ok so i've been checking into our local 2m net for about three months now and i think im starting to get the hang of it but theres one thing that still trips me up. when the net control calls for check-ins i usually just wait until i hear my call or a break and then key up, but last week a guy just started talking during a pause and the net control didnt seem to mind at all. like he just jumped right in between two other stations and gave his traffic and it was fine apparently?

i asked my elmers about this and got kind of different answers. one said you should always wait to be recognized, another said it depends on the net and whether its directed or not. which honestly i kind of understand but also doesnt fully clear it up for me. what are the rules here, or is it more like unwritten stuff that varies by net? i dont want to be the guy who steps on someone or comes across as rude when i dont mean to be

your elmer who said it depends on the net type is exactly right. a directed net is run tight — net control is in charge and you wait to be recognized before transmitting, full stop. but a lot of casual local nets are what they call undirected or informal, and those are way more relaxed. people just kind of jump in when theres a natural break and nobody bats an eye.

the guy you saw jump in probably knows that net well enough to read the rhythm of it. after a few months you start to get a feel for when a pause is just a pause vs when net control is about to call someone. honestly the best thing you can do is just listen to a few full nets without checking in at all and pay attention to how the experienced guys handle it. and if youre ever unsure just wait — nobody ever got in trouble for being too patient on a net.

yeah i had the same confusion when i first started. i think i accidentally stepped on someone like my second week checking in and felt terrible about it lol. the net manager for our group actually sent out a little reminder email about it once which helped. basically what he said was if the net has a preamble that says "directed net" youre supposed to wait. if it doesnt say that youre probably ok to use your judgement. most local ragchew type nets are pretty casual about it honestly