In this section you will find details of radio nets run by the Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society and by members under their personal arrangements. These nets are NOT exclusively for VMARS members. All licensed amateurs are most welcome to join in and all we ask is that you follow the purpose of the net, for example by using A.M., USB or LSB where specified. Scroll down the page for more information.

VMARS Saturday morning regular A.M. Net

VMARS operates a regular Net in amplitude modulation on every Saturday morning 08:30 – 10:30. The frequency is 3615 KHz and the Society welcomes all AM stations using vintage or modern equipment. This is a controlled net which sometimes has up to 20 plus vintage and military equipment stations taking part in order to exchange reports and equipment details. All licenced radio amateurs are most welcome to join our regular Saturday amplitude modulation nets. Short Wave Listeners (SWL) are invited to send reports.

Click here to view the Net Controller Rota. If you are curious to find out more about the Net Controllers, click on the VMARS Net Controller Gallery to see photos of the regular VMARS AM Net Controllers and their shack.

VMARS SSB Nets on Wednesday and Friday evenings

VMARS also runs SSB nets. A USB net takes place each Wednesday at 20:00hrs local time on 3615 KHz +/-QRM to provide an opportunity for those who wish to use their unmodified military sets which operate in USB only. There is an LSB net on Friday evenings to encourage members to keep in touch on-air. This takes place at 19.30 and uses LSB on 3615 KHz +/- QRM.

Daily informal Net of UK A.M. stations

There is also an informal net of UK AM stations and occasional Continental stations which operates daily on 3615 KHz, beginning at about 07:00, depending on the band being open for inter G contacts, and usually active until around 09:00.

Sunday Military & Tactical Radio Net, known as MaTRON Net

The Net is operated by VMARS member, Andy, 2E0DIQ, in Suffolk. The Net operates on 3680 KHz as primary frequency and 3615 KHz as secondary frequency, in upper side band (USB). All Military radio equipment is welcome. The check-in order during the Net covers Military radios capable of 100w and above, portable Military radios out, Military vehicle sets operating at home or an event, Military manpacks from just about anywhere. The time for the Net varies between 19:00 UTC in summer and 17:00 UTC in winter according to the solstice to accommodate seasonal changes in HF propagation. The exact time is advertised by email to VMARS Members on the VMARS forum. Short Wave Listeners (SWL) are invited to send reports.

Wednesday Collins 618T Special Interest Group Net

The VMARS Collins 618T Special Interest Group (SIG) runs a regular net to discuss technical issues. The Net is operated by VMARS member, Trevor, PA3BOH, in Wassenaar, Netherlands. The net is at 12:00 UK time on Wednesdays on 7073 kHz in lower side band (LSB) +/- QRM or a bit lower in frequency if it is busy. Click here to find more information about the VMARS Collins 618T SIG.

Other AM Activity Frequencies

AM activity is increasingly found on a number of other bands, in particular: 5317 KHz, 7143 KHz, 14286 KHz, 21425 KHz and 29000 – 29150 KHz. There are several local AM nets in the UK on topband.

FM Frequencies

For mobiles working into VMARS events, 2m calling in on 145.500 MHz (S20) is usual, before QSY to a working frequency. At event locations where military equipment is in use, suggested FM “Centres of Activity” on VHF are 51.700 Mhz, 70.425 MHz (70.450 MHz calling).

NETS & RECOMMENDED FREQUENCIES

A list of nets and frequencies regularly used by VMARS members in the UK is shown below.

All times are UK local

3615 KHz AM	VMARS Saturday AM net 08:30 – 10:30
3615 KHz USB	VMARS Wednesday USB net for military equipment 20:00 – 21:00 Secondary frequency for Sunday Military & Tactical Radio Net, known as MaTRON Net
3615 KHz LSB	VMARS Friday LSB net 19:30 – 20:30
3615 KHz AM	Regular informal net from around 07:30 – 08:30 and throughout the day
3546 KHz 3563 KHz CW  +/- QRM	CW Practice sessions run by Colin G3TSK and Keith G3XGW are operated at 09:00 Monday & Friday on 3546 KHz. These sessions are not nets but reports will be acknowledged. See above for more details. Calling Frequency for CW. Scheduled operating times are 10:00 hrs and 19:00 hrs Daily. This is an informal net established to encourage greater use of CW by VMARS members, but non-members are welcome to join in.
3680 KHz USB	Primary frequency for Sunday Military & Tactical Radio Net, known as MaTRON Net
5317 KHz AM	Regular AM QSO’s, usually late afternoon.(Advanced licence required. 6Khz max bandwidth)
7073 KHz LSB	Wednesday LSB 12:00 VMARS Collins 618T special interest group
7143 KHz AM	VMARS AM operating frequency
51.700 MHz FM	VMARS FM operating frequency, also used at rallies and events
70.425 MHz FM	VMARS FM operating frequency, also used at rallies and events

CW Practice Sessions

CW practice sessions are run by Colin, G3TSK  in Somerset and Keith G3XGW in Gloucestershire. The practice sessions take place on Mondays and Fridays starting at 09:00 local time and last about 30 minutes. The frequency is on 60m, around 5.259MHz. Speeds are approximately 14, 16 and finally 18wpm. Listeners are invited to email G3XGW to be added to a group email to receive texts for checking. Keith’s email address is correct in the VMARS members list and on QRZ.com. The practice sessions are not nets, although brief reports will be acknowledged at the end of the session (in CW, of course!).

Colin G3TSK, running a morse practice session at below zero temperatures in mid-January.

Keith, G3XGW, enjoying the comfort of his heated shack.