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CX2SA > NTS 05.01.24 13:01z 353 Lines 17673 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: The NTS E-Letter - 01/2024
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================
The NTS E-Letter
================
January 3, 2024
- NTS 2.0 Update: A Radiogram Portal
- Treasure Hunt Coming in February 2024
- New VE Package Proposed
- Radiogram Deliveries: A Vital Part of Message Handling
- CW Traffic Nets
- Spotlight: K6HTN
- NTS Resources
- Sign up to Receive The NTS Letter
- Support NTS: Join ARRL
NTS 2.0 Update: A Radiogram Portal
----------------------------------
Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD
The Working Group on Updated Access and Delivery Methods has been putting
the finishing touches on a project called The Radiogram Portal.
The main Radiogram landing page. This is the public-facing page that
explains what a Radiogram is, along with the actual form for submitting a
message.
Creation of Radiogram
It's a new website that introduces Radiograms to the general public and
provides an easy way for the public to submit messages that can be
originated as formal traffic.
The Portal has two goals in mind: First, to explain what amateur radio
messaging is all about, to an audience that might not be familiar with
Radiograms - or for that matter, amateur radio in general. And second, to
provide a quick and easy way to boost the volume of true third-party traffic
into NTS.
The list of submitted Radiograms. Registered Radiogrammers (traffic
handlers) log in to this page from time to time to see submitted messages,
with the option to pick any of them up for origination.
Traffic List and Formatted Radiogram
Here's how it works: Someone, typically a non-ham, discovers the Radiogram
Portal home page on the web, and fills out a simple form to compose a
message to send to a friend or relative. The message is stored in a special
database that also tracks the NTS region in which the submitter lives. Any
volunteer traffic handler who has registered in advance to pick up traffic
from the Portal, can visit the site from time to time to look for newly
submitted messages.
The Pick-Up page. After a Radiogrammer clicks
Radiogram Assigned for Origination
Finding one, he or she clicks "Pick Up," the site converts the message to
standard Radiogram format, and the volunteer traffic handler then originates
the message into NTS in the usual way using any available mode -- phone,
digital, or CW. From there, the message makes its way to its destination and
final delivery.
Editor's note: This exciting program is currently being tested before being
opened to the ham community and the public. Stay tuned.
Treasure Hunt Coming in February 2024
-------------------------------------
We're pleased to announce that the first Annual NTS Treasure Hunt will kick
off in February 2024! You'll find the first clue in the February issue of
The NTS Letter.
Please see the December issue at
https://www.arrl.org/nts-letter?issue=2023-12-05#toc05 for details.
New VE Package Proposed
-----------------------
The NTS 2.0 Access & Delivery Working Group has recently taken on a new
task: Developing a package of materials that a Volunteer Examiner (or a VE
team) could distribute to a newly licensed amateur to encourage them to
participate in the National Traffic System and check into local traffic
nets. It's thought that such information could be invaluable to the new ham,
who often starts out with nothing more than a handheld radio and the name of
a local radio club. They typically have no information about operating
activities.
Image of Mimi Guerrat, KC1TJW, a newly licensed HAM, who made some of her
first contacts on the Western Connecticut traffic net (WESCONN) in Central
Connecticut.
"I can't think of a better activity in which a newly licensed Technician can
become involved than a VHF traffic net," writes ARRL New England Division
Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC. "It's something where a new ham can check
into a daily net and learn important skills -- like handling formal, written
traffic; learning proper phonetics; net procedures and net discipline -- the
same skills that a new operator needs to know in order to participate in
emergency communications and ARES operations."
The "NTS VE Package" will convey to the new amateur the enjoyment factor of
traffic handling, as well as the valuable skills they will learn to progress
in their ham career. The materials would be downloaded from ARRL's website
by Volunteer Examiners, then printed and handed out at the conclusion of an
exam session. This material, along with the upcoming release of the new
Online Net Directory, would provide the newcomer with times and frequencies
of local nets.
Radiogram Deliveries: A Vital Part of Message Handling
------------------------------------------------------
I think we can agree that we traffic handlers do what we do because we enjoy
it. We enjoy the camaraderie of the nets, the satisfaction of being able to
copy and accurately relay a radiogram on its way to destination. Yet
unfortunately all too often we hear about those radiograms that were never
delivered. There could be legitimate reasons, such as an inability to reach
a recipient. Some have wondered however if it may be complacency. I have
heard from several readers about their experiences in delivering radiograms,
the excitement on the part of the recipient, or an introduction to traffic
nets and message handling that ultimately produced new traffic handlers. I
would like to share with you some of their positive experiences.
ARRL Wisconsin Section Manager Jason Spetz, KC9FXE, writes: "I've been
following the recent discussion on radiogram messages and thought I'd share
this response that came back from a non-ham recipient of a birthday
greeting. I assisted a local ham in getting his message into the system. Of
course, he was thrilled to hear this back from the recipient... Great work
by the operator who made sure the message was delivered!"
"I received a FANTASTIC ARRL RADIOGRAM happy birthday greeting from you! The
AMAZING operator Stephen Hawes in Berkeley, CA, WB6UZX, took the time to US
MAIL an EXTREMELY COOL typed radiogram, saying, 'I tried to deliver this
message via telephone, but your answering machine blocked me. Sorry for the
delay.' It was just INCREDIBLY nice of him to pass on your message!! Truth
be told, I don't have any blocking on my phones, so I'm not sure what
happened. However, the wonderful part is it all worked out way better! I am
SO grateful that he took the time to create the paper radiogram and mail it
- I'm so old fashioned, I'm actually happier having a piece of paper to save
and continue making me smile! I will definitely let him know how much I
appreciate his effort -- really, really means a lot to me.'
Ray Webb, KB8GUN, writes, "Some of us in the amateur community are traffic
handlers, and we perform those duties on a day-to-day basis. We pick up
traffic by various means, and we pass it along to stations who make the
final delivery. We do this time after time, and we get very comfortable with
that regular routine. We have been at this for so long, we often forget what
it was like when we were newbies, the ink still wet on the license, and we
were still wet behind the ears, as they say. We then get a piece of traffic
that we need to deliver ourselves. We dial the number of the recipient, and
then the magic happens. I often hear, 'What is a radiogram?' Often followed
by, 'I can't believe that someone is sending me a message.' You can hear the
excitement and joy in the voice of the newly licensed ham. Thank God it is
contagious, and we keep doing it. Thank God there are people like NX9K and
N9VC that take the time to generate the 'welcome to amateur radio messages.'
The new hams are grateful that people took the time to welcome them to the
hobby. We get complacent when we forget what those voices of gratitude and
joy sound like."
"I recently had the privilege of working some future hams during a Jamboree
On The Air event. The contacts were all third party, and I could hear the
sound of the radio bug biting a few of them. I got the bug myself when, to
my surprise, QSL cards from that event started showing up in my mailbox. The
spelling wasn't always accurate, the penmanship was not neat, but they are
now some of my most prized possessions. I can't wait to work them again!!
That is why we keep doing this on a daily basis. Joy and happiness are
highly contagious, and we all need to do our best to spread that around.
Always try to express a positive demeanor and tell your radiogram
recipients, on behalf of ARRL, 'Welcome to Amateur Radio!!'"
Jim Batka, N9VC, -- who along with wife Kris, NX9K, sends radiograms to
newly licensed hams welcoming them to the hobby -- receives very positive
responses to their efforts. He includes a few of them here:
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR WELCOME MESSAGE 6698 X AM VERY
EXCITED TO GET ON THE AIR 73
MESSAGE 6731 ... TALKED WITH HIS MOM X SHE IS VERY PROUD OF HER SON
THANK YOU FOR THE WELCOME MESSAGE IM LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPLORING MY NEW
HOBBY 73
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WELCOMING MESSAGE 73
ARL FORTY SEVEN ... ERIC SAID AWESOME AND THANKS FOR THE MESSAGE 73
ARL SIXTY ONE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM X BEEN A
PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU THIS YEAR 73
In my own Section we recently gained a new traffic handler because an ORS
delivered a welcome to amateur radio radiogram by US mail to a newly
licensed ham. A few weeks later, he heard that radiogram recipient on a
local net handling practice traffic. He called the new ham on the air to
congratulate him for getting involved in NTS and was told it was that
radiogram that got him involved. That ORS, Shawn, N1CVO, says that even
though the message had an HXG handling instruction, he considered the cost
of a stamp a part of the hobby. "That's just me," he said.
One of the goals of the NTS 2.0 team is to improve upon deliveries. Taking a
positive attitude toward the importance and excitement of message deliveries
could go a long way. It may even make our day. It did mine.
CW Traffic Nets
---------------
CW traffic nets have been around for a long time and were very popular 50-60
years ago. However, due to the FCC dropping the CW requirement for
licensing, and perhaps more so to the increasing interest in digital
communications, CW nets have lost some of their appeal. They are still very
much around, although with fewer participants. Some Sections may have no CW
nets at all. The evening NTS nets run almost exclusively via CW, but
generally are not slow enough for newcomers to follow. There are slow speed
nets, but knowing how to find one can be a problem.
Why would anyone be interested in CW nets? It takes effort to learn CW.
Plus, the growth of digital communications has great appeal, especially to
younger hams. I would be interested in hearing from CW traffic handlers
regarding what it has meant to you. For me, it's just plain fun. It's like
being able to "speak" another language. Traffic nets give meaning to my
skills as a CW operator when I can copy a radiogram and successfully relay
it on toward its destination. Traffic handling and traffic nets motivated me
to upgrade my license and gave me a great sense of accomplishment. Knowing
CW and having experience in CW traffic handling could even be a much-needed
asset in an emergency where no internet exists, and available computers and
voice communications are iffy at best. It is a known fact that a CW signal
cuts through poor propagation far better than a modulated voice signal.
But how does one gain proficiency in CW traffic handling? Obviously,
training is necessary. Once it becomes available, the ARRL on-line net
directory will contain information on slow speed and training nets. Perhaps
your section has a training program on CW message handling. I have heard
about training via Zoom in some areas. The NTS 2.0 folks are developing
training videos which should be available early in 2024. Check nts2.arrl.org
for updates.
Meanwhile you might also check out the Long Island CW Club, which is
currently offering a training program via Zoom in NTS CW traffic nets.
Membership in the club is required, and costs around $30 but has many
benefits. Visit their website at https://longislandcwclub.org, or contact Ed
Conway, N2GSL, for details.
Spotlight: K6HTN
----------------
Laura K. Hutton, K6HTN, commonly known as "Kate," has been well known for
some time to traffic handlers throughout the country as one of the earlier
creators of the modern-day "Welcome to Amateur Radio" radiograms. While she
has recently cut back on some of this activity, very few traffic handlers
(if any) have not delivered at least one of her radiograms. I suspect
several recipients were introduced to message handling and NTS because of
Kate.
Image of Kate K6HTN and her dog.
Kate K6HTN and her dog.
As a student at Caltech University, Kate was introduced to amateur radio but
delayed getting a license until 2008. While employed at Caltech as a
seismologist she became involved in the first Great California ShakeOut
earthquake exercise. She says although all communications were supposedly
compromised, two undergrad students -- members of the Caltech Amateur Radio
Club -- let it be known they could talk to any county EOC in southern
California. This was not only her introduction to ham radio but also to
formal message traffic. Three months later, she had her Technician-class
license, followed a few months later by a General-class ticket. One of the
two primary aspects of the hobby that piqued her interest was CW or Morse
code, something she had not found time to learn previously. Joining an
online site, she learned enough to get on the air and contacted another CW
operator. The other aspect piquing her interest was traffic handling and the
National Traffic System. After joining the CW organization FISTS, she
received a radiogram welcoming her to the organization. The delivering ham
invited her to a local NTS net, where she was then mentored by her Elmers:
KI6BHB, K6IFF (SK), K6YR, and K9JM.
Since then, Kate has "paid it forward." In addition to serving as Section
Traffic Manager for the Los Angeles Section, and after bolstering her own CW
skills with the help of the CWops CW Academy, she became a mentor for that
organization, helping others to learn and use this older but reliable means
of communication. When asked why one would want to become involved in CW
traffic nets in this age of digital communications, she says, (1) some
operators like it, (2) live code practice, (3) we get to welcome new hams to
the hobby, to a club, send seasonal greetings, etc. via a traditional,
"steampunk" method, and (4) the "when all else fails" mentality, something
that happened as recently as 2018 during a Puerto Rican hurricane when a
large number of welfare messages were passed between two Puerto Rican hams
and amateurs on mainland US.
In addition to ham radio, Kate keeps busy with her dogs, a Border Collie and
two Blue Heelers. She works part time for a puppy preschool.
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 Form
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
----------------------
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