Greetings all.
Summer has come to a close and with it summer activities including our traffic handlers picnic and HamXposition. It was great to see so many traffic handlers and I look forward to doing it again next year.
Meanwhile, as the leaves begin to turn and temperatures drop, we think about preparations for winter. Are those antennas ready to withstand the winter storms? A good time to make any adjustments is when the leaves come off the trees and before the snow flies.
While summer vacations are sadly over, fall is also a good time to get back into regular participation on the traffic nets. Our VHF nets offer plenty of opportunity to learn and practice our skills in message handling, skills that could prove very valuable when our vulnerable internet goes down. Check out a schedule of our traffic nets at https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/.
I hope all have taken note of the recent bulletin from ARRL concerning proposed legislation regarding HOA’s. All amateur radio operators are asked to give their support by adding their call sign at https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/. The day may come when we will need all hands on deck.
Traffic tip of the month: When sending a radiogram directly to a recipient on a traffic net, it is not necessary to send the entire address. Yes we are taught to make no changes to a radiogram, but we are also taught about net efficiency. Does the recipient really need to copy their own address? Just a call sign or a name and call sign will do.
Interested in learning about CW traffic handling? The Long Island CW Club teaches all about it. Their classes meet once a week over an 8 week period. You’re welcome any time. Check out the club website at https://longislandcwclub.org/. The club currently has 6950 members in 50 states and 68 countries and offers 168 classes per week. We could really use some help on MARI, our section CW net which meets at 7 PM daily on 3565 kHz. Join in the fun! Practice CW and prepare for public service all at the same time!
The August STM report is below. Congrats to the regulars of HHTN for clearing 224 messages during that month. With 508 check-ins, imagine what they could do if each of those 508 brought one radiogram!
73, Marcia KW1U
Section Traffic Manager