OPENING THE NET The responsibility for opening the net for the first time or reopening the net after it has been temporarily secured belongs to Key. To accomplish this on a free net, Key would transmit: “Poseidon, THIS IS Key, OVER.” After  the  transmission,  all  stations  answer  in alphabetical   order: “Key, THIS IS Kamehameha, OVER,” “Key, THIS IS Polk, OVER,” (and so on until all stations have responded). After all stations on the net have answered, Key then sends: “Poseidon, THIS IS Key, OUT.” This last message from  Key informs  all  stations  that their transmissions were heard and there is no traffic for them at the time. If a station does not reply to the collective call within 5 seconds, the next station answers in proper sequence.  Barring  any  difficulties  the  station  may  have, the delinquent station answers last. If the delinquent station is having difficulty that prevents an answer to the call, it reports in to the net as soon as possible with the transmission: “Key, THIS IS (name of station). Reporting In To Net, OVER.” At  this  time  on  the  free  net,  and  following  a preliminary  call,  the  stations  concerned  would  start transmitting traffic to each other. For example, if Vallejo  has traffic for  Kamehameha,  it would let Kamehameha know this with the call: “Kamehameha, THIS IS Vallejo, OVER.” Kamehameha would acknowledge with: “Vallejo, THIS IS Kamehameha, OVER.” Vallejo  would then send its traffic. On  the  directed  net,  when  all  communications  over the net are controlled by the NECOS, Key would call the member stations and announce that the net is directed. In  this  initial  transmission,  Key  would   request information on the status of any outstanding messages. For  example: “Poseidon, THIS IS Key, This Is A Directed Net, Of What  Precedence  And  For  Whom  Are  Your Messages, OVER.” 2-16 Each   subordinate   station   then   answers   in alphabetical order, indicating its traffic on hand. For example: “Key, THIS IS Polk, I Have One IMMEDIATE And One PRIORITY For You, OVER.” “Key,  THIS  IS  Vallejo,  No  Traffic,  OVER.”  (Other stations respond.) After all stations have checked into the net,  Key would ROGER for the transmissions and commence to clear traffic in the order of priority. For example: “Poseidon, THIS IS Key, ROGER, Polk Send Your IMMEDIATE,  OVER.” After Polk has sent its transmission and obtained a receipt,  net  control  then  gives  permission  to  transmit  to the station with the next higher precedence traffic. After the initial traffic is cleared, stations having messages to transmit to other stations on the net must first obtain permission from net control. For example: “Key, THIS IS Tecumseh, I Have One ROUTINE For Polk, OVER.” Net control then answers: “THIS IS Key, Send Your Message, OVER.” As  you  can  see  from  our  examples,  circuit discipline is essential. Regardless of whether a single ship is entering port or several ships are engaged in a major  fleet  exercise,  voice  communications  are required. The number of necessary circuits and nets increases with the complexity of the task and the number of units participating. Whether the net is free or directed, the Net Control Station has the primary responsibility for expediting message traffic. Each station is responsible for assisting net control in the proper passing of traffic. Adherence to proper operating procedures and communications standards is essential in keeping a net free of backlogs and  tie-ups. ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS We have already discussed the procedure for calling and answering on free and directed nets. There will also be   times   when   you   will   need   to   establish communications with a ship or station on a temporary basis to pass message traffic. This consists of nothing more than a simple call-up to initiate contact and to determine whether communications conditions are good. For example, if the USS  Ohio wants  to  contact