The "Patch"
Once initial contact has been established, the MARS station will ask you for your phone patch request.
Give the operator the phone number to be dialed, and if making a "Morale" call, your first name. Keep in mind
that the phone call is NOT secure, as it does go out over short-wave radio. This is the reason that last names are not
normally used.
Morale calls are made free of charge courtesy of MCI and Sprint. Official calls can
be made to a commercial number, but DSN is preferred.
Also keep in mind that your phone call may be picked up by an answering machine. Normally, the MARS
operator will give you the option of leaving a message on the machine. If you know that you do not wish to leave a message,
you should advise the operator of this when placing the call.
Since this is a "radio" phone call, each party must take turns talking. (You cannot both talk and listen
at the same time, as you can over a regular telephone.) It is proper procedure for both parties to say the word "OVER"
at the end of each transmission so that the MARS operator knows when to key the transmitter.
Morale calls should be limited to 5 minutes. Official calls do not have a time limit, and have at
times been known to run several hours.
When you are finished with your patch, you should advise the MARS operator to "TERMINATE THE PHONE PATCH"
so that the end point of the patch is clear to the operator.
If you would like another patch, advise the operator that you have another request. As MARS operators
take turns running patches, you may be routed to a second operator. If the reception of the second operator is
not satisfactory, you may request net control to assign you a different operator. The Phone Patch Net wants to provide the
highest quality patch possible.
