SOI

SIGNAL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS: Version B (SOIB)

Signal Operating Instructions (SOI) aid in the operation of a net. By establishing common operating frequencies, modes, and schedules, members can more easily find one another.

Net Frequencies are established as channels indicating frequency and mode of operation.

Channel definition nomenclature: Channels ending in P, S, or T are primary, secondary, and tertiary voice channels. CW is permitted there if necessary but digital is not. Channels with an F are digital channels, indicating the band and the channel number. Channels with C are defined as a channel by outside authority, as on 60 meters.

Software Configuration

The standard software stack for the net is an open-source and multiplatform suite, available from SourceForge and the author's site:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/
http://www.w1hkj.com/ 

• Fldigi - modems (and maybe rig control, as you prefer)

• Flamp - multicast protocol transmission and reception

• Flmsg - message origination (and sometimes delivery or presentation)

• Flrig - rig control, if you prefer

The 6 June 2023 configuration baseline for Fldigi is current. If you want to give it a try (please do if you're working the BLACK SWAN Net), get the BLACK SWAN Fldigi Baseline (ZIP). The ZIP archive contains two files:

• MDF (the macro definition file), and

• frequencies2.txt (the frequency definition).

Quick Instructions for Installation

Quit Fldigi if it's running. Extract the baseline ZIP contents into your Fldigi config directory. Note that it will overwrite your frequencies2.txt and write a file with the pattern BLACKSWAN_YYYYMMDD.mdf, where YYYYMMDD is the year, month, and date of the macro definition. Use Fldigi's File>Macros>Open to select the new macro file and you're ready to rock! Be sure to use the 48-macros view in Fldigi.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installation

To install the baseline configuration package, you will want to identify the location of your Fldigi Configuration and the Fldigi Macros. Generally, you can use the File>Folders menu to open the configuration folder, and the File>Macros menu to open macros definitions files. See the Fldigi Users Manual for current and authoritative information. Having done that, you're ready to get started.

1. Create new folder to extract BLACK SWAN Configuration Baseline. The folder should be empty.

2. Extract the BLACK SWAN Fldigi Baseline ZIP file into the new folder. Open the folder and you should now have two files in the new folder you just made.

3. Open your Fldigi config folder. Use the Fldigi drop-down menu to choose File>Folders>Fldigi Config. That will open the folder with the operating system's filesystem browser.

4. Quit Fldigi. You don't want it running while you're copying files into the configuration folder.

5. Install frequencies2.txt, which you extracted from the Baseline ZIP.  (Beware! If you have customized your frequencies list, you will want to make a copy of the frequencies2.txt file that you already have.) You can install the baseline frequencies file by dragging the frequencies2.txt file from your baseline folder and dropping it into your config folder.

6. Install BLACKSWAN_.mdf. (The actual filename will have figures after _ indicating its date of release, YYYYMMDD format.) You can do so by dragging the baseline mdf file from the baseline folder into the macros folder inside of the Fldigi config window.

7. Open the BLACK SWAN Net macros. Use the Fldigi File>Macros>Open drop-down menu to open the macros folder. You should see the mdf file you just dragged into that folder in the step above. Select it. 

8. Confirm that you see the macros. You should have the "48 macros" view, which you can select from the Fldigi View>View/Hide 48 Macros menu option. Most of the macros will be allocated. In the current release, some are blank so you can experiment with your own.

9. Clean up! You may now safely close both the Fldigi config folder and the baseline folder. You can delete the baseline folder and the ZIP file you downloaded.

Verify Your Frequencies

To use the new frequencies definition, use the Book icon in Fldigi controls, under the frequency display. Click it once and the log controls will be replaced by a frequency list. Double-click on a frequency and it should adjust the frequency and mode of your rig. Note that if your rig uses something different from DATA-U for getting digital tones in from the computer for transmission on upper sideband you'll have to adjust the mode. See the Fldigi Users Manual under Rig Control for details.

Schedule

Our operating schedule is defined by "Activation." See the Activation page for Warnings (advising of possible upcoming activation) and Notices (advising of activation) for detail.

Nominal operation is Saturday and Sunday at 1300 and Monday evening at 1900. All times local to Ohio (EST/EDT).

Frequencies

We specify frequencies on several bands, allowing us to use the frequencies most likely to work for the paths our signals need to make at the time of day and year they need to make them. As a rule of thumb, during mid-day hours expect to find us on 40 meters, during night hours expect to find us on 80 meters, and during transition periods where neither quite works, find us on 60 meters. It's common for us to be on several frequencies at once, even several bands at once.

We're typically operating digital. If a station operator cannot follow the digital or needs help, we will typically instruct that station and another to change frequency (QSY) to a frequency designator (e.g., 40P) to make contact with voice to help the newer operator.

60 Meters

We use these channels for interoperability with government stations and when HF conditions make this band best for covering the State of Ohio. We start on Channel 4, and move up to avoid interference, to 5, then to 1, then 2, then 3. Amateur stations have secondary privileges on this band and must yield to government stations.

These channels contain USB (dial frequency likely shows -1500 Hz from emission centers listed here), digital, and CW. Use your rig's channel definitions.

• 60C4 emissions centered at 5373 kHz

• 60C5 emissions centered at 5405 kHz

• 60C1 emissions centered at 5332 kHz

• 60C2 emissions centered at 5348 kHz

• 60C3 emissions centered at 5358.5 kHz

80 Meters

Most commonly as of spring 2023, we start on 80 meters for operations other than mid-day. We use 80 Meters for digital and most CW operations. Voice is not permitted here. These channels are defined by the (suppressed) carrier frequency USB; emissions are centered at 1500 Hz up.

• 80F1 3578.5 kHz USB

• 80F2 3581.5 kHz USB

• 80F3 3583.0 kHz USB

• 80F4 3584.5 kHz USB

• 80F5 3586.0 kHz USB

• 80F6 3587.5 kHz USB

• 80F7 3589.0 kHz USB

• 80F8 3590.5 kHz USB

75 Meters

We might use 75 meters if we need a voice circuit outside of mid-day hours. Operators on 75 meters may move up or down 1 kHz to avoid interference; if more space is needed, fall back to another channel. Move further than 1 kHz only when none of the three channels can be used without interference and another and is not suitable.

• 75P 3847.5 kHz LSB

• 75S 3947.5 kHz LSB

• 75T 3962.5 kHz LSB

40 Meters

We use 40 Meters for Digital (40F-), Voice (40[PST]), and CW (40-). 40F- are specified as suppressed carrier frequency USB; emissions are at 1500 Hz up.

• 40F1 7079.5 kHz USB

• 40F2 7081.0 kHz USB

• 40F3 7082.5 kHz USB

• 40F4 7084.0 kHz USB

• 40F5 7085.5 kHz USB

• 40F6 7087.0 kHz USB

• 40F7 7088.5 kHz USB

• 40F8 7090.0 kHz USB

• 40P 7182.5 kHz LSB

• 40S 7207.5 kHz LSB

• 40T 7212.0 kHz LSB

Procedures

The BLACK SWAN Net uses formal procedure words (prowords) for telephony and procedure signals (prosigns) for teleprint heavily to convey precise instructions or meaning, aiding in efficiency. The full sets of prowords and prosigns can be found in the Allied Communications Publications (ACP) 125(G) and 131(F), respectively.

Prowords are not written and prosigns are not voiced. Use the procedure to match the mode of operation. Do not write "ROGER," send QSL. Do not voice "Q-R-M," say "Interference."

References

Procedures (including prowords and prosigns) can be found in

• ACP 121(I) General Communication Instructions,

• ACP 125(G) Radiotelephone Procedures, 

• ACP 126(C) Teletypewriter (Teleprinter) Procedures,

• ACP 131(F) Operating Signals, 

• FM 6-99 U.S. Army Report and Message Formats, and

• QTC Mailing List #Training threads.

Waveforms

Net control will call the net with Reed-Solomon ID (RSID) enabled to establish the waveform. Net standard is MFSK64, and may shift to MFSK128 when conditions allow, and down to MFSK32 or even MFSK16 when conditions require. RSID is typically enabled only for mode changes or to establish the net or contact on a new circuit, e.g., frequency change.

Net control may direct use of other waveforms with modems in the standard software stack, e.g., a PSK variant, and stations exchanging traffic on working channels may negotiate other waveforms within the standard stack.

We do not support use of VARA, PACTOR, or other proprietary waveforms or protocols that present obstacles to interoperability.

File Relay

File relay is performed with the flamp application, using the Amateur Multicast Protocol. Use of multicast allows for multiple stations to receive the same transmission, and also for fills to correct corruption without demanding forward-error correction (FEC) as found in waveforms with lower data rates.

Callsigns

Stations report into the net and operate in accordance with their FCC license or applicable authorization to operate. In addition, the net makes use of group callsigns to address all stations in the net, or groups of stations for whom transmissions are applicable. For example:

• BLACKSWAN This is the net's callsign: addresses all stations in the net

• US All stations in the United States

• OH All stations in Ohio

• OH-Franklin All stations in the Ohio county of Franklin

Stations in the group answer in net order.

Message Formats

We use many common message formats, most typically:

• Basic Message Format ("16-Line"), as specified in the ACP series,

• Various military message formats, with voice examples specified in FM 6-99, and

• Custom formats we have created or adopted such as OHGOREQ, FIELDSITREP, WXOBS, and SIGOBSREP.

Leading signals

• INT - Interrogatory, used as a leading signal to turn the signal into a question

• ZUG - Negative, used as a leading signal to negate the next signal

Abbreviations and Short Signals

• C - Confirm, see also Y

• K - Over, I am finished transmitting and am listening for you

• N - Negative

• R - Roger, I understand your transmission - not the same as yes

• Y - Yes, affirmative, see also C

• AS - Wait

• AR - Out, I am terminating the contact

• DE - This is, introduction of station identification

• 73 - Best regards

• IMI - also ? - Say again, or I say again (for correction or emphasis)

• BULL - Message for all stations in the net  (Deprecated. Use the net's callsign, e.g.,
  to list traffic: ZBO 1 R BLACKSWAN
  to call: BLACKSWAN DE A1A ...
  to address: TO BLACKSWAN

• BCAST - Message for broadcast transmission

• WL2K - Winlink Global Radio Email

Z Signals - Mostly for Net Operations

ARRL National Traffic System (NTS) QN signals are incompatible with international signals and are not to be used on 60 meters, where U.S. Government stations may be interoperating.

• ZBO - Traffic: (quantity) (precedence) (target), e.g.,
  N2LC DE KD8TTE ZBO 1 P WD8SAB

• ZBR - Send your traffic (to...) using:

  • R - Direct Method, i.e., ZBRR

  • F - Broadcast Method, i.e., ZBRF

• ZBZ - Printing acceptability of your (or ...'s) signals is...

  • 1 - Unacceptable, totally corrupt

  • 2 - Unacceptable, very corrupt

  • 3 - Unacceptable, partially corrupt

  • 4 - Acceptable, occasionally corrupt

  • 5 - Acceptable, no corruption

• ZCJ - I am experiencing equipment trouble

• ZDD - Bring message...to the circuit, e.g.,
  ZDD ZFPCLE-OH-Stark bring the current Zone Forecast Product from NWS forecast office CLE for Ohio county Stark to the circuit.

• ZEV - Message acknowledged, e.g.,

  • INT ZEV - Request acknowledgement

  • ZEV - I acknowledge message

  • ZUG ZEV - Do not acknowledge

• ZKA - Identification of Net Control

• ZKB - This net is directed, c.f.,
  ZUG ZKB - This net is free - not the same as closed, see ZKJ

• ZKD - Take control of net

• ZKE - Reporting into the net

• ZKJ - Close down - leaving this frequency (may be going off-air), e.g.,
  BLACKSWAN DE KD8TTE ZKJ K - Closes the net by telling all stations to close down
  KD8TTE DE N2LC  ZKJ K - (net control) (this is) (calling station) I am closing down

• ZNB - Authentication, e.g.,

  • INT ZNB AB - What is the authentication of AB (voice equivalent: AUTHENTICATE AB)

  • ZNB C - Authentication is C (voice equivalent: I AUTHENTICATE C)

  • ZNB C INT ZNB DE - Mutual authentication: authentication is C, what is the authentication of DE

  • ZNB ABC - Used for message authentication without challenge, as part of instructions: authentication of AB is C.

• ZND - You are using authenticator incorrectly...

  • 1 - Verify authenticator system key

  • 2 Check authentication of your last transmission

• ZOF - Relay (pass) this message (or message number...) to... now (or at ...)

• ZOK - Relay this message via...

• ZVR - Relay to subordinate stations (or nets)

Q Signals

• QMH - Change frequency to _; if communication not established in 5 minutes, return to this frequency, e.g.,
  N2LC DE KD8TTE QMH 80F1 K

• QRM - Interference

• QRN - Noise

• QRU - I have nothing to transmit

• QSA - Signal strength, 1 (scarcely perceptible) ... 5 (very good), e.g.,

  • QSA2  - Your signal is weak

  • INT QSA - How is my signal?

• QSB - Fading signals

• QSL - Acknowledge receipt

• QSP - Relay

• QSY - Change frequency

• QTC - How many messages, e.g., QTC 5 ("I have 5 messages"); NTS use overloads the meaning and is accepted but deprecated. Use ZBO instead.

See It In Action

The video below shows a real, unscripted net session in action, with commentary taking the viewer through the process. This is with a small number of stations and other challenging conditions, which help to highlight the ability to work through adversity.