IRLP channel 9735 report - 9/13/14

Net Control Station NZ9S conducted the monthly net on IRLP channel 9735, EchoLink CROSSRDS Conference, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. The net began at 1401 ET (1800 UTC) and concluded at 1440 ET (1840 UTC). There were 11 check-ins, of which approximately half were conducted via EchoLink:

NZ9S, Bill, Net Control
W9WMJ, Marty, Indianapolis
KJ9M, Joe, Carmel, IN
K9DC, Dave, Indianapolis, IN
W9MNA, Mike, Cumberland, IN
WA2VFK, Lee, Mantua, NJ
K7ZZQ, Johnny, Layton, UT
N2MWI, Peter, Model City, NJ
KK4TWM, Michael, Alexandria, VA
W7LEV, Larry, Cave Junction, OR
KD0JQS, Richard, Olathe, KS

Announcements read:
BROCHURES
Brochures about The American Legion Amateur Radio Club and the value of amateur radio to posts in communities in assisting with emergency communications are now available. You can request them in limited quantities by sending an email to k9tal@legion.org, or can download them from the TALARC webpage at www.legion.org/hamradio. A brand-new Disaster Preparedness and Response booklet is available with a nice section about TALARC.
FORUM
Everyone is invited to participate in the email discussion forum available at the club webpage, www.legion.org/hamradio. Just scroll down and click on the word “forum” to enter or begin a discussion thread on any club-related topic. TALARC is always looking for your photos of post amateur-radio activities to post on the website.
BIRTHDAY
Very special Happy Birthday greetings to HF 20 Meter Net Control Station Operator Bill, KI0CW, who is spending a portion of his very special day today operating the net. Best wishes from your fellow TALARCians, and thanks for being our net control! Happy 83rd, with many, many more to come … and lots of nets!
REGIONAL NETS
TALARC members are encouraged to consider holding local and regional nets at times and bands convenient to members. Just drop us a line and let us know your schedules – we will post them on the national TALARC webpage.
MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE
If you have not already done so, don’t forget to download your free full-color membership certificate from the TALARC page. You will need to enter your member number shown on your American Legion/SAL/Auxiliary membership card, your name and call sign – then print it on certificate or photo-grade paper.
Free artwork is also available for your website, QSL card or QRZ.com page showing your membership in The American Legion Amateur Radio Club. Just email a request to k9tal@legion.org.

Remarks:
1. Net Control DTMF on microphone was pre-programmed for Node 9205 instead of 9735 and made connection to node problematic. This delayed start of net for approximately one minute while Mike, N9MNA, opened the 9735 IRLP Node. This microphone pre-programming has been removed by NZ9S.
2. Users reported several calls doubling with net control. Dave, K9DC, suggested reopening net and to relax a bit to allow a full hour or so for all operators around the country to check in. Recommend future nets be extended to one hour and for net control to periodically call for check-ins during this period — with appropriate announcement on the change in practice on our website. More operators may call in during this hour-long window rather than having to catch the net within minutes of the 2 p.m. start time.

Submitted by Bill, NZ9S, Net Control