The Mobile Service Network (MMSN) was founded on or around January 1968 by Winston Robertson (the Chaplain) KB5YX, Steve Rock N4SR (then WA4YVQ), Don Van Horn K1FZY (then WA4TPW) and many other amateurs whose names have been lost through antiquity.  Back in those days, US naval vessel were not allowed to have a MARS station onboard.  To get around this, this group of shore-side hams dedicated themselves to running phone patches for the naval vessels in the ham bands, primarily 20 meters.

The 14.300 frequency was decided as the meeting place, mainly because it was easy to remember and this has remained over the years.   The net did briefly move to 14.313 in the mid 80's but 14.300 has become the de facto emergency frequency on 20 meters.  Over the years, thousands of phone patches have been completed by net members.  The net's hours and format have evolved with operational requirements and changes in technologies.

(Note: IARU Region 1 has declared 14.300 as the Global Emergency frequency in Region 1.  We hope that Regions 2 and 3 will follow suite)

The MMSN is composed of a dedicated group of radio amateurs who unselfishly volunteer their time, equipment and efforts to serve and assist those in need of communications from foreign countries and on the high seas.

The primary purpose of the net is for handling traffic from maritime mobiles, both pleasure and commercial, and overseas deployed service personnel.  We also assist missionaries and persons working abroad.

The Maritime Mobile Service Net is operational every day from 12:00pm until 9:00pm Eastern Standard Time, and from 12:00pm until 10:00pm Eastern Daylight Time, on a frequency of 14.300 MHz., in the 20-meter amateur band.  The network also operates on the alternate frequency of 14.313 MHz., should the primary frequency be inoperable. The Maritime Mobile Service Network immediately follows The Intercontinental Traffic Net.

Over 60 volunteer net control stations from throughout North America and the Caribbean maintain the network.   Further, the net control stations are assisted by relay stations.  This assures virtually total coverage of the entire Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The network is recognized by the United States Coast Guard and has developed an excellent working relationship with them.  The MMSN has been instrumental in handling hundreds of incidents involving vessels in distress, medical emergencies in remote locations and passing health & welfare traffic in and out of areas effected by natural disasters.
 
The network acts as a weather beacon for ships during periods of severe weather and regularly repeats high seas and tropical weather warnings and bulletins from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.  The network is also part of the MAROB (MARine OBservation) program of the National Weather Service.  We gather "live" weather and sea conditions from maritime mobile stations and forward that information directly to the weather service via the internet.  The live data assists the meteorologists with upcoming maritime weather forecasts.

All amateur radio operators are invited to join the network simply by checking in.  If you have a phone patch at your station, please tell the net control station and he/she will certainly try to put you to work!