📘 Getting started with Palnetto

1Words you'll see

Net

Your on-air net, like the Mid-Ohio Aches & Pains Net. It has a frequency, a schedule, a script and a log.

Club

The group a net belongs to, like the Mid-Ohio Amateur Radio Club. One club can run several nets. On some screens it's called an organization; same thing.

Net manager

The person in charge of a net: sets it up, decides who calls it, and can change anything about it. That's you.

Net control (NCO / NCS)

Whoever is calling the net that night and logging check-ins.

Club manager

Oversees all of a club's nets. Can see everything, and chooses each net's manager. See the FAQ.

Regulars

Stations who usually check in. You enter them once, and Palnetto fills in their name and location as soon as net control starts typing their call.

Session

One time the net was called, start to finish, with its log.

Traffic

A formal message a station wants passed along (an NTS radiogram).

2What you need

• A computer, laptop or tablet with a web browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox). A bigger screen is easiest for calling nets.
• Your amateur radio callsign.
• An email address you can check (Palnetto sends a link to confirm it).
• Your net's frequency or repeater, and the days and times it meets.
• Optional: a list of your regulars (a spreadsheet or even a handwritten list), and your net script if you use one.

3Create your account

Your callsign is your username. Palnetto checks it against the FCC license database to make sure it's really you.

1. Go to palnetto.com and click Sign up at the top right.
2. Type your Callsign first, for example KD8ACH. Palnetto looks it up and fills in your name and address from your FCC license for you.
3. Check First name. Change it to what people actually call you on the air ("Pat" instead of "Patricia" is fine).
4. Make sure your Last name, City and State match your FCC license. If they match, your account is approved automatically.
5. Enter your Email and Phone, then choose a Password of at least 10 characters. Type it twice.
6. Under How will you use Palnetto? tick everything that's true for you. Pat ticks 🛠 I manage a net (and 📻 I'm a net control too, since Pat calls it some nights). Club presidents and other officers also tick 🏛 I'm an officer of a club.
7. Tick "This is my own amateur radio callsign" and click Create account.
8. Open your email. Find the message from Palnetto and click the confirmation link. (Not there? Check your spam or junk folder.)

4Sign in and lock it down

You'll be managing your club's logs, so it's worth a minute to protect your account. This step is optional but strongly recommended. Pick either way (or both).

Easiest: a passkey (approve with your fingerprint, face or device PIN, no codes to type)

1. Click Log in, type your callsign and password, and click Log in.
2. Click your callsign at the top right, then Turn on 2FA (or open the Security page).
3. Under 🔑 Passkeys, click ➕ Add a passkey and follow your device's prompt (Touch ID, Face ID, Windows Hello or your phone's screen lock).
4. Write down or print the recovery codes Palnetto shows you. If you ever lose your device, each one gets you in once.
5. Next time you sign in, tap 🔑 Use my passkey after your password and confirm on your device. Using a few devices? Add a passkey on each.
6. Even easier: on the Log in page, skip the callsign and password and click 🔑 Sign in with a passkey. Confirm with your fingerprint or face and you're in.

Or: an authenticator app (a 6-digit code from your phone)

1. Install a free app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.
2. On the Security page, scan the square code with the app, type the 6-digit number it shows, and click Turn on 2FA.
3. Save the recovery codes it shows you.

5Request your net (approval)

To keep Palnetto trustworthy, nobody can create a net or a club on their own. You ask, and a Palnetto administrator checks that it's real, usually within a day.

1. After you sign in, your Dashboard shows 🚀 Let's get you set up. Click 🛠 Request a net I manage. (Or click + Add a net or join one at the top of the Dashboard.)
2. Name of the net: Mid-Ohio Aches & Pains Net.
3. Frequency or repeater and When it meets: type them the way you'd say them, e.g. W8DEM 147.270+ PL 110.9 and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM. You'll set these up properly once it's approved.
4. Is the net part of a club? Pick one:
   • A club that isn't on Palnetto yet: type the club's name (Mid-Ohio Amateur Radio Club) and its website if it has one.
   • A club that's already on Palnetto: start typing its name and pick it from the list.
   • No club, it's independent: fine too. You'll run it on your own.
5. If you're also an officer of the club, tick "I'm also an officer of this club" and type your role (e.g. President). That makes you a club manager too.
6. In Anything that helps us confirm it, add something that shows the net is real: a link to the club's web page that lists the net, or how long you've run it.
7. Click Send for approval.

6Set the frequency

Find the 📻 Frequency card on the right side of your net's page.

1. Under Band, click 📡 VHF / UHF (or 🌍 HF for an HF net).
2. Under Type, click Repeater (or Simplex).
3. In Repeater callsign, start typing the repeater's call. If it pops up in the list, click it, and the frequency, offset and tone fill in by themselves.
4. Not in the list? No problem. Type the Output frequency (e.g. 147.270). Palnetto fills in the standard offset. Then set Tone to CTCSS / PL and pick the tone (e.g. 110.9).
5. Check the line that says Shown as:, which reads something like W8DEM · 147.270+ MHz · PL 110.9 · FM. That's exactly what net control will see.
6. Click Save frequency.

7Set the days and times

Find the 📅 Schedule card on the left, and scroll to Add to the schedule.

1. Click the days the net meets. For the Aches & Pains Net: Tue and Thu. (Shortcuts: Every day, Weekdays, Weekends.)
2. In Start time(s), enter 7:30 PM. If the net also meets at another time those days, click + Add another time.
3. Leave Which weeks on Every week. (For a monthly net, pick "2nd" or "Last" week of the month.)
4. Set Length (min) to about how long the net runs, e.g. 45.
5. Click Add to schedule.

8Comments (rag-chew) settings

Does your net have a comments round after check-ins, where each station gets a turn to talk? Scroll to the Settings card at the bottom right.

1. Under Comments / rag-chew portion, choose 💬 Yes, stations stay for comments or 📋 No, check-ins only.
2. If yes, leave "Give some station types priority for comments" ticked to let mobile, portable and remote stations go first (they may not be able to stay long).
3. Want a different order? Use the ↑ and ↓ arrows to move station types up or down.
4. Click Save settings.

9Add your regulars

This is the big time-saver. Once a station is on the roster, net control types two or three letters of their call and Palnetto fills in the rest, even on your very first net. Find the 📋 Regulars roster card on the left.

One at a time:

1. Type the Callsign. The name and location fill in from the FCC.
2. Change the First name to what they go by, and the Location to where they usually check in from, if different.
3. Under Usually checks in as, pick 🏠 Fixed, 🚗 Mobile, 🎒 Portable or 🌐 Remote.
4. Click Add regular. Repeat for the next one.

A whole list at once (fastest if you have a spreadsheet or old log):

1. Click 📋 Paste a list.
2. Type or paste one station per line: callsign, first name, location, type. Only the callsign is required. Like this:

   KD8ABC, Bob, Mansfield, fixed
   W8XYZ, Linda, Ashland, OH, mobile
   N8QRS, Earl
   KE8LMN

3. Click Add all.

10Add your net controls

These are the folks who take turns calling the net. They need a Palnetto account; Palnetto emails them an invitation. Find Net control & managers on the right.

1. Type their Callsign.
2. Leave Role on Net control (NCS). (Choose Net manager for someone who should be able to change the net's settings too, like a co-manager.)
3. If they're new to Palnetto, click "New to Palnetto? Add their name and email for an invitation" and fill in their Email.
4. Click Add / change role.

11Make the net control schedule

Decide who calls which night. At the top of your net's page, click 📅 NCO schedule.

Quickest way: a rotation.

1. Scroll to 🔄 Fill with a rotation.
2. Tick your net controls in the order they should take turns. Little numbers show the order.
3. Pick how far ahead: 4 weeks is a good start.
4. Leave "Email each net control their dates" ticked so everyone knows their nights.
5. Click Apply rotation.

One night at a time: click 👤 Assign next to that date, pick a name, and click Save. Palnetto asks if you'd like to email them; leave it ticked.

Someone can't make it? Click 🔁 Substitute next to their night and pick who's covering. Palnetto offers to email both the substitute and the person being covered.

12Your net script

The words net control reads on the air. Palnetto comes with a basic script. Make it yours in the 📜 Net script card on the right.

1. There are three parts: Preamble (the opening), Check-in call (what you say each time you call for check-ins) and Closing.
2. Click in each box and type or paste your own wording.
3. Use the fill-ins shown above the boxes, like {NCS_CALL}, {NCS_NAME}, {DATE}, {FREQUENCY} and {CHECKIN_COUNT}. Palnetto replaces them automatically, so the script always shows the right person, date and count.
4. Click Save script.

13Announcements

Things net control should read on the air, like the club picnic or a hamfest. In the 📣 Announcements card on the right:

1. Click + New announcement.
2. Give it a Title and the Text to read on air.
3. Set Until to the last day it should be read. It disappears on its own after that.
4. Click Add announcement.

14Add your logo

1. For the club: open your club's page, find 🎨 Organization logo, choose a picture file and click Upload logo. Every net uses it.
2. For one net only: use 🎨 Net logo on that net's page.

15Net controls: join your net, or invite your manager

If you only call a net (you don't manage it), here's how you get on it. Sign up as in step 3 and tick 📻 I'm a net control.

If your net is already on Palnetto:

1. Sign in. On your Dashboard, click 📻 Find the net I call.
2. Type part of the net's name, the club's name or the repeater's callsign, and click Search.
3. Next to your net, click I'm a net control here.
4. The net's manager gets an email and adds you with one click. You'll get an email when they do, and the net shows up on your Dashboard.

If your net isn't on Palnetto yet:

1. Under ✉️ My net isn't on Palnetto yet, type the Name of the net.
2. Type your net manager's name and email, and their phone if you like.
3. Add a friendly note if you'd like, and click Send the invitation.
4. Palnetto emails your manager simple instructions: sign up, tick "I manage a net", and request the net (the name is already filled in for them). When the net is approved, you're added as a net control automatically.

16Calling your first net

A few minutes before the net, open your net's page and click the green ▶ Call this net button. (Your net controls see the same button on their Dashboard.) This opens the net control screen.

1. Click ▶ Start Net at the top right. The clock starts and the script shows your Preamble. Read it on the air.
2. When a station calls in, click in the Callsign box and start typing. Regulars pop up in a list; press ↓ to pick one, or just keep typing.
3. Press Enter. That's it: the check-in is logged with their name and location filled in, even if you only typed the callsign. (Palnetto uses their preferred name, the roster, or their FCC license.)
4. Before pressing Enter you can also tap 🚗 Mobile, 🎒 Portable or 🌐 Remote, ⏱ In & out if they can't stay, or 📨 Traffic if they have a message.
5. The 📢 Recognize this round box writes out a read-back for you, e.g. "Net control recognizes KD8ABC, Bob in Mansfield, sticking around."
6. To call for more check-ins, click 📣 New call for check-ins (or press Ctrl+Enter). A dashed line marks each call in the log, so you never lose your place.
7. When you're done, click the Closing tab of the script, read it, then click ■ Stop Net and confirm.

17Running the comments round

If your net has a comments portion, a 💬 Comments box appears on the right of the net control screen once the net starts.

1. Everyone staying for comments lines up there automatically: mobile, portable and remote stations first (or whatever order you set), then everyone else in check-in order. Stations marked "in & out" are left out.
2. The next station to call is marked NEXT.
3. When they're done, click the little box next to their call to tick it ✓. The next one moves up.

18Handling traffic and radiograms

When a station checks in with traffic, their log line gets a blinking gold 📨 Traffic tag. Click it when it's time to handle it:

• ✓ Handled: the message was passed on the net (another station took it).
• ✗ Not handled: no one could take it, or it's being held.
• 📝 I'll take it: you copy it yourself on an official-looking radiogram form.

Copying a radiogram:

1. Fill in the top row as the station reads the preamble: Number, Precedence, HX, Station of origin, Check, Place of origin, Time filed, Date.
2. Fill in who it's To, with their address and phone.
3. Type the message into Text. Palnetto lays it out five words per line and counts the words, warning you if the count doesn't match the check.
4. Add the Signature. Your station and the "received from" details are already filled in.
5. Click 💾 Save radiogram. You can also 🖨 Print it or download it as a ⬇ PDF.

19Fixing mistakes

• During the net: click ✏️ Edit on any log line to fix the call, name or location, or to delete it.
• After the net: open the net's page, click the date under Sessions, and use ✏️ Edit or + Add missed station.
• Net controls can fix their own nets for 30 days. Net managers can fix anything, any time. Every change is recorded.
• Lost internet in the middle of the net? Keep logging. Check-ins are saved on your computer (the top of the screen says OFFLINE) and upload by themselves when the connection comes back. Don't close the window.

20Livestreaming (Streamer View)

If you stream your net on YouTube or Facebook with OBS, you can show a live list of check-ins on screen.

1. On the net control screen, click 📺 Streamer View. A separate window opens and updates by itself as you log check-ins.
2. In OBS, add a Window Capture of that window. Or, for a cleaner look: hover over the Streamer View window, click 📋 Copy OBS link, then in OBS add a Browser Source and paste the link.
3. Hover over the window to change the background (choose Transparent to lay it over your video), text size and number of rows. Those settings never show on stream.

21Your schedule, cover and substitutes

Click Schedule in the top menu to see the nets you're calling, plus anyone asking for help.

• Can't make your night? Open the net's NCO schedule, click 🙋 Need cover next to your date, add a note, and leave "Email all fellow net controls" ticked. Everyone gets an email with a link to volunteer.
• Already found someone? Click 🔁 Substitute, pick them, and let Palnetto email them.
• Want to help out? Click 🙋 I'll cover on any night that needs cover. The original net control is emailed automatically.

22Calendar and reminder emails

Put your nets on your phone's calendar (one time; it stays up to date by itself):

1. Click Schedule in the top menu.
2. Under 🗓 Add to your calendar, click 📱 Apple / Outlook on an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Outlook, or Google Calendar for Android or Gmail.
3. Say yes when your device asks to subscribe.

Get a reminder email before each net you're calling:

1. Click your callsign at the top right to open My account.
2. Under 🔔 Reminders, pick when in Email me: 24 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour, 30 minutes or 15 minutes before.
3. Click Save profile. Then click Send a test email to make sure it arrives (check spam the first time).

23Reports

• Reports (top menu): charts of check-ins and net length, your most active stations, how people check in, and highlights. Pick a week, month, year or your own dates.
• 📨 Monthly report (on the net's page): nets called, total check-ins, traffic and total time for one month, ready to copy into an email.
• You don't have to send it: on the 1st of each month, Palnetto emails each net control's report to the net manager automatically.
• Net managers see every net control's nets. Net controls see their own.

24What to tell your net controls

Copy this into an email to your net controls:

We're moving the Mid-Ohio Aches & Pains Net log to Palnetto (palnetto.com). It's free.

1. If I added you, look for an email from Palnetto and click the link to set
   your password. Otherwise sign up at palnetto.com, tick "I'm a net control",
   then click "Find the net I call", search "Aches & Pains" and click
   "I'm a net control here". I'll approve you.
2. Click "Schedule" at the top to see which nights you're calling.
   Click "Apple / Outlook" or "Google Calendar" to put them on your calendar.
3. Click your callsign (top right) and pick when you'd like a reminder email.
4. On your night, click "Call this net" on your Dashboard, then "Start Net".
   Type each callsign and press Enter. Names fill in by themselves.
5. Can't make it? Open the NCO schedule and click "Need cover".

Want to practice first? Try the demo net: palnetto.com/demo.php
Step-by-step help: palnetto.com/guide.php

73, Pat KD8ACH

25When something goes wrong

• Forgot your password: on the Log in page, click Forgot your password? and enter your callsign. A reset link arrives by email.
• Didn't get the confirmation or invite email: check spam and junk. On the Log in page, click Resend confirmation email, or ask your net manager to resend the invitation.
• Lost your phone or can't use your passkey: type one of your recovery codes in the code box. No codes? Contact a Palnetto administrator.
• Internet dropped during a net: keep logging; it catches up on its own (step 19).
• A net control can't see the net: make sure they're added under Net control & managers on the net's page, or approve their request under 🙋 Asking to be a net control.
• Still waiting for your net to be approved: it's usually within a day. Check Your requests (Dashboard → + Add a net or join one). Adding a club web page link in your request helps.
• Something else: click Send feedback at the bottom of any page. It goes straight to the people who run Palnetto.