WEEKLY NET TRAINING TOPICS
Mondays, 7:00 PM — Pelahatchie Repeater: 145.390, 77 tone
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January 5, 2026:
ARRL ARES Website
Our CM ARES Quick Check List lists our specific training requirements:
Central Mississippi ARES Training Quick Check List
January 12, 2026:
This link gives complete instruction, from beginner to experienced operators, on passing traffic on a radio net.
Amateur Radio Traffic Handler Training
The following two videos demonstrate the creation and passing on a net, of a Radiogram message, courtesy of the Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club.
How to Compose a Radiogram – National Traffic System – Not that scary Pt.1
How to Compose a Radiogram – National Traffic System – Not that scary Pt.2
January 19, 2026:
Getting To Know Your Radio — Training: KNW-115 KNW-115.pdf
Choosing A Radio For Emergency Communications — Training: KNW-140 KNW-140.pdf
January 26, 2026:
Another MS ARES required skill is preparing a 24hr deployment kit. Here are some ideas that will help.
Putting the Go in Go-bag
Go-Kit-Checklist
February 2, 2026:
Two videos from Dave Casler introducing and showing you how to install and use Anderson Powerpole connectors. Also a MS ARES required skill.
Dave Casler on Powerpoles 1
Dave Casler on Powerpoles 2
February 9, 2026: The ICS Organizational Structure
KNW-164.pdf
February 16, 2026:
ICS-213 Form & Instructions
Basic Messaging Review Including ICS-213
February 23, 2026: ICS Resources and Facilities
KNW-165.pdf
March 2, 2026: Organization of the Incident Command System
KNW-166.pdf
March 9, 2026: Where we fit in ICS
KNW-167.pdf
March 16, 2026:
Instructions for filling out a Radiogram
Blank Radiogram form (fillable online)
March 23, 2026:
Every member should be using Winlink to practice sending and receiving messages. Even without any digital capability on your radios you can still use the software using Telnet (the Internet) to send and receive messages within the Winlink system.
What Is Winlink?
Winlink and VARA Links
Short Tutorial On Setting Up And Using VaraHF With Winlink
Fldigi (NBEMS) free suite of software is the current standard for quick group communications over either VHF or HF frequencies. Rick Frost K4REF has a playlist of videos on YouTube:
NBEMS – fldigi video series
K4REF Videos
March 30, 2026:
ARRL Power Point Presentation on the various digital modes
Amateur Radio HF Digital Communications (PowerPoint)
ARRL HF Digital Page
April 6, 2026:
Color Chart of US Amateur Radio Bands
More Details on Band Plans from the ARRL
April 13, 2026:
Amateur Radio Traffic Handler Training
How to Compose a Radiogram Pt.1
How to Compose a Radiogram Pt.2
April 20, 2026:
ICS-213 Form & Instructions
Basic Messaging Review Including ICS-213
April 27, 2026:
There are a number of ways to accomplish soldering a PL-259 on coax. This is a required demonstratable MS ARES skill.
Soldering a PL-259
Crimp and Solder a PL-259
May 4, 2026:
Antennas are a favorite subject. Another of the MS ARES required tasks is building a simple dipole antenna.
Dave Casler on building a simple dipole
Dipole and inverted V basics – Dave Tadlock
May 11, 2026:
We are not recommending any particular brand of battery. The info here holds true for these types of batteries no matter the seller.
Bioenno Power Presentation – Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
Choosing a Battery for HAM Radio – TheSmokinApe
May 18, 2026: ICS Basis
icsbasis.pdf
ICS Video
May 25, 2026: Skywarn Storm Spotter Training
Online Skywarn Storm Spotter Basic Course
Skywarn Info from the National Weather Service
How to Report Severe Weather
Skywarn Storm Spotter Videos from Norman, OK ARES
June 1, 2026:
Hurricane Checklist
Hurricane Awareness
June 8, 2026: ARRL Field Day
What is Field Day?
ARRL Field Day Page
ARRL Field Day Video
June 15, 2026: ARRL Field Day
ARRL Field Day Portal
Field Day Packet
Field Day Safety
Field Day Q&A
Field Day Radiogram Bonus
June 22, 2026: ARRL Field Day
Field Day Rules & Planning
Field Day – Basic Training
June 29, 2026: Public Service Events
psv101.pdf
Public Service Events Video
July 6, 2026:
What is Net Control? — Training: NET-102 NET-102.pdf
Tactical Calls — Training: NET-105 NET-105.pdf
July 13, 2026:
Wide Area Communications Outage — Training: NET-109 NET-109.pdf
Operational Stress — Training: KNW-143 KNW-143.pdf
July 20, 2026:
Simulated Emergency Test – S.E.T. — Training: EME-114 EME-114.pdf
Repeater Etiquette and Insights — Training: KNW-163 KNW-163.pdf
July 27, 2026:
ARE YOU READY? — Training: KNW-102 KNW-102.pdf
Basic Communication Skills — Training: KNW-103 KNW-103.pdf
August 3, 2026:
Amateur Radio Traffic Handler Training
How to Compose a Radiogram Pt.1
How to Compose a Radiogram Pt.2
August 10, 2026:
Operating At Your Next Event — Training: NET-106 NET-106.pdf
How to Sound Like An Expert Operator — Training: KNW-160 KNW-160.pdf
August 17, 2026:
Instructions for filling out a Radiogram
Blank Radiogram form (fillable online)
ICS-213 Form & Instructions
Basic Messaging Review Including ICS-213
August 24, 2026:
Knots useful for Ham Radio
Ohms Law for Normal People – in 5 minutes
August 31, 2026: Minimizing RF Interference
We are killing the amateur radio bands, and here is how to fix it – RFI
Power Line Noise On Your Ham Radio? How To Find AND Get it Fixed
September 7, 2026: Parks on the Air POTA
Parks on the Air POTA Sponsored How-to Videos
September 14, 2026: Digital Voice Modes
ARRL Presentation on Digital Voice Modes
Ham Radio Digital Modes Comparison – DMR, DSTAR or YSF? P25 or NXDN?
September 21, 2026: VHF Repeaters and Digital Voice Hotspots
What is a Repeater in Ham Radio
What is a Ham Radio Hotspot
September 28, 2026: Ham Radio Propagation and VOACAP
Understanding HF Propagation
Propagation Prediction with VOACAP.com
October 5, 2026: Using Antenna Analyzers
Using Antenna Analyzers
October 12, 2026: Antenna Modeling with MMANA Software
Introduction to Antenna Modeling – MMANA-GAL
Model to make a Dipole in Software – MMANA Antenna Modeling
Easy Modelling Your First Antenna in 5 Minutes – Vertical Antennas
October 19, 2026: Building an End Fed Halfwave HF Antenna with Steve Ellington
EFHW Antenna — Building The Transformer
Winding a transformer for End Fed Half Wave Antenna — EFHW
Steve Ellington’s video library on building and testing EFHW antennas
October 26, 2026: Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) Antennas
Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) Antenna
A Practical NVIS Antenna for Emergency or Temporary Communications
November 2, 2026: Understanding Coax Cables for Ham Radio
Understanding the Differences Among Types of Coaxial Cable
Coaxial Cable Characteristics
What Coax do I use? 4 Tips to choosing the RIGHT coax for Ham Radio
November 9, 2026: ARRL Emcomm Course – EC-001 Emergency Communications
EC-001 Course Transcript – Drop Box Files
November 16, 2026: Incident Command System (ICS)
ICS: Basis
KNW-164 The ICS Organizational Structure
KNW-165 ICS Resources and Facilities
KNW-166 Organization of the Incident Command System
KNW-167 Where We Fit In ICS
November 23, 2026:
FEMA Shelter-in-Place Guidance
2021 MEMA Emergency Guide
November 30, 2026: Weather / SKYWARN
Central Mississippi ARES Storm Report Guide
National Weather Service Storm Spotter Training Book
Storm Spotter Cloud Identification Chart
Online Skywarn Storm Spotter Basic Course
December 7, 2026:
Basic Intro to Ham Radio for Beginners Episode 1
Basic Intro to Ham Radio for Beginners Episode 2
Intro to the HF Bands for Ham Radio Episode 3
Intro to Ham Radio – HF Antennas Overview for Beginners Episode 4
Basic Intro to Ham Radio Youtube Playlist
December 14, 2026:
Good videos explaining basic ham radio uses for emcomm:
This will work when everything else fails
How far can a ham radio transmit Pt1
How far can a ham radio transmit Pt2
December 21-28, 2026: Installing and operating Winlink Express and VARA HF
Winlink Express and VARA HF Resources