Winlink Wednesday
An established RF-only Winlink check-in that helps operators test their station and message path. Telnet check-ins are not accepted.
Practice • Verify • Stay Ready
Keep your digital radio skills ready.
This page is a starting point for recurring nets, check-ins, and exercises that help amateur radio operators test equipment, practice message handling, and maintain familiar operating habits.
Why participate?
Regular participation helps keep your station operational while building repeatable operating habits, familiarity, and confidence for times when normal communications are unavailable.
The Winlink Wednesday Advanced Operators Net is the exercise organized by N2NVY. Every other activity listed here is independently organized and promoted as an additional opportunity to practice.
Primary weekly exercises
Start here
Winlink Wednesday Advanced Operators Net
An additional practical task that supports and expands the standard Winlink Wednesday check-in. RF is encouraged, and Telnet is allowed for the Advanced Operators task.
Additional weekly check-ins
Branch out and test another system
VarAC Wednesday
A weekly opportunity to exercise VarAC messaging and verify that an HF or locally supported FM station is ready. VarAC does not use Telnet.
APRS Thursday
A weekly APRS message check-in that helps operators exercise and verify their APRS capability.
Buncombe County ARES Net
A weekly multimode net. Complete your check-in by Wednesday at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Check the linked event information for the current Net Control Operator and any organizer updates.
- Voice: 146.910 MHz, negative offset, 91.5 Hz tone.
- Winlink: Use the Winlink Check-In.txt form, send it to the Net Control Operator listed in the event title, and use tactical call sign BCOARES.
- Meshtastic: Use Common Channel 1 and send NN4BC de YOUR-CALLSIGN.
Brunswick County Emergency Communications Winlink Exercises
Brunswick Shores ARC publishes practical ARES and AUXCOMM scenarios covering ICS forms, emergency data, severe weather, SKYWARN-related reporting, and other Winlink skills. The public exercises are open to any licensed amateur radio operator registered with Winlink.
More ways to practice
Exercises and receive-only skills
ARRL W1AW broadcasts
W1AW provides a dependable way to practice receive-only skills without submitting a check-in. Scheduled transmissions include Morse code practice and bulletins, digital bulletins, and voice bulletins. Digital transmissions rotate among Baudot, PSK31, and MFSK16.
- Choose a transmission that matches a mode your station can receive.
- Use the official schedule to confirm the current UTC time, frequency, and mode.
- Copy or decode as much of the transmission as possible, then use the published text to evaluate your setup and accuracy.
Always check the organizer's instructions
Activities outside the Winlink Wednesday Advanced Operators Net are managed by their own organizers. Schedules, frequencies, forms, destinations, accepted connection methods, and check-in requirements may change without notice here.
The linked organizer page is the authoritative source. Review it before participating, and verify your check-in through that organization's acknowledgement, roster, or log.
How to participate
- Subscribe to the weekly Advanced Operations Brief. Send a Winlink message to N2NVY and ask to be added to the distribution.
- Review this page and the weekly brief. The page provides the broader directory; the brief highlights selected opportunities, current UTC times when available, and that week's Advanced Operators task.
- Choose one or more activities. Visit the organizer's linked website and follow its current instructions and connection requirements.
- Exercise your equipment and skills. Complete the check-in, task, or receive-only practice at your own pace.
- Verify participation with the organizer. Check its acknowledgement, roster, or log. Do not assume a method accepted by one net is accepted by another.
- Ask for help when needed. Contact N2NVY about the Advanced Operators task. Direct questions about another exercise's rules or credit to that exercise's organizers.
The weekly Advanced Operations Brief
The lightweight brief is normally distributed through Winlink on Monday or Tuesday. It provides the current Advanced Operators exercise and may highlight selected outside nets or practice opportunities.
The brief is not intended to reproduce every exercise listed on this page every week. Review this directory periodically and use the linked organizer sites for the latest details.
Get involved
Contact Jay, N2NVY, to join the Advanced Operators distribution, ask a question about its weekly task, or provide feedback.
To be added to the distribution, send a Winlink message to N2NVY.