NTS

Greetings All,   As I looked through the announcements on the home page of this website I observed many cancellations due to the Coronavirus.  This is unprecedented in my lifetime of recollections and while the situation is upsetting in many ways, we want to keep our friends and loved ones safe. As hams we can help make the most of the situation by keeping in touch via amateur radio.    For those who may be somewhat new to the traffic nets, there are resources available on the National Traffic System page of this website.  We welcome all to participate on …

If anyone is looking for the afternoon sessions of the First Region Net, it is now meeting daily at 1445 and 1615 local time, effective March 9.  It continues to meet on 3948 Khz.  The time change allows for the interface with the Eastern Area Net which now meets on 7222 Khz at 1515 Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at 1530 all other days.  This change will remain in effect until the return to Eastern Standard Time in November.  (per K1EIC, FRN Manager).  

Sorry for the late posting folks.  Vacations can sometimes get in the way, but mine surely was enjoyable.  My thanks to all who helped fill in while I was away.  We have a great group of traffic handlers in MA!  Peter KC1HHO reports EM2MN has a new ORS in Bob KC1KVY.  Bob has also taken on a regular NCS slot and doing a great job.  Peter also reports Joe WB1EMS had perfect attendance on the net. Thank you Joe for your great support.    MARI CW net folks are doing a fantastic job dealing with the vagueries of low sunspot …

With many thanks to all participants for all your great efforts and support!! Section Nets   Sessions Traffic CheckIns Time MARI CW Daily 1900 3565 Khz 364 1185 1436 5387 MARIPN TuThSa 1700 3978 Khz 152 168 503 1340               EMA Local Nets           CITN TuThFSa 1930 147.375 Mhz 195 83 799 2457 EM2MN Daily 2000 145.230 Mhz 365 1195 2669 7351 HHTN SuMWF 2200 MMRA Network 207 425 1583 3403 WARPSN Su 0830 147.225 Mhz 52 104 826 NA               WMA Nets   …

Greetings All,   2019 has come to an end and I hope all had a great holiday season.  I wish all of you the best of health and happiness in 2020.   Winter is here and with fewer outdoor distractions (unless the snow falls) perhaps there is more time for amateur radio.  Thanks to all who helped to support the traffic nets.  Perhaps in the new year others will make the effort to learn more about message handling and net operation.  There is information on our section website (ema.arrl.org), admirably managed by Phil Temples, K9HI.  We wish to thank Phil …

My apologies yet again for the delay in posting the November Massachusetts traffic and net report.  It did go into HQ in time to make QST but life got in the way of posting to all you great traffic handlers and net participants.  I hope you all had a very enjoyable holiday season and maybe Santa brought you some new radio gear.  It has been a good year, although with some sadness including the passing of Jim Ward N1LKJ and Greg Bennett KC1CIC, but now we look forward to 2020.  I wish all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. …

Ralph, N1LAH, MARIPN Net Manager, writes: Thanks to all who responded to my email about changing the time of the Massachusetts Rhode Island Phone Net (MARIPN) from 6:00 PM in the hope that propagation will be more favorable at an earlier time. All who responded indicated that 5:00 and  5:30 were equally acceptable. Hoping for even slightly better propagation 5:00 seems like the better choice. In consultation with the Section leadership I have decided, at least temporarily, to change the net time to 5:00 PM, starting with the first net day of the New Year, Thursday, January 2, 2020. A …

Below is the combined October STM traffic report for Eastern and Western Massachusetts.  A special thanks to all net managers for a fine job of keeping the nets running smoothly, as well as all those who help relaying and delivering the messages.  A special thanks to Bob KC1KVY who handled his first messages this past month and has continued to do a very commendable job. We are always happy to see the many other participants who are most welcome to join us at any time.  We would of course like to see more jump in and take advantage of the …

Below is the traffic report for both Eastern and Western Massachusetts.  I hope everyone is enjoying fall in New England with all its many colors.  It has been quite gorgeous this year.  Lots of public service events going on and also time to get those antennas ready for  a winter I hear could be quite cold and snowy.  If you haven’t tried handling a formal message we hope you will give it a try.  It isn’t that hard, it is fun, and some day you may be called upon to handle a  message in an emergency.  Training and help is …

Greetings All,  Below you will find the August net and traffic report for Eastern and Western Mass.   Last weekend I enjoyed the annual ARRL New England Division convention, otherwise now known as Northeast HamXposition in Boxboro MA.  It was great to see so many friends there.  I enjoyed some of the interesting forums including one on message handling and net control by our own Doc Kinne KE1ML who gave an excellent and very lively presentation.  If you missed the convention this year I hope you will be able to attend next year, again the weekend after Labor Day. Peter Doherty …

As noted last month we lost two of our fellow traffic handlers and friends in the month of July. Jim Ward N1LKJ and Greg Bennett KC1CIC are both greatly missed.   The nets continue on however and we welcome Peter Doherty KC1HHO as the new net manager of the EM2MN.  Peter is interested in training and we plan to incorporate that into the net.  We welcome all to participate in this net as we do all our traffic nets, but we feel it is important for fellow amateurs to have the skills in accurate message handling and net operation and …

NTS traffic handlers converged at the home of Eastern MA Section Traffic Manager KW1U for the Eastern MA Traffic Handler’s Picnic on August 4, 2019 in Concord, MA. Twenty-five individuals–including regular traffic handlers and net control stations, three Section Managers, and the New England Division Director–were in attendance.  Doc, KE1ML, describes the event. 

We were saddened to lose the services of Greg Bennett KC1CIC as net manager of the Eastern Mass 2 Meter Traffic Net.  Greg did a terrific job over the past few years and is certainly missed.  Notice of his passing with link to his obituary can be found elsewhere on this website. We now welcome the services of Peter Doherty KC1HHO as new net manager effective August 1, 2019.  Peter has been a regular participant as Net Control and handler of many messages.  I know Peter will do a fantastic job as Greg did welcoming all who wish to participate …

The annual traffic handlers picnic will be held Sunday August 4 beginning at noon at the home of KW1U in Concord MA.  All traffic handlers and anyone interested in message handling is welcome to attend.  As usual hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.  Bring your beverage of choice, a lawn chair if you have one (I do have some if you don’t), and anything you might want to share with the group although this is a suggestion and not required.  I have requested no rain on that date and for the most part the weatherman has come through :-).  …

This month of July saw the passing of two of our own in NTS, Jim Ward N1LKJ and Greg Bennett KC1CIC.  Both were great supporters of NTS and both were great men who cared not only for NTS and message handling but cared for those folks who particpated and were always ready to help.  We will miss them both very much.  73 Jim and Greg!   We will have our annual traffic handlers picnic Sunday August 4 beginning at noon at the home of KW1U in Concord MA.  As usual hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.  Bring your beverage …