Washington State Emergency Net
Washington State Emergency Net
Welcome to the Washington State Emergency Net (WSEN). This net has been in service for many decades for the purpose of on-air support of the various volunteer emergency communication (EMCOMM) organizations in our state. This includes, but is not limited to, Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Auxilliary Communications (AUXCOMM) teams. Members are encouraged to use the net to test and maintain the communications capabilities of their equipment, as well as that of the field resources of their respective organizations and teams.
The WSEN is not an organization, but a summary of local (primarily by county) communication capabilities for High Frequency radio. The WSEN includes state teams, but focuses on counties. There are no cities or tribes listed, but those are welcome to participate as well. The ARES section and district organizations are used because those are long standing volunteer EMCOMM organizations, and are generally associated with the local emergency management agency (city, county, or tribe), or a non-governmental organization (NGO), such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army.
Contact your county or city emergency management agency, and ask them about an ARES or AUXCOMM group. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other NGOs are always looking for volunteers as well. Or ask a local amateur radio club.
Please note that while the WSEN roster reflects the ARES structure, AUXCOMM and other similar groups are welcome to participate. Contact the net manager if you want your EMCOMM group to be identified on the WSEN roster.
The WSEN meets according to the schedule near the bottom of this page, but always starts on 3985 KHz. Net control may change frequencies due to interference or prior occupancy as necessary, If you do not hear a relay station, please check the secondary frequencies on 75 meters, and then the alternate frequency. Net rosters and the preamble may be downloaded from the link at the bottom of the page.
All amateur radio operators interested in emergency communications are invited to check in. If you are not currently on the roster, check in anyway when your geographical area is called. Out-of-state or international visitors will be checked in after roll call.
Members and newcomers are asked to forward roster additions or changes through your AUXCOMM leader or Emergency Coordinator. Please copy the net manager (see contact information below) as well.
Please send your questions, comments, and suggestions to the Net Manager (w7hut@arrl.net).
You can also join the WSEN Facebook Page. It's a closed group, and in order to join, you must answer the membership question. Membership requests without answering the question will be disapproved to avoid fake profiles. Here is the link to then WSEN Facebook page.
County and District ECs are asked to work with the net manager to vet the current roster for membership availability and capabilities, and to confirm new members.
New members are encouraged to check in as before, but are asked to work with their local emergency coordinator as well
Please get on frequency 10-15 minutes early, and use the time to check conditions for propagation, interference, and prior occupancy. Many net members tune in early for this purpose, and may be available for relay stations as well.
Conditions permitting, ask for volunteers as relay stations. Early check-ins may be taken as well.
It's a good practice to ask for relays at the end of each district, as well as at the end of the net.
Once the net is over, please send your report as noted below.
All NCS operators are asked to send in a report once the net is over.
District Emergency Coordinators are asked to send the reports to the net manager for compilation, at their convenience. Or the DEC can ask the operators to send reports directly to the net manager, and copy them on the e-mail.
A net report is the completed roster, any new stations and visitors and comments from the operator about band conditions, interference, or other issues.
Suggested ways to send in the report:
Send the Word or PDF file with any additional information by e-mail.
If you use pencil and paper, scan the report, and send by e-mail. Sending a clear photo of each page will work, or use a suitable application.
Send by snail mail. Contact the net manager to arrange this.
Net Manager: Michael Ditmore, W7HUT, email: w7hut@arrl.net
Monday: Regional and county, 1830 Pacific Time (or as determined by the DEC or EC)
Saturday: Statewide, 0900 Pacific Time
Nets may not be held on holidays. Check this page for the latest announcements.
Other frequencies may be directed by net control as necessary.