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CX2SA > NTS 08.05.25 07:01l 453 Lines 21412 Bytes #285 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: May 2025 NTS Letter
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===================
May 2025 NTS Letter
===================
Editor: Marcia Forde, KW1U - May 6, 2025
- ARRL and RRI - Toward One National Traffic System
- Why Participate in NTS?
- Field Day 2025 and the NTS Traffic Handler
- From the Field
- Treasure Hunt Update
- Training Opportunities
- On Book Traffic - What, Why, How
- Spotlight - Jim Kutsch, KY2D
ARRL and RRI - Toward One National Traffic System
-------------------------------------------------
During the past few weeks, representatives from the NTS subcommittee of the
ARRL Board's Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee (EC-FSC)
and Radio Relay International (RRI) have been meeting with the intent of
finding commonality with a goal of presenting to the public and public
service organizations a National Traffic System with joint oversight, under
the leadership and guidance of the reestablished area staffs, reporting to
both organizations. A memorandum of agreement has been under discussion and
is near finalization. One of the provisions will include a monthly column in
The NTS Letter by James Wades, WB8SIW, author of RRI's popular QNI
newsletter. The first article is found below.
Why Participate in NTS?
-----------------------
Does an amateur radio license qualify one to provide emergency
communications services to relief or government agencies? Does possession of
two-way radio equipment ensure that the radio amateur is an asset to his
community?
A strong argument can be made that the answer to both questions is an
unequivocal "no." In fact, one might even argue that important operational
messages in the hands of an inexperienced operator can cause major
disruptions to a disaster operation.
Just as a soldier or hunter must practice with a rifle, a radio operator
must practice conveying third-party messages on nets. The proper use of
procedural phrases (prowords), the ability to convey and clarify complex
terms using the standard phonetic alphabet, and the ability to achieve the
brevity and efficiency of net operation does not come naturally, nor can it
be learned "on the fly" in times of emergency.
The National Traffic System exists to provide the knowledge and
opportunities needed to develop efficient radio communications skills.
Whether one is relaying a routine radiogram or transmitting an important
message during a disaster, the process remains the same. In other words, one
should not measure the value of the National Traffic System based on the
content of routine radiograms. Instead, one should measure the value of NTS
based on the training it offers. The skills needed to convey an unfamiliar
address, text, or signature are the same skills needed to spell a complex
pharmaceutical term or request a quantity of disaster supplies.
Regular participation in NTS and allied traffic nets builds important
infrastructure and relationships that can be leveraged as an effective asset
in time of emergency. The procedures used translate seamlessly to "tactical"
style nets, such as those common to local ARESİ and similar nets.
One needn't be an "iron-man (or woman)" operator to reap the benefits of NTS
participation. Make a commitment to check into one or two nets per week to
represent your area. Originate a radiogram or radiogram ICS-213 message once
or twice per month. Eventually, proper, standardized procedures will become
automatic.
Standardization and practice are essential. When your house is on fire or a
medical emergency occurs, it is reasonable to expect that agency volunteers
have the necessary training and practice needed to perform their job safely
and adequately. Likewise, when your community calls upon the Amateur Radio
Service to provide supplemental communications or fill in a gap during a
communications outage, it has a reasonable expectation that those reporting
to assist have the necessary skills to communicate accurately and
effectively. NTS nets provide that training and experience.
There is a renewed interest in organized traffic-handling network
operations. Jump in and assist with the ongoing NTS renaissance while
preparing yourself to be of service to your community when the time comes. -
James Wades, WB8SIW
Field Day 2025 and the NTS Traffic Handler
------------------------------------------
Field Day is said to be the highlight of the year for amateur radio
operators. It is held annually on the fourth weekend in June, which this
year falls on June 28 and 29. There is something for almost any amateur
radio operator. It is perhaps foremost an exercise in emergency
preparedness, one of the primary reasons for the existence of the Amateur
Radio Service. It takes great skill to be able, within a short period of
time, to set up multiple stations capable of various modes, and operate
without public infrastructure. While not an official contest, it offers the
contester the thrill of making multiple contacts, scoring many points for
their club or group. For those who enjoy outdoor activities such as POTA and
SOTA, it is an opportunity to show off their skills in setting up portable
stations. For many, this is also a big social event, offering cookouts and
early morning breakfasts.
An important factor, however, may be overlooked, and that is the opportunity
to demonstrate the messaging service capabilities of the National Traffic
System, especially in an emergency. NTS operators, as all amateurs, can show
off this capability first by publicizing the event, encouraging people to
come and see hams in action. Welcome them and offer information about
amateur radio and how it is still very active in today's world of
technology. A second way is to demonstrate our messaging services that can
be available in a disaster or situation when public infrastructure is
unavailable. ARRL encourages this by offering extra points for transmitting
formal written messages in the form of radiograms from any Field Day site.
One hundred points can be counted for a radiogram to the Section Manager or
Section Emergency Coordinator and another 100 points for 10 radiograms to
friends and families, all sent over radio frequencies from the Field Day
site. NTS traffic handlers have a big part in this activity. Beginning now,
when clubs and groups are making their Field Day plans, traffic handlers can
reach out to their clubs, encouraging them to take advantage of this
activity, not only to gain points but also to help spread the word about
amateur radio to others in their communities and beyond. Offer to help on
Field Day, either from the site or from home relaying to traffic nets, or
teach club members how to format radiograms, find traffic nets or digital
outlets, and how to send these radiograms over the air.
From the Field
--------------
The Southwest Florida Traffic Net will once again support the Fort Myers
Amateur Radio Club with handling radiogram traffic for Field Day scoring. A
special FD session of the SWFTN will be called at 16:00 Saturday afternoon,
during which the primary function will be to accept scoring radiograms from
the FD site. Offsite liaison stations will handle the traffic to either the
Digital Traffic Network or to the evening Florida HF Net.
If you're in southwest Florida for Field Day 2025, please join us at 16:00ET
on the N1NQU 146.820 (136.5-) repeater. All traffic and check-ins are warmly
welcomed.
The SWFTN calls Monday through Saturday at 10:00 PM ET on the N1NQU repeater
in Fort Myers, Florida. See fmarc.net/swftn for details. - Dave Sheppard,
W2PAX, SFL STM & SWFTN Manager
Treasure Hunt Update
--------------------
Hello, Treasure Hunters! Twelve stations participated in the March 2025 NTS
Treasure Hunt. The following stations successfully completed all four rounds:
WD8SDH Dick, Cambridge OH
K2MJR Michelle, Poughkeepsie NY
KE8HKA Matthew, Ypsilanti MI
N7YD Mark, Redmond WA
N1CVO Shawn, Lowell MA
KN6HXP Warren, Baltimore MD
N3KRX Jerry, Houston DE
W4BZM Michael, Niceville FL
KC3WHU Walt, Metuchen NJ
AE5MI Yvette, Gulfport MS
W1OTW Doggone Dave, Warrensburg MO
KA9IKK Bill, Katy TX
About the March Hunt
Round #1 Ray, KB8GUN
THR1 IS IT MANDATORY TO
PHONETICALLY SPELL THE LAST
NAME OF THE ADDRESSEE QUERY
Answer:
Section 2.2.1.1 of the MPG.
ALWAYS SPELL THESE GROUPS AND USE PHONETICS:
Last names of addressee in address, and in Op Note; Proper names in text;
Last names in signature and Op Note; ARL Radiogram numbers spelled out in
texts; (ARL FIFTY and SIXTY sound very much alike even letter-spelled!);
Fills, as requested.
Round #2 Dan, AC8NP:
THR2 WHAT DOES EME COMMUNICATIONS
MEAN QUERY
Answer:
www.arrl.org
Updated 02/06/24 by KD2ZWN
Communicating over great distances via VHF continues to fascinate many
amateurs. EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) communication, also known as "moonbounce,"
and meteor scatter are two well-known propagation techniques.
Round #3 Glenn, VE1AQF:
THR3 WHAT DOES ARL/RRC SEVENTY
FOUR SATERN 14325 KHZ USB
MEAN QUERY
Answer:
This is a message body text for ARL/RRC SEVEVTY FOUR.
Establish communications with SATERN agency on 14325 KHZ (frequency) USB
(mode).
ARL Numbered Radiograms
RRC Numbered Radiograms
Round #4 Jon, N1ILZ:
THR4 WHICH NTS2/RRI NUMBERED RADIOGRAM
REQUESTS MORE EMERGENCY RADIO OPERATORS
QUERY
Answer:
ARL/RRC Nine
ARL Numbered Radiograms
RRC Numbered Radiograms
May Question Treasure Hunt Round 1
THR1 WHEN DOES AN OPERATOR
USE ARL FORTY ONE QUERY
Please send a radiogram to:
JON N1ILZ
EASTHAM MA 02642
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 4 or 5 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 email Dan Rinaman, AC8NP, at
ac8np@xxxxx.xxx.
Training Opportunities
----------------------
A reminder that the Virtual NTS Training Net (VNTN) continues to meet on
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. The VNTN URL is bitl.to/3xj4. Anyone
interested in message handling is welcome. No experience required, only an
interest in learning.
Want to learn about message handling on CW traffic nets? The Long Island CW
Club has a great training program for learning CW, which is a lot of fun,
and it also offers a class on using that CW on NTS traffic nets, which is a
good way to practice your skills in a very useful activity. You must be a
member of the club to participate in these classes, but the nominal fee is
well worth it. Check out the club's website, longislandcwclub.org, for more
information about joining, and contact Ed Conway, N2GSL, for details on
LICW's NTS training.
Training on digital voice networks. Bill Leibengood, N8RWF, is working on a
"National Traffic System Digital Voice Traffic Training and Information
Net." As many amateurs, including Technician class licensees, are using
various digital voice modes, and as conditions on HF can at times hinder
traffic relay, it makes sense to develop training on these other modes. Bill
states that "the brilliance of this reflector and network is that it can be
accessed by any amateur radio station with almost any of the digital voice
modes currently available. It can also be accessed via EchoLink. It can be
accessed from anywhere in many different ways." He also points out that this
is in no way meant to replace or bypass any of the current NTS structure,
but does offer alternatives or, in other words, another tool in the "toolbox."
Bill continued, "The net could occur either monthly or bi-weekly with
multi-purposes: 1) Generate interest in traffic handling and expand to
digital voice; 2) Train stations interested in traffic handling; 3) Traffic
handler fellowship; 4) Establish a common place for traffic handlers to
periodically meet; 5) Establish common ground rules when issues arise; 6)
Discuss traffic handling process and procedure; 7) Have fun! Check out the
following link (URF106 Universal Reflector) for the Michigan Multiprotocol
Reflector."
On Book Traffic - What, Why, How
--------------------------------
Have you ever cc'd multiple people when emailing at work? If you have, you
have used the same technique as formatting multiple radiograms with the same
message, but to different recipients, into book traffic. This article will
provide an overview of the basic technique, although there are numerous
iterations of booking. Basically, any way to save time by condensing common
sections of messages or addresses is utilizing this technique.
To provide an example, a birthday message to triplets is shown in the diagram.
BOOKDIAGRAM2 [Photo]
The example on the left shows the three messages created individually. The
message on the right is combined into a book of three. That means that there
is one message that is addressed to three different recipients. Just by
looking at the length of the text, you can see that the book (on the right)
has fewer characters. This means that it will take less time to send on a
traffic net. In the example, an ARL numbered message was used, but this
technique is especially useful for messages with higher check numbers.
When creating your book traffic, start with the common parts, which are the
fixed preamble and the message itself. Instead of listing a specific message
number, include "book of #", and the message complete with its enclosure
break(s). Following the common parts are the addressees. Here is where the
message numbers go - they will be placed into the preamble when the messages
are taken out of book format.
The first difference you encounter is when the net control station asks you
to list your traffic. Your reply is "book of #" (# designating the number of
recipients of the message. Our example above is three so the response would
be "book of three"), then listing the traffic destinations. At this point,
there are two possible scenarios. The first is that the book will continue
on to the next net in book format, in which case the book will pass from one
station to another and remain in this format. The other scenario is that the
book is split up into individual standard format messages, accomplished by
the somewhat complex task of multiple stations copying the common parts
simultaneously, then the addressees individually.
While this can be an easy way to send many messages at once, thereby saving
net time, keep in mind that booking is optional. If a book is complex and
there are many uncommon parts, it becomes confusing even for the experienced
receiving operator, and extra time is spent getting fills or explanations.
For the newbie, it could even scare them away.
Composing, sending and receiving book traffic is a rewarding way to handle
traffic in a more efficient manner. Many book messages are the typical
"welcome to ham radio" messages to new licensees, but there are so many
other possibilities -constrained only by the imagination. For example, I
have used book messages to congratulate students in online CW classes upon
graduation, and to thank operators for POTA QSOs after an activation. Do you
have a unique way that you have used book messages? Send me a radiogram and
let me know! 73, Jay, NK2Y
Spotlight - Jim Kutsch, KY2D
----------------------------
KY2D with his Seeing Eyeİ dog Easton. [Photo]
Jim's interest in electronics and radio dates back to his childhood when he
repaired tube-type radios and TVs for his neighbors. After losing his sight
and part of his right hand at age 16 in a backyard chemistry accident,
WA8RDX (SK), who knew of Jim's interest in radio, asked if he was interested
in becoming a ham. WA8RDX's mentoring led to Jim's first license, WN8ZNH, in
December 1967. His traffic-handling experience dates back to shortly after
upgrading to General in 1968. "At that time, most of the traffic was from
military personnel sending messages back to family," said Jim, "It was very
rewarding to deliver those messages." Regular participation in the West
Virginia phone and CW nets resulted in net control positions with both nets.
In college, Jim applied his CW knowledge to facilitate completing computer
science classes as a blind person. He wrote software to produce Morse
computer output from a clacking teletype and a mainframe computer alarm. He
was an active member of the West Virginia University ham radio club and
taught Novice classes every semester to college and high school students.
While at the University of Illinois from 1974 to 1976, he applied his ham
radio and electronic background to his Ph.D. dissertation project to develop
the first talking computer terminal for blind computer users. It was built
on the Altair 8800, one of the first personal microcomputers, again
extensively using computer-generated Morse output while developing the
speech software.
Ham radio activities followed his professional life across several states.
He was a professor of computer science in West Virginia, worked at Bell Labs
in New Jersey, held executive positions with AT&T's Universal Card Services,
Cincinnati Bell, and Convergys, all in Florida, and served as President &
CEO of The Seeing Eye in New Jersey for 13 years, where he also was trustee
of W2TSE, the ham station for students staying on campus while training with
Seeing Eyeİ dogs.
A life member of ARRL, Jim held various appointments as ORS, Net Manager,
and NNJ STM. Currently he is the Maine STM and Eastern Area TCC Cycle 2
Manager. He is active on Maine's phone and CW nets, on First Region's phone
and CW nets, on the Eastern Area Net, and on the Digital Traffic Network. He
is the Radio Relay International Eastern Area Digital Manager and runs the
DTN Eastern Area Hub. Outside of traffic handling, Jim's interests include a
bit of chasing DX plus AllStar Link, AMPRNet 44Net addressing, and Raspberry
Pi computers.
Jim is now retired and living in Maine.
NTSİ Resources
The National Traffic Systemİ (NTSİ) is a network of amateur radio operators
who move information during disasters and other emergencies. General
messages offering well wishes also move through the NTSİ to help test the
system and to help amateur radio operators build traffic handling skills.
While the NTSİ is primarily set up to serve the United States and Canada, it
is possible to move traffic internationally through the NTSİ through various
local, regional, area, and international network connections.
NTS 2.0
NTS Manual
NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines
Handling Instructions
Numbered Texts
Form Encoding Rules for Form
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Editor: Marcia Forde, KW1U, Section Traffic Manager -- Eastern
Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
ARRL Director of Emergency Management: Josh Johnston, KE5MHV
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