Regular Check-in Net

The Newport Community Radio Lifeline conducts radio checks every Wednesday Thursday 730PM on FRS/GMR Channel 3. Key stations in Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, and North Kingstown often participate.  The purpose of this net is to give the general public opportunities to use their radio and to improve radio communications skills. 

Making check-ins a regular part of our preparation will allow us to efficiently communicate between neighborhood/CERT groups, apartment residents or community hubs to share resources and to promote a more efficient, coordinated emergency response.

Participate in the Net

Anyone with a repeater-capable GMRS or FRS  2-way radio is welcome and encouraged to check in to the net. We recommend that you first listen to a few check-ins to get a sense for the pattern of communications.

To transmit (talk) on the gen4AI net from your radio to another radio you will first need set your radio to Channel 3 with the “Privacy/PL Code” set to 0 or “Off." 

During the check-in net you will be asked to give your first name, town, and FCC GMRS call sign (if any). You should try to say your call sign in “phonetics,” using NATO's phonetic alphabet (but it’s not mandatory.)

The GEN4AI check-in net is an informal “directed net,” meaning that you should refrain from transmitting unless you are checking in or called upon by "Net Control. " If you need to talk at any other time, say your full GMRS call sign (or first name) and wait for "Net Control" to respond to you. Emergency and priority traffic may interrupt the net by saying “break” or “emergency” followed by your call sign or first name.

Simplex Test

“Simplex” communications is direct radio-to-radio transmissions with no repeater in the middle. It is a good idea to regularly test how well everyone can communicate via simplex because in an emergency any repeater may become  overloaded or no longer functioning.

Our primary frequency is Channel 3 (462.6125 MHz). This is the main channel to collect and provide information.  Other channels may be used, as needed, for more focused, specialized communications. 

Note that due to terrain, foliage, distance or other factors that reduce the range and clarity of radio transmissions, you may not hear key stations, and vice versa. Another station may hear you instead, and they  may act as a relay. This is all good practice for an emergency when nothing is for certain.