Dos and Don’ts when Operating on a MCARES Net 2020-05-21 Eli W7ELI DO Listen to Net Control’s instructions and check in as instructed, giving all information asked for, and nothing else.Check in with your call sign phonetically. After this, you do not need to give it phonetically.Especially on repeaters: PTT – inhale – talk; on linked repeaters: PTT – count to three – inhale – talk.To eliminate doubling with someone else, listen before you talk.If there is a double that doesn’t involve you, wait for net control to straighten it out and acknowledge those involved in the double.If net control makes a mistake in acknowledging your call sign, say “correction” and then wait to be acknowledge before giving your correction.Be forgiving. Be patient.GO SLOWLY when transmitting anything the receiving station is writing down. Go even slower if asked to repeat.Learn and use ITU phonetics.Be efficient. Use pro-words and “short talk” such as: “with traffic”, “I say again”, “correction”.If asked to repeat something, repeat it and spell phonetically.If you are talking for more than two minutes, unkey the mike momentarily to let the repeater reset.After check-ins, if you have something to say, give your call sign and wait for net control to acknowledge you before continuing. DON’T Don’t challenge net control on the air.Don’t try to check in before net control opens the net.Don’t check in early; OK to check in late if you got lost in a double or simply joined late.Don’t use Q codes.Don’t sign in and say “no traffic.” Just say “with traffic” if you do have traffic to relay.Don’t say “I pause,” or “I’ll let this drop”, etc. when you unkey the mike.Don’t follow along and break protocol if you hear others doing so.Don’t leave before the end of the net without signing out.Don’t check in again if you are not recognized immediately. Instead, wait for net control to acknowledge the next group of check-ins. If you are not recognized then, try again in the next group or at the end of check-ins when net control asks for “late or missed stations.”