Our Monday Night Net launched back in 2011 and is still going strong. Everyone’s welcome to join, especially those who’ve recently got their licence and are looking for help with getting started in the hobby.
If you’re new to our Monday Night Net, you can find more information here: Monday Night Net
The Essex Ham Monday Night Net for the 21st of August 2017 started at 8pm local time on GB3DA, the 2m repeater located at Danbury, near Chelmsford. Here’s a quick summary of who joined this week’s net, and what was discussed…
| Live Chat: During the Net, we run an Internet chatroom. Go to www.essexham.co.uk/chat to get chatting during our nets – You need to create a free Essex Ham account to access our chatroom. |
| Internet Feed: Not in range of the GB3DA? Several Internet feeds are available, including: Essex Ham’s Audio Feed , Essex Ham on TuneIn or the Monday Night Net uStream (Thanks to Nick M0NFE). |
Net Attendees
Here’s the attendance list for this week’s net:
- Pete M0PSX, Southend-on-Sea (in the chair)
- Kristian M0SSK, Basildon (Happy Birthday for yesterday)
- Brian 2E0WHB, Chelmsford
- Paul M0XMT, Westcliff
- Dorothy M0LMR, Basildon
- Tony G0JYI, Leigh-on-Sea
- Chris G7DSU/P, Sittingbourne (from the MARTS field event)
- Gary 2E0YRG, Chatham
- Terry G5MW, Sittingbourne (from the MARTS field event)
- Ed G8FAX, Rayleigh
- James 2E1GUA, Chelmsford
- Paul M3PJD
- Keith M0KNG, Billericay
- Nick M0NFE, Southend-on-Sea
- Chris G0IPU, Rayleigh
- David M1ECC, Basildon
- Andy G7TKK, Rayleigh
- Kevin G0PEK, Kent
- Michael M6HSH, Basildon
- Richard G7OED, Basildon (for a quick one with help on the Clacton SSTV repeater)
- Darren 2E0OCA, mobile on the way home from Grays
Topics for the evening, as follows:
In tonight’s net, here’s what was discussed:
- Discussion of the eclipse
- MARTS field event – a week of activity at a very impressive scout venue near Sittingbourne. Details at www.marts.org.uk/news.html
- SEARS field day last Saturday on Canvey Island. Great event, and good to see many friendly faces.
- Anyone got any suggestions for eclipse-related songs?
- Variants of the Monday Night Net disclaimer. Thanks to Andy for suggesting the Aldis lamp version… ;)
- Hello to Rachel – who wasn’t able to make the the net tonight.
A busy and fun net – we wrapped up at 10:05pm, so that we could all go simplex and work the MARTS field event simplex. Al good fun experimenting and supporting the activity across the water in Kent.
Got a comment about this week’s Monday Night Net? Please add it below.
Thanks & Disclaimer
Essex Ham would like to thank the Essex Repeater Group for allowing us to use the GB3DA for our weekly net. This repeater, together with GB3ER, GB3DB and GB7ZP are managed by volunteers. ERG would appreciate your support which can be by membership or donation, online at www.essexrepeatergroup.org.uk.
Please note that the Monday Night Net is recorded for the protection of our participants. Audio from repeaters around the UK, including GB3DA, may be streamed online and via web SDRs.
The views and opinions expressed by participants of the Monday Night Net do not necessarily reflect the views of Essex Ham.
Monday Night Net – Related links
#SBBT
Is it me or has the monday night net lost is target audience. for the last few weeks when i read these logs its all m0 / G stations who are taking part. What has happened to the M6 which the monday night net was targeting. Has the net lost its focus.
Hi Mitchell,
Stats show that we get a higher number of M6s after a local training course has finished. As most local clubs do no training this time of year (don’t get me started!!), then not many newcomers around in August – See last year’s report (https://www.essexham.co.uk/monday-night-net-22-august-2016.html) – 22 people on, and only 2 Foundation – almost exactly the same as last year.
Stats show we’ve had 25 Foundation callsigns appearing in the net logs this year, out of 96 total attendees – 25% Foundation and 16% Intermediate, so it’s actually quite a good breakdown.
Everyone is welcome to join, and with 4 of the 5 local training clubs running courses within a few weeks of each other in a month’s time (don’t get me started!!), hopefully lots of new M6s will be along in Sept/Oct.
It seems to me that once friendships have been made on radio it would be rude not to continue calling in at whatever level you progress to.
A more worrying trend in my opinion is the level of candidates that pass the foundation who then remain silent on either the repeater or calling frequency.
It would be wonderful if 20 or so M6 stations called into the Monday Night Net every week but the saying ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’ rings true in this case.
Bri
Fully agree Brian. That is a big concern, and something that I was always hoping Skills Night might go some way to addressing. Not sure if the silence is due to mic-shyness, cost of kit, lack of activity, complexity of getting on with a decent system, or lack of support for newcomers from local clubs – Probably a combination of all of the above.
Wish I knew the answer…
I listen in to the Net time to time and i be honest it seemed to be getting a bit of a closed group. The same call signs come up and it just feels that focus went. I could understand if progression was a lot of 2E call signs as progression.
I dropped off the net as it got a bit the same old people at the time and the same long moans and rants. M6 stations do not just disappear over night i think maybe the net has lost that focus of getting M6 stations on the air. Maybe a secondary net is needed for more experience licence holders as i get the feeling there are more m6 listening than popping up.
Hi Mitchell,
Some good suggestions there.
I’m not sure about the closed group comment. Sure, we have regulars (and I’m very grateful for the ongoing support), but the net is open to everyone, and a call is put out for newcomers and people to join at regular intervals. You (and anyone else) are very welcome to join, raise issues of interest to newcomers, or help to encourage M6 stations to join. If people out there listening don’t join in, take part, and shape the net, then yes, it will continue to be the same people.
There is certainly space on-air for more nets though – the more activity, the better, as far as I’m concerned.
If you think there’s a market for an extra net aimed at newcomers, give it a try! I’m certainly happy to promote it and to help generate an audience. I can see it being very successful, so give it a go!
I think the problem is the age old when a net is full of G and M0 stations it puts off the m6 stations. I have raised these points countless times and it falls on deaf ears. The nets at the start was more focused on getting the newbies on the air.
Maybe we need to do as done before a net where everyone uses the lowest call sign they hold for the UK and then maybe if they hear more m6 stations it may pull more in.
Sadly i do not have the time to commit to setting stuff up like i used to due to work commitments.
Mitchell – It sounds like you’re suggesting I start banning G and M0 callsigns from the net. I’m sorry, but I’m not willing to do that.
If you’re listening to the net regularly and feel that there’s nothing of interest for M6 members, then why not come on and encourage some discussion that might interest the M6s that are listening?
As for setting up a net – there’s not much to it, and I can help with the PR. If you can’t commit to it weekly, how about every two weeks… or once a month. Is it really not worth a try?
What a load of tripe. Banning Gs from joining nets as they’ll scare off M6 calls? Is this guy for real? Lets see if 2e0emo puts his money where his mouth is and starts a net or joins next weeks to bring up something useful. Or will this suggestion fall on “deaf ears”?
Pete stop twisting what i say. Ive tried before to give ideas and half the time on the net calls get passed over very quickly. I HAVE NOT SAID BAN ANYONE. What i said was why not try a net where people use the lower call signs. Pete i lost respect for you and essexham now. You seemed to stop doing things like reviews and guides which helped people.
The other reason m6 may be put off is as soo as the word dmr or modes internet related they get shut down or just a cold feeling.
I attempted to set stuff up before and barely any support.
Full and proud nice try troll. Hiding behind a name like that just shows you got no balls to make a point. It often felt by m6 they get run down by the grandfathers of the hobbie. If you adjusted your glasses you would see i am real and oh wait i am a 2e so i must know nothing.
Maybe you need a eye test as i explained i do not have the time. I already work 60 hours + a week. I also have a life away from the dial oh wait i an on dmr. The word tripe would say your a very old amateur.
Mitchell,
Several points. You said that the problem is too many G and M0 stations. As you know, the G callsigns don’t have a lower licence level to drop to, as they got their callsigns before Foundation. This week, we had 8 “G” calls who don’t have a lower licence, 4 2E0 calls, 2 Foundation, and 6 M0. Do you really think that if me, Kristian, Paul, Dorothy, Keith and Nick all dropped down to an M6 call, it would attract lots of new M6s? And what about the G calls who can’t use an M6 call?
As for doing content to help newcomers – Are you aware that we are running an online training course. Over 700 people have joined. There are 84 on an active course, with several on the waiting list for the next course. I’m involved with training for 3 local clubs, we have guides and reviews, plus an M6 help forum.
Like you, I work. I also have limited time. I put in a huge amount of time and effort into training, running nets, keeping the site updated, writing content and trying to promote the hobby. I’m sorry if you don’t think this is good enough, or that I need to be doing more or working harder. What more do you think I could be doing? Would you perhaps be interested in writing some reviews or guides to help out?
You say you tried to set stuff up, but got little support. If that’s the case, then you know what it’s like. If there more we could do for M6s – how about supporting me in trying to do just that?
Pete
To Mitchel 2e0emo. I’m sure we’d all like to know about YOUR efforts to help foundations out.
yes i am aware you run the online courses and always miss when one is as i know someone looking to do it. Comments have been said on twitter where points been made clearer and better understood from both sides.
> the age old when a net is full of G and M0 stations it puts off the m6 stations
This seems to be the core of what you’re saying (along with the net is boring and full of the same people).
As one of the regulars, I entirely agree that it gets boring and full of the same people. We regularly have trouble finding interesting things to say, news and information to share with each other. That means it’s absolutely wonderful when a new DX contact comes in, or someone has a genuine question.
Everybody on the net is sitting there waiting to help new people and discuss new topics, so the best way to make it less boring is to come on and say hello. Even if it’s just “hello” or some information about where you did your course, or some kit you’ve built. Pete tries very hard to leave long gaps, and call for new joiners. I’ve even heard him call specifically for M6 stations before when there’s been a course finish recently.
We all know there’s a lot of the same crowd, but I think it’s important that someone talks on a Monday and it’s not just silence, because when I meet new amateurs, a lot of them found us by scanning the bands and stopping on the net. Often it’s what prompted them to find out about ham radio. Hopefully we don’t say anything specific to discourage people from joining — we were all new once and found a way to join that first net that led to being a ‘regular.’
As for groups of G and M0 stations putting off M6s, I haven’t experienced this. I think it’s a lot about self-confidence and not perpetuating a myth. It can be scary to walk into an office full of mechanics to ask a question about cars when you don’t know anything about engineering, and I imagine people could feel the same way about more-experienced ham radio operators.
If that’s stopping them progressing in ham radio, then you’d probably have to help by sitting beside them and cheering them on; a change in the people they’re trying to contact probably wouldn’t help. I’d hate it if the mechanics only discussed lawnmower engines, or only used their apprentice qualifications to “make it easier” for example, because I’d never learn from them.
The ultimate goal of ham radio is to be full of Full callsign stations — the hope is people will find it so interesting and engaging that they’ll be eager to achieve the top levels of understanding. The licence is quite literally “for the purpose of self-training in radio communications, including conducting
technical investigations; and as a leisure activity” (S2 1(1)).
You have to expect the most avid users of amateur radio will be people who’ve progressed through to Full level. Remember, they are all doing this for leisure and they all started from nothing. These are people who are interested in radio and they can and do want to help you.
Don’t be put off by a net of Full callsigns. It’s not like a local pub that will fall silent if you call, instead it’s a group of people who care enough about radio to keep doing it, and whom are eager to help those making the same journey. They’re also eager for new knowledge end experience, which you can bring at any level!
2EOEMO Get off your backside and do something for the hobby & expect nothing in return or any support all you ever do is moan I haul my backside out there in the hobby for no return expected respect and support comes with time & even if it does not you should still keep doing stuff for the hobby if you put nothing in you get nothing out your ideas are your ideas if others come alongside with you on them that’s a bonus but if not don’t moan you have no support just keep trying if you can’t do that then this hobby is not for you
M1ecc not a us have the time to do as much as we like. Wh dont you get your net running oh forgot it had problems.
Do you not think theres more i want to do but try 60 hours a week for next to nothing. So frankly i could not give a dam about a hobby that is dying out slowly. Life moves on. Amataur radio gets boring. I have attempted to give back before and help but always rejected as i not good enough. So i will happly stick a radio up someones backside as thats where most talk out of.
I suggest it’s time for you to give up the hobby as you don’t give a dam about it as all the negativity & lack of positive inspiration from you is toxic to the hobby & will help to kill it off for good people who view the hobby as you do 2e0emo are better off out of the hobby in my opinion
** Comment deleted following complaint from Mitchell 2E0EMO on 24 August 2017 13:14 **
Anon your be waiting for that appology for a while…..
Trolls like you good luck.
Oh and actually ive stirred a debate on twitter so maybe this was the ugly start. Oh fyi i do give ideas that if i had the time i would impliment myself. Ever heard of twitter?
** Comment deleted following complaint from Mitchell 2E0EMO on 24 August 2017 13:14 (Section 4.2 of Site Terms) **
Anon so you would know that what i have stirred up actually has lead to a better understanding between both sides. So please your a coward hiding behind the name Anon, be a man and show who you really are.
I am proud what i done as i have brought something to a head that maybe was long needed. If you seen that debate then you would know what has truely happened and for once it debate that helps bring understanding. Its brought about a situation of understanding. I actually think your just a sad troll who has no balls to speak out. Actually what i done have brought out idea to improve and they been adapted. So you must be very connected to Essex ham to know that i may of demotivated his team. So you want me to say sorry. Kiss my big fat backside as i will not applogise to nameless people or cowards. I will handle this with pete how i choose to and not because i am being demanded to by someone who just wants mob Justice. I will be on the net Monday night but do not expect any saying sorry as frankly trolls need to go back to their bridge and stay there.
** Comment deleted following complaint from Mitchell 2E0EMO on 24 August 2017 13:14 (Section 4.2 of Site Terms) **
Sorry i have a schedule and talking to a troll on Monday at 8 will not work. I sadly got enough work that night so will not be taking up your offer. This matter has been dealt with behind closed doors via email so no public hangings will be happening. Your just now wanting the drama.
This is the last i am going to say to you as frankly this matter has over the last 2 days been talked about enough and your now wanting to carry it on.
No sked set for monday as scheduling doe’s not work like that as i will not turn work down just to defend my self to a troll.
Oh and you won’t have seen anything that’s been said privately behind closed doors.
So 73’s my troll you have made me laugh at you for two days now so now need to do some real work.
Oh and sorry that would involve you giving your call sign out unlike you have done now.
** Comment deleted following complaint from Mitchell 2E0EMO on 24 August 2017 13:14 (Section 4.2 of Site Terms) **
I’ve just followed the breadcrumbs back to this post and it’s a shocker. I’ve listened to Pete’s net quite few times and always found it very welcoming. My only complaint is that it can take half an hour for peoples turn to come around and so I sometimes lose the plot and stops me revising
I welcome hearing anyone’s voice – newcomer or old hand and I’ll be taking my foundation in October to become part of the fun.
Pete; don’t let negative voices from people like Michell put you off. Him making this site delete comments from people he disagrees with says it all. He is happy to be rude about others, but the first to complain when someone does the same to him.
Rise above it Pete and don’t let people like that get you down Pete.
Keep up the hard work. More people appreciate it than you know.
Thanks for your support Rob, and for the email. Course starts next week, and you’ve got your place.
All the best,
Pete
Rob dee watch out for breadcrumbs. They will not tell you the whole story. I asked for even my comments to be removed to help put this fire out as pete would know i have offered when i can to give a better worded view on where i feel points can be improved. If i was you this has been been put to rest so may recommend leaving it to settle in to the back end of the web.
Censoring people who disagree with you Mitchell? Really?
Don’t mind dishing out insults and negativity, but don’t like it when people do it to you?
There is a lesson to be learned here Mitchell.
Dave please leave this. If you read above i asked for all my comments to be removed to settle this down. This matter has been dealt with behind closed doors.
To help explain my first view before it had been blown out the water (Few badly worded posts on my side but then few happy to attack back):
In the past few months i noticed the balance on the net go from having a good mix of call signs to having more the regular full licence holders. As experienced at times online and first hand some the full call signs create a feeling of hate toward’s m6 stations. Even at clubs i have witness this happening. The problem is wider than Essex and with sites being World wide the problem is deeper. Sites like Transmission1 has not help the cause much.
At no point would i ever wish to exclude others. I have witness first hand G stations attack M6’s actively on air. Even i have been at the end of this when using my M6 yet when given a 2e call sign the person went in to thin air.
Sometimes i wonder if nets can become very technical very quickly. Maybe some times people’s passion for their equipment is more than some M6’s can value them self if they can not afford much.
Often wait between overs may cause the mike shyness as if they are not a confident person anxiety could build.
Sometimes i wonder where all these new m6 end up as you hear them once on the net then not again. I more was wondering if some nets could be done using the lower call signs. Maybe hearing M6’s more often pulls a group together.
I work a lot at the moment and Yes a passion for the hobby doe’s get put on hold. Also i am not as active on analogue as i am on DMR. Once my work settles down I would love to try and create something less net like and more a chance for a repeater based support. Where if people are learning to configure their radio they know they will not disrupt a flow if they want a access check or get their programming back to front. A support net maybe a step forward.
I had to ask for comments to be removed to help calm the matter down as it had got out of hand and i did not feel it was healthy. If i could of edited my first comment to be clearer i would of. It is very easy for people to hide behind made up names or sudo names. This never makes for any healthy debates. Points raised by Pete had value and understanding.
I ask that people stop trying to carry this on as i have attempted to put right the wrongs and apologises issued behind closed doors. Yes this has caused great debate on twitter with quiet a few amateurs of known standing being involved. When being attacked people’s worst side comes out. Keep attacking me for what i said will just sour a ready bitter situation and will not help anyone. Every where there are people very critical of stuff and can be negative. Sometimes that is where ideas lie to improve. If we did not have negative views then nothing would ever change.
Again i ask people let this go to bed. Keep attacking is just going to sour deeper. Keep attacking me will actually do nothing more for the hobby as lesson has been learnt and keep attacking will make this worst.
Don’t worry about it Mitchell.
In your own words this is a boring hobby that you haven’t got time for, and you have no respect for the boring old people involved.
Lifes shorts so go find something else interesting to do
Again with the twisting. All because i am busy doe’s not mean i do not have time for the hobby. I still out and about talk to people via my handheld. Actually i only find the one’s who all you hear about is their medical problems and the bragging contest of i am doing 100w to make a QSO that i can do at 10w. At no point i said i find the hobby boring. At no point have i said i do not have no time for the hobby (I use DMR more often than not)
As they say amateur radio is a hobby that people sometimes drift in and out of.
Again with the back pedaling!
Look at Message 16. You said:
“I could not give a dam about a hobby that is dying out slowly. Amateur radio gets boring”
You deny saying that?
And as for not enough time.
Several times you have said that you work 60+ hours so don’t have time. Want me to post the quotes here to remind you?
Do you really want to bring this up again Good Buddy?
You heard a net and found it boring. Rather than switch off or better still, pick up a mic, you make a very public statement offending the participants, net controller and the radio club.
And then refuse to apologise when you realise the damage you’ve done.
Can you really not see why this was not a popular thing to do?
D harry “ask that people stop trying to carry this on as i have attempted to put right the wrongs and apologises issued behind closed doors. ”
Please read all my post before throwing comments that i have refused to apologise. This was done by email yesterday.
I refused to publicly apologise to a troll who was trying to be judge and jury.
As the only way to actually silence some of this mob mentality, this is the email sent:
Hi pete.
I not in to the mob or “anon” style cowardness of some people. I will admit i worded a lot of what i said wrong but by the time being jumped on by others it got blown out of the waters. Sorry for any offence directed towards Essex Ham.
Come October i will have more time free to try and focus on getting back in to the hobby so will be more than willing look though bits maybe others are struggling. There is a lot i learnt over the last few months that i do what want to share.
I however am not sorry for the s*** storm i caused on twitter as so far its lead to a debate that has lead to understandings on both sides. It has been actually quiet civilised.
Again sorry for any bad feeling towards Essex Ham. The point i was aiming to make in the first place is just noticing barely any m6 on the net and it had been going on a few weeks.
Kind regards
2e0emo
So, you deny saying:
“For those waiting on thr @EssexHam mon night net on monday. There will be not be any saying sorry. That will be done with out mob rule”
And “I will be on he net Monday but don it expect any saying sorry”
Looks like two refusals to make a public apology to me, Good Buddy!
So the fact the email is above and i made it clear though out i would not issue a public apology. Are you sure you are not Anon. If i was drop it. This matter has been dealt with so stop trying to carry this on.
So Rob Dee i ask again please leave this matter as it has been dealt with.
If you don’t want to discuss this any more – then stop posting, Good Buddy!!!!
The last few messages are you claiming that you didn’t say things and me quoting word-for-word what you said, to prove that you did.
I think we can both agree to the following, and move on.
You feel this is a dying hobby that you find boring. You’d rather critisise and undermine others from behind your keyboard than take part or try to change things. You’ve wound a lot of people up, but have finally decided to apologise publicly.
I’m happy to leave it at that if you are, Good Buddy.