NET OPENING

TM 11 -5820-890-10-8

NET OPENING

4.5.

General

4.5a.

The NCS of each net is responsible for opening the net at the time

NCS ROLE

required to support unit operations. NCS net opening responsibilities

include:

Announcing the date-time of opening;

Ensuring operators are provided the required COMSEC key and

FH data loads;

Sending an ERF if required; and,

Logging members into the net during opening.

NET OPERATION

A SINCGARS secure, FH net will be opened prior to the start of an

operation while the unit is still at home station or in an assembly area. It

is highly unlikely the net, once operational, will ever be completely shut

down until the exercise or operation has been completed. In combat

situations, it would be rare for an entire net to shut down.

The minimum essential data required by a SINCGARS radio prior to net

MINIMUM RT

opening are COMSEC key and TSK. These data elements must be

REQUIREMENTS

manually loaded into the radio even when an ERF is to be sent.

Maximum data that can be loaded into the radio prior to net opening

include COMSEC key, FH data, and sync time. In this case the radio is

ready to enter the secure, FH net at the opening time or when called.

4.5b.

Loadsets

A "Loadset" is defined as all of the COMSEC keys (TEK and KEK) and

DEFINITION

FH data (hopset, TSK, and net ID) required to load all six channels of

the SINCGARS radio.

Loadsets are tailored to the needs of each net or unit, specifying by

UNIT-SPECIFIC

channel where the operational net will be and what other nets will be

loaded into the remaining channels. For examples of company and

platoon loadsets, see Figures 4-5 and 4-6, below. Unit loadset

composition may be left to the discretion of each operator, but it is

normally prescribed by the unit SOP to ensure that all operators have

the same information and can readily contact other nets in the loadset.

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