The Bulletin Distribution Net (BDN) is for the distribution of information bulletins to all interested amateur radio operators. These will vary depending on need and availability.
The BDN started out distributing the National Intelligence Bulletin (NIB) when it was available. It is no longer available, so we will be distributing other bulletins instead. AmRRON produces their AIB every week, and has been doing so for years, so that may be on the distribution list. There are also other bulletins published by radio groups and by government agencies that we will use as appropriate, keeping in mind that at this point, what is sent isn’t as important as how it is sent. Think of the bulletins as “test content”.
A long term goal is to fully integrate the BDN with the SitRepNet Bulletins, with SitRepNet Bulletin being the “input” or news gathering portion, and BDN being the “output” or distribution portion.
This is not a conventional traffic net. The NCS starts the net using Contestia 4/250 for the introduction, then switches to MFSK32. Bulletins are sent using FLAMP with block fills as needed. Bulletins may be signed using Public Key signatures to verify authenticity. A relay station in another part of the country will then relay the file(s) using the same format as received.
- Every Friday, beginning at 9:00 pm Eastern time
- 7.123 with 900 offset
- Introduction – Contestia 4/250
- Bulletin Distribution – MFSK32 (or possibly MFSK64)
- FLAMP with block fills as needed
- All traffic on this net is handled as ROUTINE traffic.
- Public keys for verifying signed bulletins can be found here.
- Download FLDIGI Macros for the BDN (Rev. 04 – 09/27/2025)
- Suggested settings for macro display in FLDIGI:
- Button Height: 22
- Check “One above waterfall”
- Check “4 bar macro set below TX”
- View > 48 macros
Macro display in FLDIGI. Click to view full size.
Net Sequence:
⚑ (No early check-ins)
1) Start Info and announcements
2) Check-ins (Bulletin TFC, Relay stations, Reception reports)
4) Listing of checked-in stations
5) Bulletins sent by NCS, followed by block fills
6) Bulletins sent by check-in stations, followed by block fills
7) Relay station(s) with full copy send as directed by NCS
8) Net sign-off
9) Block fills of more than 5 blocks if needed
10) Return to Contestia 4/250
Notes:
➊ Bulletins sent will vary depending on need and availability.
➋ KD8NOA is located in Michigan and is typically NCS and Northeastern station for the BDN.
➌ KN4AM is located in Florida and is typically the Southeastern relay station. Others are encouraged to join in as relay stations in other parts of the country.
➍ Brevity is a high priority, so transmissions other than the actual bulletin(s) are kept to a minimum.
➎ The BDN is closely tied to the “SitRepNet” project, but is an independent net. Reports compiled from the previous week’s received SitReps and other reports may also be sent as the situation calls for.
✯ Decentralization is key to the SitRepNet system. ✯
