NTS Letter for January 7, 2025 undefined

National Traffic System®

 

 

 

Editor: - January 7, 2025

 

 

 

NTS 2.0 Year-end Review

It is hard to believe another year has gone by. As you may remember, in 2021, the ARRL Board of Directors created a new standing committee, the Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee (EC-FSC). This committee authorized a subcommittee to study and recommend plans for improvement and enhancement of the National Traffic System (NTS). Under the leadership of then New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and with the intent of giving the traffic-handling community an opportunity to help create such a plan, volunteers from throughout the country were sought and formed into teams, which began meeting weekly in January 2023. A review of the first year was reported in the February 2024 NTS Letter.

 

In 2024, the Steering Committee and its teams continued to work on a variety of projects which can be noted on the website, .

 

In October 2023, the first issue of the monthly NTS Letter was published by ARRL to provide regular updated information as well as share traffic-handling experiences from around the country. ARRL members have been invited to subscribe, and issues have also been posted on the ARRL website as well as the new NTS 2.0 website. While an unfortunate cyberattack against ARRL in May 2024 disrupted the uploading of The NTS Letter to their website, all issues can be found at .

 

During October and November 2024, the NTS 2.0 Steering Committee directed approximately 650 radiograms to be sent to all Official Relay Stations listed in the ARRL field appointee database. The purpose of this “blitz” was to publicize The NTS Letter to more of the traffic-handling community. This was a big effort which was handled admirably by, and with appreciation to, a host of traffic handlers.

 

Also helping to spread the word that NTS is still very active, the July 2023 issue of QST magazine carried an article on the NTS, its history, current state, plans for improvement, and implementation of NTS 2.0. This was followed up with another article featuring the 75th anniversary of the National Traffic System written by Bud Hippisley, W2RU, and published in the November 2024 QST Public Service column.

 

In December 2023, the first radiogram was originated via the newly-created Radiogram Portal. Applications were sought from seasoned traffic handlers to retrieve radiograms from the Portal for relay through NTS. There has been a good response and currently there are over 70 official “radiogrammers.” The population of messages was understandably slow at first, but as word has spread, we have seen an uptick with over 100 messages originated in December 2024 as reported below.

 

In February 2024, a new and fun activity to promote the origination and relay of radiograms was implemented. The Treasure Hunt was a concept of ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, and is currently managed by a team of “judges” headed by Dan Rinaman, AC8NP. Questions for this bi-monthly “hunt” are published in The NTS Letter. Answers must be submitted in properly formatted radiograms and sent over radio frequencies, either via traffic nets or the digital traffic network. Judges respond to correct answers with the next question. Winners successfully completing all three or four rounds of questions receive a certificate. One winner each month, drawn at random, receives a specially designed mug. This program has been a lot of fun and has helped to generate radiogram traffic.

 

Because training is a necessary part of message handling and net participation, a series of training videos, produced by Andy Harmon-Kimball, W2ZXN, was made available on the NTS2 website. These videos, with accompanying PDF slides, cover NTS basics including “Intro to NTS,” “Radiograms,” and “Sending Traffic.” Available at , these may be used at club meetings, ARES training sessions and other group gatherings. Training in more advanced topics will be added in the future. Online training is also being considered. See the article below on “virtual” NTS training.

 

An updated set of ARRL numbered radiograms has been posted at . Many of these were added primarily for welfare traffic by Radio Relay International and have been adopted by ARRL. Whether ARL or RRC, they are all the same. While concern has been expressed about differences in the old list on the ARRL website and the new list on the NTS2 site, the new list has been approved and is currently being used. In time, the old lists will be updated.

 

An updated version of handling instructions, containing three new instructions, can be found at . Two of these, HXI and HXR, are designed for use with emergency traffic. HXI indicates the use of an agency form in an encapsulated radiogram (see below), and HXR requires a confirmed receipt from the addressee. A new HXT will be used in future traffic tests.

 

An APRS-NTS gateway, created and maintained by Michael Ford, WZ0C, has been active and gaining new users all the time. For more information, check out . This gateway has allowed those not available to check into a traffic net to send a message via the Digital Traffic Network. For those interested in statistics, Michael publishes these in the Massachusetts STM monthly report, available at .

 

The teams have also created a new series of recognition certificates, which will be available soon. Traffic handlers who devote hours checking into traffic nets, relaying messages, assuming net control, and taking on leadership positions need to know their efforts are greatly appreciated. Authorization for certificates will generally be the responsibility of Section leadership, with an additional challenge coin and BPL medallion to be awarded by ARRL Field Services. Once these certificates are available for download from the ARRL website, information will be provided in The NTS Letter.

 

Another project being developed over the past year is a web-based performance tool to be used with periodic traffic tests. A test conducted two years ago indicated the need for a way to better graphically illustrate the performance of the network. This tool will involve relay stations entering information online such as that required in the HXD handling instruction. We expect beta testing of the tool to be conducted during the beginning of 2025. More information will follow.

 

With the current emphasis on emergency preparedness, an encapsulated ICS -213 radiogram form was developed for use on traffic nets. This format, which can be used with other agency forms, was tested on voice and CW nets with positive results and will be included in future traffic tests. Encapsulating an agency form into a radiogram allows for the necessary information required for message relay on traffic nets as well as delivery at the “last mile” to be in the exact form as originated. Information on this can be found at .

 

It has been a busy year, and we hope to continue with the help of new participants with new ideas. Please take note of the article below.

 

 

NTS 2.0 Callout Meeting, February 4, 2025

Phil Temples, K9HI

 

The NTS 2.0 subcommittee and its working groups have completed a number of projects and initiatives. Examples include: the NTS Treasure Hunt, the Radiogram Portal, certificates, enhancing ARL numbered texts and handling instructions, and of course, creation of The NTS Letter. More projects are planned or in the works.

 

We are looking for individuals who would like to be a part of this exciting initiative! We’re holding a callout meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT for anyone who is interested in learning more about the future of NTS and NTS 2.0.

 

The URL is

 

You are not required to download or install any additional software or apps. Just type the URL into your browser.

 

Questions? Contact Phil at .

 

Virtual Traffic Nets for Training

Phil Temples, K9HI

 

How might we introduce more amateurs to the joys of traffic handling? Especially a new Technician-class amateur who doesn’t live in an area served by a local VHF traffic net?

 

One idea comes to mind: a “virtual” NTS traffic net on Zoom!

 

The Zoom training net would share many of the attributes of an actual on-air traffic net. Individuals would be encouraged to “check in” with the Zoom moderator (“net control”), identify using their call signs phonetically, state their locations, and whether they have traffic.

 

During each training net, a particular aspect of traffic handling would be demonstrated and discussed by seasoned traffic handlers. Examples include prosigns, message check, ARL texts, book traffic, and how to send and receive radiograms. The net could also be used to send “virtual” radiogram traffic from participants to a designated liaison for origination onto an on-air net.

 

Exposure to NTS at a virtual level might provide a powerful incentive for newcomers to upgrade to General or Extra, become "radioactive" and QSY from the virtual to the “real” NTS world.

 

“Who Are We Now?”

Denny Rybicke, K9LGU

 

From the Wisconsin Section’s FAQ # 280: We are the traffic handlers. We are the operators who still fight the static crashes and the sunspot cycles to get a message right. We are those who care about sharpening the skills that make us good operators. We are willing to practice, to spend our time in taking and delivering a message, in acting as net control, in serving as a link from one net to another — even though we might have other activities pressing. We are the volunteer communicators for served agencies.

 

We are the workers, the retired, the students, the young, the old, the happy and the struggling; we are the experimenters and the conversationalists. We are the stations that ask first before using a frequency. We are the operators who willingly repeat a text group five or more times if the receiving station is working hard at getting it. We follow net discipline. We listen.

 

We are the folks who know that every time we handle a message, participate in a net, maintain and improve our station, help each other with equipment or techniques, and keep the system working, we are part of why ham radio exists today. Are we special? Nope. We're just providing a service while enjoying our hobby. Anyone can do it, and here's hoping for even more "anyones" to join us soon. That's who we are now. Who we will be is up to us. 73 – K9LGU/STM-WI

 

Treasure Hunt Update

Dan Rinaman, AC8NP

 

Hello, Treasure Hunters! Twenty stations participated in the November NTS Treasure Hunt. The following stations successfully completed all four rounds at this point:

 

1st — Chris, KD8UUB

2nd — Shawn, N1CVO

3rd — Michelle, K2MJR

4th — Jerry, N3KRX

5th — Jay, NK2Y

6th — Dale, N5LI

7th — David, N7DMB

8th — Mike, W4BZM

 

Mug Award Change

In previous Treasure Hunts, a special mug was awarded to the first hunter to finish the hunt. We received feedback that sometimes radiograms are inexplicably delayed, and a hunter may end up not finishing first despite their diligence on the hunt. Starting with this past November’s hunt, the mug will be awarded in a random drawing from all hunters who complete the hunt. The other finishers will receive an e-mailed certificate courtesy of the NTS 2.0 Treasure Hunt committee.

 

November Questions

 

THR1 Glenn, VE1IJ

THR1 DURING AN NTS NET

WHICH STATION DOES NCS CALL

FIRST WHEN SENDING STATIONS OFF

TO PASS TRAFFIC QUERY

This is covered in sections 4.11 and 4.12 of the MPG

 

THR2 Jon, N1ILZ

WHAT DOES ARL EIGHTY-FOUR SECOND X MEAN QUERY

Answer: REQUEST ACTIVATE SECOND REGION NET UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Reference:

 

THR3 Ray, KB8GUN

My October TH question is "What year did the NTS system start?" The answer is 1949.

My source is the November QST, page 61 paragraph 3

 

THR4 Dan, AC8NP

WHO IS YOUR SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER QUERY

Check your ARRL Section website.

 

January 2025 NTS Treasure Hunt

 

Treasure Hunt Round #1 question is:

WHAT ARE THE MESSAGE CATEGORIES OF ACTIVITY IN THE SAR QUERY

 

Please include the mixed group THR1 through THR4 in your message to the judges. THR1 means Treasure Hunt Round 1, thus indicating you are answering that question. Treasure Hunt Round #1 messages should be sent to: Dan Rinaman, AC8NP, Tiffin OH 44883. The judges will respond with a radiogram back to you, usually within 24 hours of the receipt of your message. Our judges are on traffic nets almost daily. The in-transit time will vary. So, if it has been a few days and you do not receive a reply radiogram, try sending a new one with a new message number.

 

Try to learn about the NTS in your section. Who is your Section Traffic Manager (STM)? The STM can answer your questions on how to move traffic in and out of your section.

 

If you missed the official Treasure Hunt announcement in the December 2023 issue of The NTS Letter, here is a recap: This is a fun, on-air, multi-step competition in which you will respond to a "judge" with your answer to an initial clue or question via radiogram. The judge will reply via radiogram with the identity of the next judge, along with the next question or clue in the hunt.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please use the or email Dan Rinaman, AC8NP, at .

 

Originations and the Radiogram Portal

Holiday time is a good time to send greetings via radiogram through the National Traffic System and we saw a definite uptick in the number of messages handled in December. Not only does this spread good cheer, it adds practice in handling radiograms and keeps our traffic nets busy. This is a fun and unique thing to do and can also spread the word that amateur radio is still alive and active.

 

Don’t know how to create a radiogram or how to move it toward its destination? The Radiogram Portal offers such an opportunity. It is a web-based application created by Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, also the author of Echolink, that allows anyone to enter their name, email address, and ZIP code, followed by adding their message along with address information for the recipient. The software will format that information into a radiogram and list it for an authorized traffic handler to retrieve and move it on its way to destination. To date, the Portal lists over 70 authorized “radiogrammers” from all over the country and they are anxious to get practice in handling these messages. Those traffic handlers add their call signs to the header of a message and can therefore include each of the messages they handle as “originations” in their Station Activity Report, or SAR, that is sent to their Section Traffic Manager at the end of each month. Keep in mind an “origination” for this report refers to a message received off the air from a third party, which can be in person, via phone or email or via the Radiogram Portal. That “origination” then also counts as a “sent” point when sent over the air, yielding two (2) points! Once you try the Portal and see how it works, you may want to check out a traffic net to see how this works.

 

December 2024 also saw an uptick in the use of the Portal as 109 messages were handled between December 1 and 30, a majority containing holiday greetings.

 

HX Handling Instructions, Message Deliveries, Non-deliveries and Service Messages

From time to time, complaints show up on various group reflectors about a message never received by an intended recipient and a service message regarding the status of that message never received by the station of origin. I think most of us are guilty at some level. Perhaps we don’t have time or get distracted and then forget about it. If made aware, we may vow to do better, but it seems to keep happening. One might blame bulk traffic for various reasons, but this happens with all types of traffic. This obviously leaves one with a poor impression of amateur radio’s messaging service.

 

Handling instructions in the header are an option and are included at the discretion of the message originator. Optional, of course, does not mean we have the option to ignore them.

 

HXG states that “Delivery by mail or landline toll call not required. If toll or other expense involved, cancel message and service originating station.” “Not required” means you do have two options here – spend the money for a stamp or send a service message with an ARL Sixty Seven text stating non-delivery and why.

 

HXC states “Report date and time of delivery (TOD) to originating station.” The message originator really wants to know about the delivery of his message. Here we can use the ARL Forty Seven text to send that information. If no HXC is included, there is no requirement to do anything once the message is delivered. However, it is an option.

 

What is never an option is neglecting to send a service message, an ARL Sixty Seven text or equivalent, for any message not delivered, handling instruction or no handling instruction. This is an expectation of any amateur radio traffic handler as well as a courtesy to the originator. It has been said there are only three things one can do with a message – deliver it, relay it or service it.

 

Spotlight: KW1U

Marcia Forde, KW1U

It has been a desire of mine to spotlight those amateurs who have contributed to NTS and traffic handling in special ways. Recently, however, it was suggested I spotlight myself, so here goes. I have no real technical background although I always enjoyed math and science in school. For years after finishing school, I was a stay-at-home mom with three kids. During those years my oldest son, while in middle school, signed up for a summer school class in Morse code, given by a local ham. This led to his obtaining an amateur radio license which was my initial exposure to the hobby. My interest was piqued but life got in the way, and it took me several years of on-again, off-again studying before I finally got my Novice license in 1980. After a year of DX, WAS, and all that new hams tend to do, I decided to try traffic nets. My son had been active on the nets, so I was aware of them, but with a Novice-class license, I was limited to CW and my code speed was still slow. I began by copying everything I heard on a net into a notebook. I missed a lot but kept at it and eventually increased my code speed and began to observe how traffic nets operated. After getting the nerve to check into the Eastern Mass Rhode Island Slow Speed Net and being trained by the legendary Jim Hathaway, WA1TBY, I was hooked, and the rest is history. Wanting to pass traffic with the “big boys,” I upgraded to General class in 1982 and Extra in 1984, when I got the KW1U call sign. At about the same time, I became Section Traffic Manager and TCC Director for Eastern Area Cycle 2.

 

After my youngest child graduated from high school in 1986, and with the encouragement of Bob Weinstock, W3RQ, I went to work as a telephone-TTY relay operator for the hearing impaired, relaying phone conversations, which was somewhat similar to passing traffic on the nets. I went on to become coordinator of this service, a job I really enjoyed, until the phone companies were required to provide this service. I then went into health care, becoming a home health aide, before deciding to go to nursing school, finally earning my RN license. I practiced in-home care on Martha’s Vineyard Island until retirement.

 

Since then, and with more time to devote to ham radio, I have served as Section Traffic Manager for Eastern and Western Massachusetts and Rhode Island, MARI section CW net manager, Eastern Area Net Cycle 4 manager and TCC Director for Eastern Area Cycle 4. I operate a regional hub for the Digital Traffic Network as well as a gateway station to Europe via DL4FN. I am currently on the Steering Committee for NTS 2.0 and editor of The NTS Letter. As you can probably tell, I like to see things get done. I have learned a lot and have really enjoyed all my experiences as well as all the people I have met through amateur radio.

 

 

 

NTS® Resources

The National Traffic System® (NTS®) is a network of amateur radio operators who move information during disasters and other emergencies. General messages offering well wishes also move through the NTS® to help test the system and to help amateur radio operators build traffic handling skills. While the NTS® is primarily set up to serve the United States and Canada, it is possible to move traffic internationally through the NTS® through various local, regional, area, and international network connections.

 

 

 

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Editor: , Section Traffic Manager -- Eastern Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island

 

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