NCS RESPONSIBILITIES (cont)

TM 11-5820-890-10-8

In that NCS personnel are also operators, they are required to perform

PMCS

Before Operation Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services

(PMCS), as shown in Chapter 8. Performing PMCS involves checks of

controls, cables, antennas, power source, self-test, keypad, data

loading, and ability to communicate. By performing PMCS, NCS

personnel are assured that all components of their radios are working

properly, or that something needs to be fixed, by the NCS operator or

unit maintenance. The PMCS charts found in Chapter 8 should be

followed exactly in the performance of PMCS. No NCS operator action

will pay greater dividends.

When they are satisfied with the results of Before Operation PMCS

LOADING RT

actions, NCS personnel load their own radios with data and sync time,

in preparation for net opening. The first three Primary Operator Tasks

provide detailed procedures.

It falls to the NCS to maintain net discipline. This responsibility includes

NET DISCIPLINE

controlling access to the net, maintaining an informal record of which

stations are in the net, and ensuring that messages are as brief as

possible and use proper language.

In that it is the NCS radio, set to the FH-M mode position, that

SYNC TIME

automatically keeps all of the net radios within the plus or minus 4

second window required for frequency hopping, the NCS must

transmit as often as necessary to maintain net sync time. A general rule

is for the NCS to transmit at least once every 24 hours in a very quiet net

and about every half hour in a heavy traffic net.

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