Medical Amateur Radio Council Nets

Health Care Hams YouTube Channel - Videos of the Grand Rounds on the Air Net

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:49:51 GMT

View video recordings of many of our Grand Rounds on the Air Nets at https://www.youtube.com/@HealthCareHams

Grand Rounds on the Air

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:42:45 GMT

Weekly MARCO Medical Grand Rounds on the Air HF Net

The Medical Amateur Radio Council (MARCO) conducts its weekly Grand Rounds on the Air net on 14.342 MHz at 11am Eastern time (1600 UTC in the summer months and 1500 UTC in the winter months).

Health Care professionals check-in to the net and engage through moderated (net directed) round-table discussions on topics of interest, often a timely issue in healthcare Those present include physicians and dentists from many specialties, pharmacists, nurses, researchers (PhDs), EMTs, and members who serve in other health related careers. All members of the amateur community and public are welcome to listen and submit questions to the discussion panel using the AIM messaging feature in the freely available netlogger program (netllogger.org), aided by using the livesteam of the net. This facilitates country and worldwide engagement of participants and listeners while negating the limitations of HF propagation.

Options for the Grand Rounds - Live and Recorded Streams, and Videos

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:41:06 GMT

Is the Grand Rounds on the Air only a 20m net?

Our net is offered live by Webstream by Chip N5RTF at marcoaudio.net. Audio recordings are made available on the same platform so members who can not listen in real-time can do so later.

The Zoom component is also added for members that affords valuable enhancements. Video productions are made for the members to view later, and as public health content for a worldwide audience of potential hams. When the public locates a MARCO video made from our Grand Round on the Air session sessions not only do they receive interesting content, but they also find out about amateur radio.

Of note, our flagship net has been in existence for many years. Originally it was focused on providing CME2 credit to members and took place on Sunday mornings when doctors were not making hospital rounds. CME is now easier to obtain from home, negating that need for the net. Our group has aged and so has their home radio stations. HOA restrictions abound and many members are now HF challenged.

The above dilemma created opportunity for change. MARCO is an ARRL affiliated club and hams happen upon our net, one that gives them the potential to participate as our focus moves to forums on health topics. Guided by a net control facilitator who recognizes members for contributions on subjects, and often in tandem with a Zoom component, even members without HF capability can participate.

Since the zoom component can also have PowerPoint prompting, pdf versions of the slides are made available to our members, giving them access to the links and research foundation aspects the net control facilitator provides. See the following pages for examples of our new format and the multipurpose presence modern technology offers to bringing MARCO to the world.

MARCO International Digital Voice Net

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:40:12 GMT

Do you have or know a medical ham who only has a technician’s license? The MARCO International DV (Digital Voice) net meets on Tuesdays at 9pm USA Eastern (Wednesday 01:00 UTC summer months and 02:00 in the winter) and is entry amateur radio enabled. This is not to say that seasoned hams (pun intended) would not benefit. Learning about the technology modernizes your shack and allows more neurons to connect as your explore updates to amateur radio. Your MARCO members will assist you in getting started (see pg. 12). Enjoy QRM free QSO’s and a propagation independent ability to talk to all those present on the net without relays.

We use the QuadNet Array, an IRC or Internet Chat Facility that acts like a universal translator between different digital modes that allows hams who identify by callsign to connect with other users of digital radios world-wide through interconnected reflectors and talk-groups. See their website for more details, including how to connect, within the https://www.openquad.net/ webpage.

The net is a modality for members and guests worldwide to join discussions without the limitations of HF propagation, antennas, or equipment. Since operators can participate on radio while mobile through digital hotspots or repeaters, or at a fixed location by USB dongles on a computer, the net is a versatile opportunity for involvement for both newly and seasoned amateur radio operators.

This net applies the same format of, and augments MARCO's HF-based voice nets, Contact Jay AA4FL for additional details needed for implementing equipment needed for participating and protecting your neural connections, great involvement for your soul and health!

CW Net

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 23:27:23 GMT

MARCO members are encouraged to check into the CW net convening on 14.140 MHz one-half hour before Grand Rounds. This is intended to be a slow-speed net open to all interested participants. N5RTF Chip is net control.

"Q" Signals

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 23:29:13 GMT

INTERNATIONAL Q SIGNALS
A Q signal followed by a ? asks a question. A Q signal without the ? answers the question affirmatively, unless otherwise indicated.QRA   What is the name of your station?
QRG   What’s my exact frequency?
QRH   Does my frequency vary?
QRK   What is my signal intelligibility? (1-5)
QRL    Are you busy?
QRM   Is my transmission being interferred with?
QRN   Are you troubled by static?
QRO   Shall I increase transmitter power?
QRP   Shall I decrease power?
QRQ   Shall I send faster?
QRS   Shall I send slower?
QRT   Shall I stop sending?
QRU   Have you anything for me? (Answer in negative)
QRV   Are you ready?
QRW   Shall I tell ……. you are calling him?
QRX   When will you call again?
QRZ   Who is calling me?
QSA   What is my signal strength?
QSB   Are my signals fading?
QSD   Is my keying defective?
QSG   Shall I send ….. messages at a time?
QSK   Can you work breakin?
QSL   Can you acknowledge receipt?
QSM   Shall I repeat the last message sent?
QSO   Can you communicate with ….. direct?
QSP   Will you relay to …. ?
QSV   Shall I send a series of V’s?
QSW Will you transmit on ….. ?
QSX   Will you listen for ….. on ….. ?
QSY   Shall I change frequency?
QSZ   Shall I send each word/group more than once?
(Answer, send twice or …..)
QTA   Shall I cancel number ….. ?
QTB   Do you agree with my word count? (Answer negative)
QTC   How many messages have you to send?
QTH What is your location?
QTR   What is your time?
QTV   Will you keep your station open for further commication with me?
QUA   Have you news of ….. ?

ARRL “QN” SIGNALS FOR CW NET USE
QNA* – Answer in prearranged order
QNB* – Act as relay between ….. and …..
QNC   – All net stations copy
I have a message for all net stations
QND* – Net is Directed (controlled by net control station).
QNE* – Entire net stand by.
QNF   – Net is Free (not controlled)
QNG – Take over as net control station
QNH – Your net frequency is High
QNI   – Net stations report in.*.
I am reporting into the net. (Follow with a list ,
traffic, or QRU).
QNJ   – Can you copy me?
Can you copy …… ?
QNK* – Transmit message for ….. to …..
QNL   – Your net frequency is Low.
QNM* – You are QRMing the net. Stand by.
QNN   – Net control station is ……
What station has net control?
QNO   – Station is leaving the net.
QNP    – Unable to copy you.
Unable to copy ……
QNQ* – Move frequency to ….. and wait for ….. to finish
handling traffic. Then send him traffic for …..
QNR   – Answer ….. and Receive traffic.
QNS* – Following Stations are in the net. *(Follow with list.)
QNT   – I request permission to leave the net for ….. minutes.
QNU* – The net has traffic for you. Stand by.
QNV* – Establish contact with …. on this frequency. If
successful, move to ….. and send him traffic for …..
QNW – How do I route messages for ….. ?
QNX   – You are excused from the net.*
Request to be excused from the net.
QNY* – Shift to another frequency (or to …. kHz) to clear
traffic with …..
QNZ – Zero beat your signal with mine.* denotes to be used by the Net Control StationQN signals need not be followed by question mark, even
though the meaning may be interrogatory.