Types of Emergency Nets

1. Tactical Net

The Tactical Net is the front line net employed during an incident, usually used by a single government agency to coordinate with Amateur Radio operations within their jurisdiction, There may be several tactical nets in a single incident depending on the volume of traffic and number of agencies involved. Communications include traffic handling and resource recruiting.

2. Resource Net

For larger-scale incidents, a Resource Net is used to recruit operators and equipment in support of operations on the Tactical Nets. As an incident requires more operators or equipment, the Resource Net evolves as a check-in place for volunteers to register and receive assignments.

3. Command Net

As the size of an incident increases and more jurisdictions become involved in the incident, a Command Net may become necessary. This net allows the incident managers to communicate with each other to resolve inter- or intra-agency problems, particularly between cities, or within larger jurisdictional areas. It is conceivable that this net could become cluttered with a high volume of traffic. It may also be necessary to create multiple command nets to promote efficiency.

4. Open and Closed Nets

A net may operate as an Open or "free form" net, or as a closed net where a net control station is used to control the flow of transmissions on the channel. Typically, when the amount of traffic is low or sporadic a net control isn't required, and an Open net is used. Stations merely listen before they transmit. When a net is declared a "closed" or "directed" net then all transmissions must be directed by the NCS.