Winlink Wednesday
An established RF-only Winlink check-in that helps operators test their station and message path. Telnet check-ins are not accepted.
Practice • Verify • Stay Ready
Keep your digital radio skills ready.
Several independently operated weekly nets provide opportunities to exercise digital communications equipment, verify station operation, and maintain familiar operating habits.
Why participate?
Regular participation helps keep your station operational while building repeatable operating habits, familiarity, and confidence for times when normal communications are unavailable.
This page promotes useful weekly opportunities operated by several organizations. The Winlink Wednesday Advanced Operators Net is the exercise organized by N2NVY.
Weekly digital radio opportunities
Use one or use them all
Winlink Wednesday Advanced Operators Net
An additional practical task—not a replacement for the standard check-in. For this Advanced Operators task, RF is encouraged and Telnet is allowed.
VarAC Wednesday
A weekly opportunity to exercise VarAC and verify that an HF or locally supported FM station is ready. VarAC does not use Telnet.
APRS Thursday
A weekly APRS check-in that helps operators exercise and verify their APRS capability.
Important: Each participating net is independently operated. Its official instructions, schedule, connection methods, and policies take precedence. The Advanced Operators Net's Telnet allowance does not apply to any other net.
How to participate
- Review the weekly Winlink brief. It will summarize the current requirements, UTC operating times, and the Advanced Operators task.
- Choose one or more activities. Follow the official instructions and connection requirements for each net. Do not assume that a method allowed by one net is accepted by another.
- Complete the check-in or task. Use the activity to exercise your equipment and operating process.
- Verify your check-in. Check the acknowledgement, roster, or log provided by the individual net. No separate completion report is required.
- Ask for help if needed. Problems are useful training opportunities; let us know when an instruction or system is giving you trouble.
The weekly brief
The lightweight operating brief is normally distributed through Winlink on Monday or Tuesday. It provides a quick look at that week's nets, check-in times in UTC, official requirements, and the current Advanced Operators exercise.
This page provides lasting reference information. Changing weekly details remain in the brief and on the participating nets' official websites.
Get involved
Contact Jay, N2NVY, to join the Advanced Operators distribution, ask a question, or provide feedback.
To be added to the distribution, send a Winlink message to N2NVY.