so i finally worked up the nerve to check into our local 2m net last night after having my ticket for like 4 months and just listening. the net control called around for check-ins and i keyed up and gave my callsign and... silence. then the net control came back and said something like "QSL, hold please" and i honestly wasnt sure if i did something wrong or if that was normal.

ended up just listening for the rest of the net because i got too nervous to do anything else. nobody was rude or anything but i felt like everyone else just knew exactly what to do and i was the only one fumbling around. is there like a standard way you're supposed to check in? do you just give your callsign or do you say your name and location too? i've seen different things online and none of it really matches what i actually heard on the air.

also is it weird to check in and then not really have anything to say when they come to you? like what do you even say if you dont have traffic or announcements or whatever

ha, been there. the first few check-ins feel really awkward but you actually did fine from the sounds of it. "QSL hold please" just means they copied you and you're in the queue, that's completely normal especially when a bunch of people check in at once.

most nets around here you just give your callsign during the check-in window, then when net control comes back to you specifically, you say something like "[callsign], [first name], [city], no traffic" — and that's honestly it. some nets want signal reports too but the net control usually asks for what they want. just follow what you hear the person before you do and you'll be fine.

and no it is absolutely not weird to check in with no traffic. most people checking into a casual club net dont have anything specific to pass, they're just checking in to be counted and maybe say hi. net control appreciates the participation either way. honestly just do it again next week and it'll feel totally natural after two or three times.

i was so nervous my first check-in i forgot my own callsign for a second, so dont feel bad. the thing that helped me was just writing out exactly what i was going to say on a sticky note before the net started. felt dumb but it worked. now i dont even think about it.