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CX2SA > NTS 04.10.23 17:01z 348 Lines 15900 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: The NTST E-Letter - 10/2023
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The NTST E-Letter
=================
National Traffic Systemİ
October 3, 2023
- Welcome to the ARRL NTS Letter
- NTS 2.0 Project
- ARRL West Gulf Division Exercise Prepares for Welfare Traffic Ahead of
Hurricane Season
- Spotlight: Frank Hobbs, KN4QJ
- NTS Shorts
- NTS Resources
- Sign up to receive The NTS Letter
Welcome to the ARRL NTS Letter
------------------------------
Marcia Forde, KW1U, Section Traffic Manager -- Eastern Massachusetts,
Western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
NTS Letter Editor Marcia Forde, KW1U, is a dedicated traffic handler with
decades of experience. She serves as Section Traffic Manager for Eastern and
Western Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Welcome to the premiere issue of The NTS Letter! It has been a long time
since ARRL sponsored a regular column or publication about the National
Traffic Systemİ. Now, thanks to the NTS 2.0 project and all the hard work of
the NTS 2.0 teams, this is changing, and we are excited to bring you this
monthly newsletter. For those of you who have been actively participating in
the NTS, this is your newsletter. We also hope that this will help motivate
others -- those who have been involved in the past, and particularly newer
hams -- to learn about and get involved in developing and practicing skills
in message relay and net operation.
We plan to keep you updated on the happenings of the NTS 2.0 project,
training opportunities, exercises, and other NTS news from around the
country. For example, we have included news from Texas in this issue, thanks
to North Texas Section Traffic Manager Aaron Hulett, K8AMH. We also plan to
spotlight traffic handlers who have made an exceptional contribution to NTS,
beginning with those members of the NTS 2.0 teams who have worked tirelessly
every week to plan improvements to this important aspect of the hobby.
All of this means we want and need to hear from you. If you would like to
see this newsletter continue, send your comments and Section news to me,
Marcia, KW1U, at ntsletter@arrl.org.
I know, by the way, that we will get comments about the net directory, and I
want to assure you we have a team that has put a lot of effort into this,
having designed a set of requirements that will include means for regular
updates and deletion from the database of nets that are no longer operating.
You folks have been amazing, keeping traffic flowing 365 days a year. Let's
see if we can build from there.
What is NTS?
As noted in the NTS Manual on the ARRL website
(www.arrl.org/chapter-one-national-traffic-system), the National Traffic
System (NTS) is "a structure that allows for rapid movement of traffic from
origin to destination and training amateur operators to handle written
traffic and participate in directed nets. These two objectives...are the
underlying foundations of the NTS." It consists of the layering and
sequencing of both voice and CW traffic nets, as well as a digital system
that operates 24/7. This nationwide system operates 365 days a year,
generally relaying routine message traffic for training purposes and for
maintaining readiness if called upon in an emergency. If called upon, these
operators stand ready to assist emergency communications personnel in
relaying welfare and other agency messages such as the ICS-213.
Newly licensed amateurs and "old-timers" alike who participate in NTS find
satisfaction and enjoyment in learning the skills of sending and receiving
concise written voice and CW traffic in an organized, on-air network. It's a
natural complement to the skills and training one needs to become an
effective ARES and emergency communicator. Plus, it's an opportunity to meet
new friends, and it's fun!
NTS 2.0 Project
---------------
Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, ARRL Director -- New England Division
ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
I want to thank the many active traffic handlers across the country who
answered the call to become involved in our project to improve support for
the National Traffic System, better known as NTS 2.0.
Launched in April 2022, the initiative started as a subcommittee of the
Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee composed of a core
team that sought to better support and evolve the National Traffic System.
The initiative resulted in the formation of a working group tasked with
developing a vision, goals, and work program for the project.
In July 2022, the NTS 2.0 core team conducted a series of Division-level
reviews and briefings with hams across the country to share their vision.
The team received strong support and buy-in to the plan.
The team successfully recruited 40+ active traffic handlers to work on
implementing the vision and associated objectives. By year's end, five
working groups had been formed. The groups currently meet via Zoom on a
weekly basis.
Their focuses include:
Digital Traffic Handling
Emergency Communications
Enhanced Access and Delivery Methods
Standards and Performance
Training and Documentation
A Steering Committee composed of the leaders of the various working groups
and ARRL's Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, meets
weekly to review progress.
To date, several important objectives have been reviewed and accepted by the
Steering Committee:
Baseline message test originated by ARRL Headquarters
An enhanced list of Handling (HX) Instructions
An enhanced list of numbered texts
Traffic relay and delivery standards
Served agency form encapsulation standards (i.e., ICS-213 and other forms)
We have created a website, nts2.arrl.org, as a source for information on
these and other completed work items. It is ARRL's intent that this site
will be the official source of all NTS procedures and guidelines, just as
the FCC's online database is their official repository for all license
information. It will take time to fully move all NTS information to this
site, but even in the interim, any information found here is the latest
official NTS policy and supersedes information on that topic in printed
materials or at other locations on arrl.org. We will also be adding training
materials to the NTS website in the near future.
Our work on NTS 2.0 continues to expand as we take on work to address the
issues that traffic handlers nationwide have told us are important. We are
seeking additional volunteers who want to join one or more of our working
groups to help us. If you are actively involved in traffic handling or
emergency communications and want to help, please contact us at
ntsletter@arrl.org.
Finally, a special "thank you" to all of the folks who participate in and
support the National Traffic System. Many of you give your time on a daily
basis. We appreciate your service very, very much.
ARRL West Gulf Division Exercise Prepares for Welfare Traffic Ahead of
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hurricane Season
----------------
Aaron Hulett, K8AMH, Section Traffic Manager, North Texas
The ARRL West Gulf Division executed its first-ever Division-wide National
Traffic System (NTS) functional exercise on Saturday August 12, 2023,
setting the stage for ongoing collaboration across the Division and
development of new approaches to traffic relaying and delivery during
incidents. The exercise, coordinated by the West Gulf Division Section
Traffic Managers (STMs) Ed Hatch, AG5DV, from Oklahoma; Aaron Hulett, K8AMH,
from North Texas, and Sheree Horton, WM5N, from South Texas, focused on
assessing the Division's ability respond to a major event and relay welfare
messages using a new, unique approach.
For this exercise, test welfare traffic originating from the Houston area
was sent to family members across the country to simulate how the NTS would
assist during a sheltering scenario with all local telecommunications
knocked out from a hurricane. An exercise player handbook, along with an
Incident Briefing and Incident Action Plan (IAP), were prepared ahead of the
exercise to provide participating traffic handlers clarity on exercise
objectives and requirements. Traffic handlers used the Amateur Radio
Disaster Welfare Message Form (FSD-244) to prepare and relay test welfare
traffic to destinations across the country.
Normally, the NTS focuses on relaying traffic to as close to its destination
as possible before attempting delivery. However, the STMs developed and
tested a new approach for relaying incident-related traffic during the
exercise. The Oklahoma and North Texas Sections activated dedicated
infrastructure access points that focused on making deliveries from these
locations. Test welfare messages destined for the eastern United States were
relayed to Oklahoma, and for the western United States to North Texas, where
traffic handlers would then call, text, or email addresses to complete
delivery from these locations.
This way, for example, traffic destined for Massachusetts would only need to
relay to Oklahoma, and traffic destined to Alaska would only need to relay
to North Texas, shortening transit times and distances, improving accuracy,
fast-tracking delivery, and better centralizing recordkeeping for
post-incident turn-in and review.
This new approach follows what the participating Division STMs believe is a
more advantageous response model when needing to stand up and coordinate
traffic handling resources at a moment's notice. Rather than needing to
activate the entire NTS across the country, traffic handlers in and around
the affected area can rapidly mobilize, initiate incident-focused traffic
nets, and quickly begin relaying information into and out of the affected
area.
The STMs utilized the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program
(HSEEP), which provides a set of guiding principles for exercise and
evaluation programs, as well as a common approach to exercise program
management, design development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement
planning. Data is still being analyzed as part of the post-exercise review,
and an After-Action Report / Improvement Plan will be published on the NTS
website of the West Gulf Division once the evaluation is completed.
The South Texas, North Texas, and Oklahoma Section Traffic Managers would
like to express their gratitude to those that originated test welfare
traffic, those who relayed and delivered traffic, and net managers who all
helped execute and make this first Division-wide exercise a positive
learning experience to help continue improving and growing the NTS.
Spotlight: Frank Hobbs, KN4QJ
-----------------------------
Frank Hobbs, KN4QJ, serves as Section Traffic Manager for the Georgia ARRL
Section.
Georgia Section Traffic Manager Frank Hobbs, KN4QJ
He's a retired Chief Instructor of Heavy Rail Maintenance for the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Frank has enjoyed
amateur radio since 1988 and presently serves as net control operator for
several local nets in Georgia. He first became involved in traffic handling
around 2003, and has been "hooked" ever since. Frank is involved in the NTS
2.0 Access & Delivery Working Group.
Frank commented, "The NTS needs more exposure and training to the amateur
radio community as well as other entities so when needed during emergencies
we can provide traffic handling for served agencies at an expert level."
NTS Shorts
----------
Recent NTS Coverage in QST and On The Air
While it had been quite some time since any articles on NTS had appeared in
QST magazine, we hope you noted the article in the July 2023 issue, on pages
64-65, titled "The National Traffic System -- A History and ARRL's Path
Forward." Also noted in On the Air magazine, the July/August 2023 issue
featured "Talking About Traffic" and "ARRL Section Traffic Volunteering."
While you're at it, check out the July 2023 On the Air podcast episode,
"When Messages Matter: Passing Traffic" at blubrry.com/arrlontheair.
The NTS 2.0 Website
As noted in the article above, there is now a website, nts2.arrl.org, which
is intended to be the official source of all NTS procedures and guidelines.
All completed projects will be posted on this site under the "Standards and
Procedures" tab. The following work has been completed and published to date:
Handling Instructions
Numbered Texts
Using Radiograms to pass agency forms (ex. ICS-213, etc.)
NTS 2.0 Traffic Delivery Standards
Transcontinental Point to Point Communication Study
Don Rolph, AB1PH, who is involved with the NTS 2.0 Digital Working Group,
and others have begun a unique study to explore how propagation issues
affect point-to-point communication across the country.
This is particularly important in an emergency when emergency communications
personnel expect delivery within 30 minutes. In particular, Don says they
wish to determine the differences in how propagation affects voice and
digital modes and to "develop mitigation approaches to operational issues."
According to Don, a test conducted in March 2023 demonstrated that
"transcontinental digital communication was feasible if conditions were
favorable." He says that more operators -- especially on the west coast --
are needed for the next series of tests. If you are able to help, please
contact Don ab1ph@arrl.net.
NTS Resources
-------------
The National Traffic Systemİ (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.
NTS 2.0
NTS Manual
NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines Table of Contents
Handling Instructions
Numbered Texts
Form Encoding Rules for Forms
Sign up to receive The NTS Letter
---------------------------------
The NTS Letter is published monthly and is free of charge to ARRL members.
Subscribe: arrl.org/opt-in-out
Editor: Marcia Forde, KW1U, Section Traffic Manager -- Eastern
Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
ARRL Director of Emergency Management: Josh Johnston, KE5MHV
ARRL Emergency Management Planner: Jeremy Dunkley, KC1SIV
Support NTS: Join ARRL
NTS is a program of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radioİ. No
other organization works harder than ARRL to promote and protect amateur
radio! ARRL members enjoy many benefits and services including digital
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The NTS Letter is published every month (12 times each year). ARRL members
may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page at
www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.
Copyright ¸ 2023 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes
require written permission.
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* CX2SA 1978-2023 - Salto Uruguay *
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