A Welcome Net is a gathering of amateur radio operators (AKA “hams”) designed to help new and newly licensed hams move forward into the wonderful world of amateur radio. The key feature of The Welcome Net format is it first asks for check ins from amateurs licensed one month or less, then for check ins from amateurs licensed one year or less, and finally by all amateurs using the traditional suffix letter groups. We ask all stations checking in to give their call sign phonically, followed by their first name and location.
Once the check in process is completed each station that checked in is called back and given an opportunity to tell what they currently need to further their journey into our radio world. This is done using the same check in sequence so the new hams can tell the more experienced hams what information they currently need followed by the more experienced hams having a chance to do the same as well as offer one on one off net ‘Elmering” in their areas of knowledge.
Our Mission and Values
Our mission is to facilitate the establishment of multiple welcome nets across the country, recommending that existing club nets model their check-in procedures after our own, which prioritizes new hams to make them feel welcome and unintimidated, making it more likely that they will stick with the hobby.
Our values are based in the founding purposes of the Amateur Radio Service, which was established by Congress back in 1918. Briefly summarized, amateur radio is a non-commercial radio service established for the experimentation and development of radio technology in times of peace and prosperity, while developing trained and equipped civilian volunteers ready to assist as needed in times of emergency. The book “200 Meters and Down” will give you a solid background in the roots of the amateur radio service.
Our History
The first Welcome Net was held May 5, 2021 on the W9WIN linked repeater system in south central Indiana. N9DHX, Russ, proposed the concept of a welcome net to Mike, KB9SGN who is the founder and main trustee for this repeater system, after years of observing large numbers of new hams getting on the air once or twice and then abandoning our hobby. Specifically, KD9RUE, Gordon, and his wife KD9RUD, Ellen, who were first licensed in March, 2021, were on the verge of following this pattern. Discussions with them about a pathway forward into our hobby were joined by KC9RPX, Jimmy, and KJ9B, Ken. Russ’s goal is that any newly licensed ham should have a welcome net or at least a club net adopting our welcome net protocol available to them. This quest continues.
Please help make our dream come true
Our goal is to see than any newly licensed amateur radio operator has access to a welcome net. Please use our forum to discuss your interests in helping move our quest forward.