Here’s hoping all have recovered from an enjoyable holiday season. While message traffic has slowed somewhat, the folks on the traffic nets continue to do a great job getting it relayed and delivered. The Radiogram Portal users, the January Treasure Hunters and the POTA hunters and activators have helped to kept us busy.
By the way, I have been advised that one of our more prolific traffic generators, VE1AAC/VE!AQF will be temporarily off the air likely beginning in February, during a move to a new location, but he assures us he will be back a few months later.
We celebrate two new Official Relay Stations, Dan Rabinowitz, KC1RMD and Dave Marcucci, KC1TLF. Congrats guys! Eastern Mass has been fortunate to have so many dedicated traffic handlers. Thanks to all you appointees for your most appreciated efforts.
The Western Mass section has a digital station active on the Digital Traffic Network. Alan Dove, AB1XW from Longmeadow MA, has been accessing the 1RN hub at KW1U on a a regular basis. Many thanks to Alan for his help. If any readers in the four westernmost counties of the state would like more information on handling message traffic via the digital network, contact Alan at alan.dove@gmail.com.
Has anyone mentored a new licensee? I know some have been doing so with good results and this has been a great help in getting new operators involved in the hobby, especially in message handling. Those efforts are very much appreciated and so important for keeping this hobby going strong. If you enjoy handling traffic on the nets and via the digital network, then share your enthusiasm. It just might be contagious.
Some have asked about the differences in NTS information between what is on the ARRL website and on the NTS2.arrl.org website. The ARRL website has a wealth of information, but unfortunately it has not been updated for some time. The NTS2 group is aware and will be working toward an update on the ARRL website. Meanwhile check https://nts2.arrl.org/ for up-to-date info and don’t forget to check out the latest news in The NTS Letter, published monthly on the first Tuesday of the month. See https://nts2.arrl.org/ntsletter/ for details.
As always, thanks to all for your participation and support. The December STM report follows
73, Marcia KW1U
STM EMA, WMA and RI