[TenTec] 20 m users' net

[KM6VX@aol.com]

OK. Time for my comments on a Ten Tec net.

I'm the one that started the 20m Ten Tec net over 4 years ago. I thought it 
was a great idea and I feel it was quite successful to the very end, thanks 
to Will/K5BMW. Every other niche group had a net, so why not promote Ten Tec 
and their fine products?

One day I decided I was just gonna do it, threw it out to this group, told 
them where, when, and what, period. I knew I wouldn't be able to satisfy 
everyone with time and freq., but hey, that's life. People were always making 
comments like "move it here, move it there, change the time, I have to eat 
dinner then, I have church then, I'm painting my wife's toenails then." Like 
I said, you can't please everyone. Does church take 2.5 hours? Does dinner 
take 2.5 hours? Does painting her toenails take 2.5 hours? Well, maybe on the 
painting. Every week the net operated for at least 2-2.5 hours.  That should 
be sufficient time for anyone to check in to any net if they really really 
wanted to.

Unfortunately, I was many times limited to 100W due to the close spacing of 
houses in southern California. And unfortunately, Will lost his big presence 
when he lost his amplifier. It takes presence to be a net control. Will and I 
did the best we could. How does the Collins net maintain their presence? With 
power and consistency. We had consistency. Unfortunately, not many people 
have the power of the Collins net controllers.

I chose 20 meters because it provides the best conditions world wide, day 
after day. Plus you don't need a big antenna for 20, not like you need on 40. 
Yes, there are people that don't have room for a 40 mtr dipole but could 
manage a 20 mtr dipole, if they really wanted to. I also chose a part of the 
band where the lowest license class with HF privileges could operate.

How do a lot of these nets keep their same freq week after week? How do some 
of these stations with so called skeds keep their freq? Because they don't 
care who is previously on the freq when they appear and they run power, in 
most cases. Will and I didn't do that. If we had to move, we would move and 
try to let everyone know that. We tired to move only a few kc to a clear freq 
so the late check ins would have a good chance of finding us. I think that 
you could probably count the number of times during that 4+years that we did 
not have a net on 2 fingers.

So, what it takes is for someone to make a commitment and just do it. 
Remember, you can't please everyone. Good luck to the 40 meter group. I 
personally thing you have more of an up hill challenge on that band than you 
would on 20. Plus, more people would be able to participate on 20 just based 
on propagation.

If I didn't have other commitments, I'd probably still be doing the net. It 
had nothing to do with ego. It had everything to do with enjoying the hobby 
and getting together with others that enjoy Ten Tec like I do. I'm 
disappointed that not a single person picked up the 20 meter net and kept it 
going. It was already established with many check ins every week. We had a 
presence. Oh well.

So, if someone decides to try a net on 20 again, just set your boundaries. 
You need to decide what you are willing to accept to take on the 
responsibility. I personally wouldn't do it again unless I had some sort of 
loose commitment from at least 3 others. It's just too much for 1 or 2 
persons.

In closing, thanks to all who made the "old" net a success. Even Stan! I miss 
talking to everyone and finding out what everyone is up to with their Ten Tec 
stuff. As for Will, I used to thank the radio gods for Will's fortitude every 
week. I think we were a pretty good team.

ciao for now,

KM6VX
Torrance, Ca.


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