ARO JS8 / Winlink Weekly Net
A weekly net for outdoor amateur-radio operators, run on Winlink (RF email) with JS8CALL on 40m as a parallel mode. We promote portable operations, publish a weekly AAR, and run a daily news wire (the GDNW). NCS: Luis Santiago, HB9HJU.
How to check in
Send one Winlink message per check-in (multiple check-ins from distinct outdoor locations are encouraged) to the address below. Acknowledgments are guaranteed within 48 hours. JS8CALL is supported as a parallel mode for operators who prefer it.
Via Winlink (primary)
- To:
[email protected] - Template: Winlink Check-In (the standard built-in template)
- From: your licensed callsign
- Where: outdoor locations encouraged; distinct grid for each check-in
- Timing: any time within the cycle window above
Via JS8CALL (parallel)
- Frequency: 40m primary (please monitor band plans for region)
- Time: daily at 21:00 UTC
- Target:
AROWNLKNET - Format: standard JS8 message; include grid + brief note
First-time check-ins are explicitly welcomed. If a station's setup is portable, mobile, or mixed (HT + Mobilinkd, vehicle install, etc.), tell us in the message; recognitions are published in each After-Action Report.
Subscribe to the net
Enter your callsign to receive weekly net invitations and After-Action Reports via Winlink.
Winlink only. Your callsign will be added to the AROWNLKNET distribution list. To unsubscribe, reply to any net message with "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Net Control Station
Luis Santiago, HB9HJU, Kloten, Zurich, Switzerland.
QRZ: HB9HJU / HI8ILO. NCS contact via Winlink at [email protected] or email at [email protected].
Cycle cadence
- Monday 00:00 UTC: cycle opens
- Weekly news wire (GDNW) broadcast via JS8CALL on 40m at 21:00 UTC Sunday; full edition via Winlink
- Saturday 23:59 UTC: cycle closes
- After-Action Report (AAR) sent to all participants the following week, summarising check-ins, recognitions, and the next cycle's invitation
The News Wire (GDNW)
Weekly bulletins with HF conditions are published on the News Wire page.
Role in ARO
The ARO Net is muscle memory for outdoor portable operations. Weekly cadence, structured check-ins, AAR discipline. It is also the closest thing the broader EMCOMM community has to a friendly recurring training net for Winlink + JS8 workflows. Operators who can run these protocols reliably outdoors are the same operators who can run them when infrastructure is down.
The net has been operating without interruption since 2021-07-25. Surfacing it on aro.travel in 2026 is a long-overdue web presence for an existing radio service, not a new program.
Running weekly since 2021. 897 check-ins. 75 operators. 10 countries.
Join the netNet stats
Activity heatmap (257 weeks)
Top operators
AD0TU 123 check-ins Century Club lapsed
W2ILT 104 check-ins Century Club inactive
AE5MI 85 check-ins 50+ check-ins active
TI2BSH 51 check-ins 50+ check-ins active
N4RJB 48 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
WA4KWK 43 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
OH3KUN 31 check-ins 10+ check-ins lapsed
KJ4MZ 31 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
AJ4KY 24 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
KD4IMA 22 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
AC7DS 22 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
W7WXV 19 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
K0WET 19 check-ins 10+ check-ins lapsed
AI3KS 18 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
K6RKY 16 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
N4TFN 13 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
DG1KW 12 check-ins 10+ check-ins lapsed
ON2SEB 12 check-ins 10+ check-ins active
DG3NAB 10 check-ins 10+ check-ins lapsed
OE1LHP 10 check-ins 10+ check-ins lapsed
Participant map
Only check-ins with GPS coordinates are shown. Winlink check-ins without position data will not appear on the map.
Archive (coming)
December 2024
#179 2024-12-29 to 2025-01-03 4 check-ins 4 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 4
#178 2024-12-22 to 2024-12-27 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#177 2024-12-15 to 2024-12-20 2 check-ins 2 ops US
- Check-ins
- 2
- Operators
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 2
#176 2024-12-08 to 2024-12-13 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#175 2024-12-01 to 2024-12-06 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
November 2024
#174 2024-11-24 to 2024-11-29 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#173 2024-11-17 to 2024-11-22 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#172 2024-11-10 to 2024-11-15 3 check-ins 3 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 3
#171 2024-11-03 to 2024-11-08 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
October 2024
#170 2024-10-27 to 2024-11-01 5 check-ins 5 ops CAUS
- Check-ins
- 5
- Operators
- 5
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 5
#169 2024-10-20 to 2024-10-25 2 check-ins 2 ops US
- Check-ins
- 2
- Operators
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 2
#168 2024-10-13 to 2024-10-18 3 check-ins 3 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 3
#167 2024-10-06 to 2024-10-11 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
September 2024
#166 2024-09-29 to 2024-10-04 4 check-ins 4 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 4
#165 2024-09-22 to 2024-09-27 2 check-ins 2 ops US
- Check-ins
- 2
- Operators
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 2
#164 2024-09-15 to 2024-09-20 4 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
"When do you have the JS8CALL net? 73, Yvette AE5MI"
-- AE5MI
#163 2024-09-08 to 2024-09-13 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#162 2024-09-01 to 2024-09-06 5 check-ins 5 ops US
- Check-ins
- 5
- Operators
- 5
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 5
"Another lovely day here in SW FLorida73 Richard / n4rjb"
-- N4RJB
August 2024
#161 2024-08-25 to 2024-08-30 6 check-ins 6 ops US
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 6
"Thanks for following up Luis. I host a winlink net too so I understand how life sometimes gets in the way ... One question I have for you about your net. Do you ask that participants be deployed som"
-- W2AFE
Thanks for following up Luis. I host a winlink net too so I understand how life sometimes gets in the way ... One question I have for you about your net. Do you ask that participants be deployed som
Yes, September arrives tomorrow, and hopefully soon the temperatures in SW Florida will temper some Have a good week. Richard
#160 2024-08-18 to 2024-08-23 4 check-ins 4 ops US
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 4
"Wow!! AUGUST IS ALMOST OVER, WHICH MEANS SEPTEMBER BRINGS AUTUMN. TIME SEEMS TO PASS SO QUICKLY WHEN YOU GET TO MY AGE, HAVE A GOOD WEEK, AND 73, RICHARD N4RJB"
-- N4RJB
#159 2024-08-11 to 2024-08-16 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#158 2024-08-04 to 2024-08-09 4 check-ins 4 ops US
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 4
"GREETING FROM USA AND FLORIDA LOVELY WEATHER NOW THAT HURRICANE/ TROP STORM DEBBY LEFT, BUT ANOTHER WAVE IS CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, SO FOULD WEATHER MAY BE HERE IN A WEEK OT 20 DAYS RICHARD, N4RJB"
-- N4RJB
GREETING FROM USA AND FLORIDA LOVELY WEATHER NOW THAT HURRICANE/ TROP STORM DEBBY LEFT, BUT ANOTHER WAVE IS CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, SO FOULD WEATHER MAY BE HERE IN A WEEK OT 20 DAYS RICHARD, N4RJB
July 2024
#157 2024-07-28 to 2024-08-02 4 check-ins 4 ops US
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 4
#156 2024-07-21 to 2024-07-26 5 check-ins 5 ops US
- Check-ins
- 5
- Operators
- 5
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 5
"IARU Message Priority: [Routine] Message # 385 Station of Origin: N4RJB Word Count: 8 Place of Origin: PUNTA GORDA FL Date JUL 27 and Time: 1809Z Special Delivery Instructions: DELIVER"
-- N4RJB
IARU Message Priority: [Routine] Message # 385 Station of Origin: N4RJB Word Count: 8 Place of Origin: PUNTA GORDA FL Date JUL 27 and Time: 1809Z Special Delivery Instructions: DELIVER
#155 2024-07-14 to 2024-07-19 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
"HELLO AND HAPPY SUMMER. I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU. WE HAVE HAD SOME CONFUSINFG DAYS THIS WEEK WITH POLITICS. BUT WE WILL ENDURE. 51 YEARS AGO TODAY, I MET MY FABULOUS WIFE. SHE IS MY ROCK"
-- N4RJB
#154 2024-07-07 to 2024-07-12 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
June 2024
#153 2024-06-30 to 2024-07-05 7 check-ins 6 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 7
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 6
"GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WELL, LUIS. WE ARE WATCHING THE LOWER ATLANTIC, NEAR THE WINWARD ISLAND, CONCERNED FOR ALL THOSE IN THE POTENTIAL PATH OF HURRICANE BERYL. WE HOPE EVERYONE HEEDS THE WARNING"
-- N4RJB
GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WELL, LUIS. WE ARE WATCHING THE LOWER ATLANTIC, NEAR THE WINWARD ISLAND, CONCERNED FOR ALL THOSE IN THE POTENTIAL PATH OF HURRICANE BERYL. WE HOPE EVERYONE HEEDS THE WARNING
#152 2024-06-23 to 2024-06-28 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#151 2024-06-16 to 2024-06-21 4 check-ins 4 ops US
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 4
#150 2024-06-09 to 2024-06-14 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
May 2024
#148 2024-05-26 to 2024-05-31 4 check-ins 4 ops FIUS
- Check-ins
- 4
- Operators
- 4
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 4
#147 2024-05-19 to 2024-05-24 5 check-ins 5 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 5
- Operators
- 5
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 5
#146 2024-05-12 to 2024-05-17 3 check-ins 3 ops US
- Check-ins
- 3
- Operators
- 3
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 3
#145 2024-05-05 to 2024-05-10 1 check-in 1 op US
- Check-ins
- 1
- Operators
- 1
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 1
April 2024
#142 2024-04-14 to 2024-04-19 5 check-ins 5 ops CRFIUS
- Check-ins
- 5
- Operators
- 5
- Countries
- 3
- Grids
- 5
#141 2024-04-07 to 2024-04-12 6 check-ins 6 ops CRFIUS
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 3
- Grids
- 6
March 2024
#140 2024-03-31 to 2024-04-05 6 check-ins 6 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 6
#139 2024-03-24 to 2024-03-29 6 check-ins 6 ops CRFIUS
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 3
- Grids
- 6
#138 2024-03-17 to 2024-03-22 6 check-ins 6 ops FIUS
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 6
#137 2024-03-10 to 2024-03-15 6 check-ins 6 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 6
"Bulletin For: AROWNLKNET Precedence: Routine Bulletin #: 03-16 Bulletin From: N4RJB JUST A NOTE TO WELCOME SPRING HERE IN FLORIDA THIS WEEK"
-- N4RJB
Bulletin For: AROWNLKNET Precedence: Routine Bulletin #: 03-16 Bulletin From: N4RJB JUST A NOTE TO WELCOME SPRING HERE IN FLORIDA THIS WEEK
#136 2024-03-03 to 2024-03-08 10 check-ins 9 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 10
- Operators
- 9
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 9
"K8EAF, Ed, EM79tf, Cincinnati, USA, VHF Packet,"
-- K8EAF
K8EAF, Ed, EM79tf, Cincinnati, USA, VHF Packet,
K8EAF, Ed, EM79tf, Cincinnati, USA, VHF Packet,
February 2024
#135 2024-02-25 to 2024-03-01 9 check-ins 8 ops CRFIUS
- Check-ins
- 9
- Operators
- 8
- Countries
- 3
- Grids
- 8
"I was using a remote network link into my home computer in Virginia which runs my RMS. Randy N1VTT"
-- N1VTT
I was using a remote network link into my home computer in Virginia which runs my RMS. Randy N1VTT
K8EAF, Ed, EM79tf, Cincinnati, USA, VHF Packet,
#134 2024-02-18 to 2024-02-23 7 check-ins 6 ops US
- Check-ins
- 7
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 6
#133 2024-02-11 to 2024-02-16 6 check-ins 5 ops US
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 5
- Countries
- 1
- Grids
- 4
"Goodd morning, The weather has been above avg. temp in the upper 50's and even hit 60 a few days. Now we are back in the winter mode with 3" of snow and the temp now is 12 above. Have a great weekend"
-- AD0TU
Goodd morning, The weather has been above avg. temp in the upper 50's and even hit 60 a few days. Now we are back in the winter mode with 3" of snow and the temp now is 12 above. Have a great weekend
#132 2024-02-04 to 2024-02-09 6 check-ins 6 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 6
- Operators
- 6
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 5
January 2024
#131 2024-01-28 to 2024-02-02 7 check-ins 7 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 7
- Operators
- 7
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 5
"THANK YOU LUIS. AND I ENJOYED STAYING IN ZURICH SEVERAL YEARS AGO, YOU HAVE A LOVELY COUNTRY RICHARD, N5RJB"
-- N4RJB
THANK YOU LUIS. AND I ENJOYED STAYING IN ZURICH SEVERAL YEARS AGO, YOU HAVE A LOVELY COUNTRY RICHARD, N5RJB
#130 2024-01-21 to 2024-01-26 8 check-ins 7 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 8
- Operators
- 7
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 7
#129 2024-01-14 to 2024-01-19 8 check-ins 8 ops CRFIUS
- Check-ins
- 8
- Operators
- 8
- Countries
- 3
- Grids
- 7
"CURRENT LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS ** THIS IS AN EXERCISE ** Call sign: AD0TU Observer Name: Craig DateTime: [redacted]:55:10 Location: CHILLICOTHE-LIVINGSTON-MISSOURI Coordinates: LAT: [redacted]"
-- AD0TU
CURRENT LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS ** THIS IS AN EXERCISE ** Call sign: AD0TU Observer Name: Craig DateTime: [redacted]:55:10 Location: CHILLICOTHE-LIVINGSTON-MISSOURI Coordinates: LAT: [redacted]
#128 2024-01-07 to 2024-01-12 7 check-ins 7 ops CRUS
- Check-ins
- 7
- Operators
- 7
- Countries
- 2
- Grids
- 7
Net participant data (callsigns, grids, check-in dates) will be published on this site under an opt-in default. If you have ever checked in and would prefer not to be listed publicly, send a removal request to [email protected]. Removals honored within 14 days.
All operations are conducted by licensed amateur-radio operators in accordance with national regulations.