Tar Heel Emergency Net

Nightly 7:30 p.m. - 3923 kHz

(Alternate Frequency 7232 kHz**)

Status: Not Activated THEN is currently on regular schedule at 7:30 pm tonight on the frequency of 3.923 MHz.

Breaking News: July 6, 2010 Have you completed the FEMA training - ICS 100, 200, 700, 800? ARES® training requirements are outlined at http://www.ncarrl.org/ares/training.html? Follow the links to complete these required courses before August 1. They are informative and free.

News Updates: July 2, 2010 Special thanks to those who served as Net Control Station last month! N2COP, K4BNP, W4YBQ, K8SKX, N4IB, KG4OPM, KG4GPJ, KD4IMA. KG4GPJ and K4BNP teamed up to cover over half of the nights this past month - above and beyond the call of duty when others were called away - HATS OFF to these superb net control stations!

About the Tar Heel Emergency Net

The Tar Heel Emergency Net is a directed net and is the North Carolina HF ARES^® net. ARES^® is "Amateur Radio Emergency Service," and is part of the ARRL field organization. The purpose this net is to provide communications during emergencies, to provide training in all aspects of net operations, to serve as a forum for discussions and to foster fellowship among radio amateurs. All radio amateurs are invited to participate in the Tar Heel Emergency Net.

** The alternate frequency of 7232 is only used if the net is activated during the day and the band drops out. When this happens we may have to go plus or minus a few kHz to find a clear frequency.

The Tar Heel Emergency Net is one of the longest running nightly nets, meeting on the air since 1947! Although the frequency and some of the Ham terminology has changed over the years, the Tar Heel Emergency Net continues to provide training to amateurs who are "furnishing communication when and if the public has need of its services". And we still need to be mindful of good operating procedures. Enjoy this 1954 copy of the net rules provided from the library of Weldon, W4AJT.

1954 THEN Rules (pdf) -- Courtesy of W4AJT

THEN Map

This an initial pilot map of the regular Tar Heel Emergency Net stations. If your QTH is not shown, please check into the Net and provide your coordinates to KD4IMA.

Net Control Stations (NCS)

Amateurs interested in being a Net Control Station for the Tar Heel Emergency Net (THEN), should contact T.H.E.N. Net Manager Mark Cantrell KD4IMA kd4ima@arrl.net. Remember, we are always looking for volunteers to serve as Net Control station when our regular NCS are absent. So step up and gain some valuable experience.

Tar Heel Emergency Net (THEN) Script

The THEN script is available for download in several formats:

Net Reports

Net Control Stations should send net reports to the Net Manager within a few days following the net and prior to the 4th day of any following month. Net reports can be sent as formal written traffic via the Tar Heel Emergency Net, as formal written traffic on any NTS net, or via email to Mark Cantrell, KD4IMA kd4ima@arrl.net.
Since the served agencies have adopted ICS - 213, traffic on the THEN is typically handled in the ICS - 213 format, although we still may pass traffic in traditional ARRL radiogram format.