answer in prearranged order
QNB* - Act as relay between ..... and .....
QNC   - All net stations copy
           I have a message for all net stations
QND* - Net is Directed (controlled by net control station).
QNE* - Entire net stand by.
QNF   - Net is Free (not controlled)
QNG  - Take over as net control station
QNH  - Your net frequency is High
QNI   - Net stations report in.*.
           I am reporting into the net.  (Follow with a list ,
           traffic, or QRU).
QNJ   - Can you copy me?
           Can you copy ...... ?
QNK* - Transmit message for ..... to .....
QNL   - Your net frequency is Low.
QNM* - You are QRMing the net.  Stand by.
QNN   - Net control station is ......
           What station has net control?
QNO   - Station is leaving the net.
QNP    - Unable to copy you.
            Unable to copy ......
QNQ* - Move frequency to ..... and wait for ..... to finish
           handling traffic.  Then send him traffic for .....
QNR   - Answer ..... and Receive traffic.
QNS* - Following Stations are in the net.  *(Follow with list.)
QNT   - I request permission to leave the net for ..... minutes.
QNU* - The net has traffic for you.  Stand by.
QNV* - Establish contact with .... on this frequency.  If
           successful, move to ..... and send him traffic for .....
QNW  - How do I route messages for ..... ?
QNX   - You are excused from the net.*
           Request to be excused from the net.
QNY* - Shift to another frequency (or to .... kHz) to clear
           traffic with .....
QNZ  -  Zero beat your signal with mine.

* denotes to be used by the Net Control Station

QN signals need not be followed by question mark, even
though the meaning may be interrogatory.
CW ABBREVIATIONS, PROSIGNS, PROWORDS

CW       PHONE (meaning or purpose)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
__
AA        (Separation between parts of address or signature)
AA        All after (use to get fills)
AB        All before (used to get fills)
ADEE    Addressee (namee of person to whom messge
            addressed)
___
ADR     Address (second part of message)
AR       End of message (end of record copy)
ARL      (Used with "check," indicates use of ARRL
           numbered message in text).
__
AS       Stand by; wait.
B         More (another message to follow)
BK       Break; break me; break in (interupt transmission
           on CW.  Quick check on phone).
__
BT       Separation (break) between address and text;
          between text and signature.
C        Correct; yes.
CFM    Confirm.  (Check me on this).
CK      Check.
DE     From; this is (preceeding identification).
__
HH     (Error in sending.  Transmission continues with
         last word correctly sent.)
HX     (Handling instructions.  Optional part of preamble.)
         Initial(s).  Single letter(s) to follow.
___
IMI    Repeat;  I say again.  (Difficult or unusual words
         or groups.)
K       Go ahead; over; reply expected.  (Invitation to
         transmit.)
N       Negative, incorrect; no more.  (No more messages
         to follow.)
NR     Number.  (Message follows.)
PBL    Preamble (first part of message).
......   Read back.  (Repeat as received.)
R       Roger; point.  (Received; decimal point.)
SIG    Signed; signature (last part of message.)
__
SK     Out; clear (end of communications, no reply
         expected.)
TU     Thank you.
WA    Word before (used to get fills.)
WB    Word before (used to get fills.)

The Medishare net is intended for the discussion of requests for charitable assistance made to MediShare International.

MediShare Net
7.228 MHz
Tuesday 0230 UTC (Winter Months)
Tuesday 0130 UTC (Summer Months)
Net Control is N5QF

Alternatively, we may be on Echolink using the National Institutes of Health node, K3YGG-R

MARCO members are encouraged to monitor 14.307 MHz at all times.


[About MARCO][Members' Pages][e-Mail Addresses][Medical Links]

[MediShare][Membership Info][Newsletter][Radio Links]

[MARCO Home Page]