This month, Netoholics Network is proud to spotlight The Shack Net as our Net of the Month.

Hosted by Doug, KF8DRJ, The Shack Net brings the kind of energy we love on the network: friendly operators, real conversation, trivia, a little bit of weirdness, and that “pull up a chair and join us” feeling that keeps amateur radio fun.

The name has a perfect backstory, too. The Shack Net is a nod to Doug’s time as a Radio Shack manager, back when you could walk in for one connector and somehow leave with three adapters, a soldering iron, a battery you were not sure you needed, and a new project idea that would absolutely take over the workbench.

About Doug, KF8DRJ

Doug describes himself simply as “just a retired guy” in Michigan enjoying the hobby, but The Shack Net shows there is a lot more going on than just passing time on the radio.

His own station setup includes AllStar node 67098 and EchoLink 452873, and he brings that hands-on, practical radio spirit to the net. His QRZ bio also shows the kind of operator he is: someone who enjoys the hobby, supports the community, builds and tinkers, and still knows the value of saying, “Say hi.”

That fits the Netoholics spirit pretty well.

What Makes The Shack Net Fun

The Shack Net is not just another check-in net. Doug keeps it lively with features that give operators a reason to stick around and participate.

The net includes a Word of the Day, worth one point, along with trivia rounds and a Bizarre But True segment. That gives the net a little friendly competition, a little learning, and just enough oddball flavor to keep everyone wondering what Doug is going to come up with next.

It is radio fellowship with a scoreboard, a trivia twist, and the occasional “wait, that actually happened?” moment.

That is exactly the kind of thing we like to hear on the network.

Mid South Multimode Network

The Shack Net comes to us through the Mid South Multimode Network, a regional amateur radio network supporting both analog and digital voice technologies.

Mid South Multimode focuses on reliable regional connectivity, education, emergency readiness, technical experimentation, and fellowship. That makes it a strong fit for Netoholics Network, where we value bringing operators together across different systems and keeping radio active, useful, and welcoming.

The Shack Net can be heard through the Mid South Multimode Network on:

AllStar

623122

EchoLink

N1YKT-L

Wires-X

83134

YSF

42450

P25

TG 73

NXDN

TG 7486

D-Star

XLX 188 Module B

TGIF

TG 42450

KY ARES AllStar

623125

FreeDMR

31210

Hams Over IP

15176

It can also be heard on NetoholicsNetwork.net through:

AllStar

674982

EchoLink

887610

TGIF

67498

When to Listen

Whether you are checking in from AllStar, EchoLink, YSF, DMR, P25, NXDN, D-Star, or just following along through Netoholics, this is a net worth making time for.

Why We Picked It

We selected The Shack Net because it represents what a good net should be: welcoming, active, conversational, and fun.

It has a great host, a name with a story, multiple ways to connect, and enough personality to make it stand out. Between the Word of the Day, trivia rounds, Bizarre But True, and Doug’s easygoing shack-style hosting, this net feels like a community gathering instead of a roll call.

That is worth celebrating.

Join the Conversation

When you see The Shack Net on the Netoholics schedule, give it a listen. Better yet, check in.

Nets stay alive because operators participate. Every check-in, every trivia answer, every laugh, and every friendly voice helps strengthen the network.

Congratulations to Doug, KF8DRJ, The Shack Net, and the Mid South Multimode Network for being selected as the Netoholics Network September Net of the Month.

Pull up a chair, warm up the radio, and welcome to the shack.