Are You New to HF? Are You New to Ham Radio? OMISS is the place for you! W hat a welcome back to amateur radio OMISS has been. In the late 60’s I got a Novice ticket WN5AMJ and enjoyed working CW from my old Heathkit DX-60 transmitter and HR-10 receiver, with a fan invertedV up about 20’. Now 40 odd years later my wife Linda suggested I get back into ham radio as I approached retirement (probably to keep me out of her hair). I did and got my General Class ticket on January 12, 2010, as KF5ENB and later changed my call on February 12, 2010 to W5JDF. On May 25, 2010, I passed the test for my Amateur Extra Class license, and received it on June 1, 2010. OMISS SAMPLE AWARDS CERTIFICATES MANY MORE AVAILABLE ! PLEASE CHECK WWW.OMISS.NET For Award Requirements www.omiss.net The Friendly Place For New Amateurs! Greetings, fellow amateurs! My name is Charlie W4UZI, and I’m the current President of the OM International Sideband Society. Known as O.M.I.S.S., we are a Worked All States and Awards-type net, forever dedicated to promoting goodwill to all Amateur Radio Operators. On behalf of OMISS, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to check us out. We are a fun group of Amateur Operators from all walks of life, from all over the country, and from all over the world. You do not have to be a member to check in—OMISS welcomes all Amateurs. OMISS operates in the general portion of seven different bands (10m, 15m, 17m, 20m, 40m, 80m, and 160m). We conduct at least three nets each day, and on the weekends, there are multiple nets to enjoy. Having over 8000 member stations on our roster, it won’t be long before you will get the chance to work stations in all fifty states. Add to this, the many DX stations who check in, and you will soon realize that the OMISS community is truly worldwide in its scope. My first contact as a new General Class was K4QND, Harry in Memphis, TN., on 40M. I made the contact on my new/old Kenwood TS-530s on a long wire from the peak of the house to a tree across the yard. I later put up an OCF Inverted V and eventually a three element tri-bander, and more. Would you like to earn your Worked All States Award quickly? OMISS is the place to do it. In addition to the basic WAS Award offered to our members, OMISS also offers dozens of other unique and challenging awards. I ran across the OMISS Nets on 20M in April of 2010. On April 17th I worked K2RND #6845 and N8DY #4833 to become an OMISS Life Member. I have been addicted to OMISS ever since as OMISS #6949. I enjoy pursuing the awards, achieving my WAS on 15M, 17M, 20M, 40M, and 80M, and working on 160M. I also got the OMISS Membership Award (Mixed), OMISS DX Award, and Statehood Award (Mixed) and many others. Following my retirement in March of 2011, I had another goal realized by becoming a certified OMISS Net Control Station and then went on to become the 20m Net Coordinator for OMISS. OMISS is a great bunch of guys who have made this a great hobby for me, and I look forward to becoming more involved with OMISS. Since retiring in 2011, I now devote full time to my career as a Honey Do'er for the XYL and being a HAM. W5JDF, OMISS #6949, Jerry in Vernon, TX. Want to save money while sending and receiving QSL Cards? OMISS operates a free, world-class QSL Bureau. NETLOGGER SCREENSHOT The OMISS Nets have been operating continuously since 1981. During this thirty years of being on the air, we have maintained the long and proud tradition of welcoming and extending friendship to all Radio Amateurs. Several of our members have been checking in for many years, resulting in countless long-term friendships being formed over the air. Check in as often as you wish. You don’t need a big signal to participate–we have stations running QRP mixed right in with stations running a full kilowatt. So, don’t be bashful. Jump on in and check in with us. We will be glad to help you get started. Sound like fun? We certainly think so! We look forward to welcoming you to OMISS and helping you achieve the most possible enjoyment from our nets. If you want to obtain more information about the OM International Sideband Society, please visit our state-of-the-art website located at: www.omiss.net. There, you will find everything you ever wanted to know about OMISS. Best regards and 73….. Catch you down the log. Charlie W4UZI OM International Sideband Society (OMISS) President OMISS OMISS NET FREQUENCIES AND TIMES CHECKINS USUALLY 30 MINUTES PREVIOUS TO NET START Band Freq Day/Time Net Coordinator 160M 1.930 MHz Sat & Sun 0400 UTC** KE5WDI, Danny #6421 80M 3.942 MHz Daily 0200 UTC KJ4KKB, Edwin #6915 80M Late 3.942 MHz Sat & Sun 0500 UTC** KJ4KKB, Edwin #6915 40M 7.185 MHz Daily 0100 UTC W0VD, Dan #4162 40M Late 7.185 MHz Sat & Sun 0400 UTC W0VD, Dan #4162 20M 14.290 MHz Daily 1830 UTC W5JDF, Jerry #6949 17M 18.165 MHz Sat & Sun 1900 UTC N7YLZ, Dean #7824 15M 21.395 MHz Sat & Sun 1700 UTC K6HP, Ed #7019 10M 28.665 MHz Sat & Sun 1800 UTC ND8F, Homer #774 ** Seasonal Winter schedule: These Nets begin during the last weekend of October and end the first weekend of April. Please check our website at WWW.OMISS.NET for updates about special events and expanded nets on holidays. While visiting our website, please check out Netlogger. It is a FREE program that provides REAL-TIME check-ins plus a chat window during the net. Netlogger also tracks contacts, and it has the ability to printout QSL Cards. COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS F or many, if not most of us, Amateur Radio is an exhilarating hobby. Making the giant leap from Technician to General or Extra class is a monumental achievement. Once that new FFC license is hung proudly on the wall the question is where do we go to get our feet wet? CQing is awkward for many of us if not downright intimidating; likewise for jumping into an existing “rag chew”. However, this is where the OMISS nets come to our rescue. T he OM International Sideband Society is an Awards type net with its primary focus on newer Amateurs ready to jump into the wild world of radio communications. With a huge membership dating back to the early 1980s, OMISS has been an introduction for many with limited “on air” experience. OMISS conducts nets on seven bands, so, it is easy to find a net that fits your schedule. The OMISS membership is one of the finest groups of individuals anywhere on the amateur bands. After your call sign is heard, our Net Controllers and relays provide a clear and inviting opportunity to join. Not only do we exchange signal reports over the air but we supplement interactive communication in real time over the internet using a program called Netlogger. This program keeps track of who is online by position number and shows information such as Call Sign, OMISS number, state and so on. Netlogger also features a small chat window called AIM [Almost Instant Messenger], where logged members pass information and comments.. As a member myself for about three years, I have found the OMISS nets to be almost addictive as I establish new friends and keep in touch with old ones. Often I think maybe the organization should change the name to the OFISS.net [Old Friends International Single Sideband Society]. Becoming a member is an easy and very rewarding process. All hams General Class or higher are welcome to join! 73 Jack [AKA OJ] N7BBX #6437, Arizona COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS A s a new ham, I was welcomed into the OMISS network with open arms. Still mike shy and not knowing exactly what I should be doing, the old timers running the net were patient and understanding. They were a perfect example of how I should conduct myself on the air. As I progressed in my technique and skill, they gave me the opportunity to run some of the nets. I also get great encouragement from the other members. I have made what I believe are going to be long lasting radio friendships with OMISS. Kurt Cathcart, KR2C OM #5916 “What you have stumbled across is the OMISS Net…” With those kind words from the Net Control station, I was welcomed into the finest group of amateur radio operators for which one could ever ask. Since that chance check in on a May night, I have been a regular participant on the OMISS nets, have made thousands of contacts, and have made many, many friends. OMISS is like a big family. Whether trying to make a contact with a station, looking for a solution to a problem, or just wanting company, everyone on OMISS is there. Now, I like to turn the tables by giving the warmest welcome I can to those checking in for the first time. Bob, K9UDX OM #6508