Nets - Checking in on Group Me instructions:

For those of you who do not yet have your license, or who simply wish to test their equipment and practice tuning into the church's nets and keeping connected here's some instructions for helping us even if you can't transmit (yet):

If you aren't plugged into GROUPME, contact one of the ERC Specialists and they can help you get plugged in.  You should be in the Ontario Stake ERC Groupme group. 

You can test to see if your radio is receiving by tuning into NOAA (162.400MHz) out of Payette (162.550MHz is the Boise signal) - it gives a continuous 24/7/365 round-the-clock signal - you don't have to wait for someone else to transmit or coordinate - simply tune into NOAA and if you hear it, your radio is operating just fine, you'll be able to tune into the net. 

(If you need help operating your UV5R or Baofeng, you can go here for a quick lesson). 

Check the schedule to see if we have net that day (click here). 

Tune your radio to the stake frequency of 144.990MHz, you should start hearing "chatter" and operators testing between 10-30 minutes before the net typically, and the net will begin on time (unless we have difficulties). 

Go to GROUPME and let us know you were turned in, 

• Let us know who you are
• What ward you're in
• Where you were listening from (e.g. Ontario High School, Ontario Heights, Weiser bridge in Annex, etc.)
• How well you were able to hear (some of it, scratchy, clear, did not hear anything, only heard so-and-so, call sign if you can catch it).
• What equipment you were using (baofeng UV5R, etc., if you know or can tell). 
• If you have any questions or issues, let us know and we'll get on helping you out. 

This helps us figure out how well we're reaching all over the stake even when we don't have operators calling in and helps us prepare for propagation issues and practice planning and increasing our coverage. 

Things to pay attention to during the nets: 

Who you can hear and from how far away so have an idea of your own ability to receive info 

You'll begin to hear the different impacts that weather has on radio propagation

You'll begin to get to "know" people by their voices and call signs - a wonderful comfort in times of difficulty. 

You'll begin to be familiar with your equipment, keeping it ready and operable for an emergency. 

Your radio will begin to become a viable resource to use in an emergency when all else has failed or is not available.