NTS

November was a busy month. Following the ARES Academy in October our traffic handlers put out over 400 radiograms to participants of that event, getting experience in originating third party messages. They were advised to add an op note at the end of each message regarding servicing messages to the station of origin (themselves), which is proper protocol, rather than the signer of the message. Since we see so little real third party traffic these days a lot of confusion has grown up over this procedure. Great job all!

With the help of the above our nets saw a big increase in traffic handled on the nets. Now we are into the holidays and we’re beginning to see some holiday greetings. I encourage all to keep that momentum going and originate some of these to friends and families. It’s something different from a card or email and might even spread word about amateur radio.

Thanks to message handling training given by Peter KC1HHO, manager of EM2MN, we now have two new Official Relay Stations (ARRL Field Service ORS appointment). Thanks to Bernie KC1MSN and Steve KC1NBI for a job well done.

To all those new hams on 2 meters, we hope to see you on the HF bands as you upgrade to General and/or Extra class. You are always welcome on the Mass Rhode Island Phone Net on 3978 Khz at 5 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. If anyone wants to try CW check us out on MARI CW net at 7 PM nightly on 3565. If conditions are such that the skip is long and folks don’t hear each other, we move to 1810 Khz. Even if unable to transmit there, give a listen.

To those on the EM2MN, I may not be around much on the net after the first of the year as I’m moving into an apartment in Maynard MA. I won’t have antennas but I will still have access to my station in Concord which will be monitored by my son Dale K1WU who will be living here. I will be on HF remotely as I learn how to operate that way. I will also try to make HHTN by Echolink if not via the Marlboro MMRA repeater.

Also a reminder that we have a new email group on groups.io. If you haven’t signed up already search for MA-NTS. I will be posting these reports there as well as on ema.arrl.org. The groups is also for any communications, questions, comments, discussion regarding message handling and net operation, anything of interest to the group.

Below is the November traffic report. Meanwhile I wish all you good folks the best of the holiday season with wishes for a happy and healthy 2021.

73, Marcia KW1U
STM EMA / WMA

It is almost Thanksgiving although it hardly seems like it as it has been 70 degrees the past few days. Good weather for last minute preparations for New England winter.

As many of you know, the New England ARES Academy was conducted during the month of October as part of our virtual HamXposition. Yours truly, along with K1UAF SM of NH and participant on MARIPN conducted the session on message handling. All the programs were recorded and are available on YouTube under New England ARES Academy. There were 400 to 500 registered participants from all over, and thanks to our own K9HI, the organizer has agreed to send out radiograms to all those who were registered. Guess what? I can’t handle that many, so we will all be busy in one way or another. I will have more details in a separate mailing.

Something came up today that perhaps needs some explanation. I received a radiogram with an email address in the text. We don’t often see this but it is possible so we should know the proper way to handle it. We are familiar with sending email addresses in the address portion of the radiogram but it is important to remember how to count the word groups in the text. For example if I send a radiogram requesting a reply to kw1u@comcast.net, it could be counted as one word group for the check. However if that radiogram were to end up on CW at some point it would need to be sent as five word groups, thus changing the check in the preamble. Therefore we write it as we do in the address portion as ‘kw1u atsign comcast dot net’ which makes 5 word groups instead of one.

After consulting with several traffic handlers in the section there seemed to be a positive interest in an email group for Massachusetts traffic handlers. I have now set up a group on groups.io called MA-NTS, for the purpose of sharing information, asking questions and having discussions about topics of interest in regard to the National Traffic System, message handling and net operation. All MA message traffic handlers and anyone interested in learning more about it are invited to join us. Go to groups.io search for MA-NTS.

The nets are doing fantastically well with new check-ins, and with Peter KC1HHO’s training program a number of these are now handling message traffic. If any are interested in training and can make the Boston 145.23 repeater at 8 PM nightly, check in with Peter, or if not contact KW1U@arrl.net for more information.

The October net and traffic report is found below. 73 and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Marcia KW1U  STM EMA and WMA

Greetings all. We’re well into fall. The weather is changing, the leaves are turning beautiful colors and we have apparently entered into a new sun spot cycle, hopefully signalling improved band conditions.

We in NTS are privileged this month to participate in an interoperability exercise with MARS, the Military Amateur Radio Service. ICS-213 messages are being injected into NTS nets and the Digital Traffic System, requesting recipients to call Chief of MARS to confirm delivery. The exercise focuses in part on success of delivery and time of transit. Instructions for this exercise were sent out to MA traffic handlers. We expect to see more of these exercises in the future.

The traffic nets continue to thrive. EM2MN NM Peter KC1HHO reports two new participants in his training program. Colleen KC1NOS and Brendan KC1NEF are both progressing toward the goal of becoming Official Relay Stations. Not only has Loren N1IQI been contributing to traffic for the net but Bob KC1KVY has set an example for sending out “Thank You” radiograms confirming contacts made on the HF bands. HHTN NM Joe W1HAI reports that with the addition of the Mt Greylock repeater to the linked network, traffic between Eastern and Western Mass has been readily flowing. Thanks to Peter KD2JKV folks in Eastern Mass are able to access the Western Mass nets on the Mt Greylock repeater via Echolink. These nets operate daily at 1300 and 1630 local and can be accessed via the K1FFK repeater link.

Below is the September Section Traffic Manager report. Everyone have a fun but safe Halloween.

73, Marcia KW1U STM

Greetings to all. I hope you had a great summer in spite of all the pandemic restrictions. Now that we are getting into fall perhaps there is time to consider some why’s and wherefores of handling message traffic on voice nets.

We have some very good training programs on the nets but I would also like to call attention to the Methods and Practices Guidelines (MPG) available on the arrl.org website (http://www.arrl.org/files/file/NTS_MPG2014.pdf) with link also on the ema.arrl.org website (https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/nts-resources/) under NTS Resources. This is not meant to be a training manual but rather a resource document covering various topics regarding message handling. It is not a set of rules but rather guidelines based on best practices, derived from many years of experience during a wide variety of propagation and band conditions particularly on HF. It is what has been found to help get messages through accurately and efficiently even in the worst of conditions. It was compiled by some of the most experienced traffic handlers. While those who handle messages on a VHF voice net may not experience such conditions it is good to practice in the event you may some day be called upon to pass traffic when there is atmospheric and man-made interference which often exist on the HF bands.

I call your attention especially to Chapter 2 on ‘Sending Messages on Voice’. This chapter is 58 pages long, but it is certainly not necessary to know it all before participating. As you participate however and get more practice you can apply more and more of these “tricks of the trade” and become an expert traffic handler, feeling a real sense of accomplishment when you successfully relay a message during particularly difficult band conditions.

I think the folks in our section are doing a fantastic job handling messages. I am proud of you all. We can however all (including your STM) work on learning more and improving our skills. Thanks to all you great folks for your support.  Below is the August traffic report.

73, Marcia KW1U

Greetings all traffic handlers and would-be traffic handlers. I hope you are all staying safe and cool. My apologies for not hosting the annual traffic handlers picnic this year, but the current pandemic situation was a primary factor. I hope to be able to have one here next year.

I have mentioned in the past that the Public Service Enhancement Working Group of the ARRL was turning their attention to NTS this year. Unfortunately that has been on hold due in part to the search for an emergency communications manager, one who would also be overseeing the role of the NTS. Yesterday August 12 the hiring was announced on the ARRL website and quoting in part:

“In his new role, Gilbert (KE5ZW) will manage a team responsible for supporting ARRL Emergency Communications (EmComm) programs and services, including the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) and National Traffic System (NTS), as well as lead the continued modernization of those programs in consonance with the future emergency communications needs of the public and ARRL’s key partners.”

The role of message handling is still very much needed so we wait to see what comes next.

Meanwhile the nets are doing a great job handling traffic and training new folks. EM2MN now has three “graduates” from net manager KC1HHO’s training program and another is in the process of training.  MARI CW net now has a regular check in from Rhode Island, John AJ1DM, and we are very happy to have him especially after a long period of no representation from that state. John has been involved as a mentor for the CWOPS CW Academy and has become interested in handling traffic. We welcome and thank John for his participation.

MARIPN, the section phone net has picked up participation since it’s move from 6:00 to 5:00. It seems to be a better time for most folks. Net Manager Ralph N1LAH would welcome more participation from any folks on HF. The net meets Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on or about 3978 Khz.

Below is the traffic report for both Eastern and Western Mass for the month of July. Thanks to all for your support.

73, Marcia KW1U STM

Greetings all. Hope summer and the partial reopening of activities in the Commonwealth is finding all you great folks doing well.

June was a very active month as far as the traffic nets and message handling was concerned. From Peter KC1HHO, manager of EM2MN: the training program has been going well and three new traffic handlers, Bernie KC1MSN, Scott N1KMX and Steve KC1NBI are becoming quite proficient and are on the road to becoming Official Relay Stations. Peter’s training has included radiograms containing Trivia questions which require a radiogram response in proper format and transmitted according to standard NTS protocol per the Methods and Practices Guidelines (MPG). This program was initiated by Peter and supported by this station. Good going Peter.

From Joe W1HAI, manager of HHTN:  the net has been expanding its network to include most of Massachusetts. The Plymouth repeater (146.685 PL 131.8) has been added to the network to allow more check ins from the South Shore and Cape Cod. Now also the Mt Greylock repeater (146.91 PL 162.2) is linked allowing access to the western part of the state. Joe says they are still looking for a link to the North Shore. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Please contact KW1U or W1HAI.

The MARI CW net had a banner month with a total of 197 messages passed and 171 check ins. We are happy to have added Cape Cod station W1TCD Tim and Rhode Island station AJ1DM John. We’re still welcoming anyone who would like to try CW message handling. We will slow down to your speed, whatever that may be. Ask any of our CW folks, it is a lot of fun.

Attached is the June traffic report. Great job all and thanks for your support.
73, Marcia KW1U STM

Happy June and happy beginning of summer.  Happiness is also seeing sun spots for a change,  giving operation on HF a bit of a boost.  Also nice to be able to get out more although hoping folks will remain careful, safe and healthy.

It has been exciting to see an uptake in the number of check-ins to the traffic nets with a number of those requesting training in handling message traffic. Peter KC1HHO, manager of EM2MN on the Boston repeater has been using radiograms with Trivia questions requiring a radiogram response to promote training in proper message origination and over-the- air transmission. This has been catching on and new hams have been taking advantage of this venture. If anyone would like to learn more about this and the how-to of message handling I’m sure Peter would love to hear from you.

We also handle messages digitally, using Packet on VHF and Pactor on HF. John W1JWM has been taking a lead in helping others to get set up on Packet and if anyone is interested in this aspect of message handling, contact John who is regularly found on EM2MN.

Field Day is almost upon us and while folks will generally be operating from home, I believe there are still extra points for originating NTS messages. For more information check arrl.org, ema.arrl.org or contact KW1U for help.

Below is the May traffic report for all Massachusetts traffic nets and traffic handlers who have submitted reports, including information on where and when to find traffic nets. Anyone wishing to be included in future reports please contact KW1U for more information.

73, Marcia KW1U
STM Eastern and Western Mass