As temperatures are now moderating, attention begins to turn toward outdoor activities which may likely include completing those antenna projects. I know some folks are looking forward to getting out to the parks for those POTA activations. Whatever your projects, I hope they will include some traffic for the traffic nets. We have some new traffic handlers whom we want to welcome to our traffic handling community. The Boston Cape Code Traffic Jam, reported on last month, has been a boon in generating interest and a lot of message traffic. Peter, KC1HHO, manager of EM2MN reports Matt, KC1VXV and Scott, AC1TR have been participating in his training program and Jack, KC1SJK has taken on an additional responsibility as a Net Control Station. HHTN Manager Bob, KC1KVY reports Jim, KM1TWL has also been actively sending and receiving BCCTF radiograms. John KC1ZT from Beckett MA has been a frequent visitor to the Mass Rhode Island Phone Net, giving us another outlet into Western Mass. Welcome to all these guys. And thanks again to Peter for the BCCTJ which continues to operate like gangbusters. Want to get involved and have some fun, contact Peter for more info.
Want to have some more fun with traffic? Check out the NTS Treasure Hunt. The concept for this activity originated with the CEO of ARRL, Dave Minster, NA2AA and was developed by one of the NTS 2.0 teams. Watch the monthly NTS Letter (https://nts2.arrl.org/ntsletter) for Treasure Hunt updates. Every other month a question related to traffic handling is posted. Participants are asked to send the answer via RF in a properly formatted radiogram to a designated “judge” who will determine the correctness of the answer and reply with the next question and designated “judge”. There are generally four questions per hunt. Those completing all four rounds successfully will be listed in a following issue of the NTS Letter and will be awarded a certificate. Each month the hunt is held, the winner of a random drawing will receive a specially designed coffee mug. More information about this activity can be found at https://nts2.arrl.org/treasure-hunt/.
A virtual NTS training net was recently launched via Zoom, thanks to Phil K9HI and Michael, WZ0C. This net meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM EDT. The purpose of this net is to give technician class licensees an opportunity to experience a traffic net and receive training where they might not be able to reach a local VHF net where training is generally conducted. See announcement of this net here . If you’re available on Wednesday evenings at 7PM, check in at https://bitl.to/3xj4 and offer your support. While this net has been focused primarily in New England, check-ins have come from other parts of the country as well and it is intended that similar nets be created elsewhere throughout the country.
Here is yet another way to participate in NTS and gain some experience while enjoying the fun of traffic handling, I’m sure some of you are active on APRS. Check out NTSGTE, an APRS-NTS gateway created and maintained by Michael Ford, WZ0C. This gateway can be used to send a radiogram through the NTS if one is unable to access a traffic net. NTSGTE is an APRS information service that receives radiograms and forwards them on to the Digital Traffic Network. Radiograms are then relayed on as usual. Check out Michael’s gateway report at the end of each monthly STM report. A video and a PowerPoint presentation illustrating how to use this service can be found at https://nts2.arrl.org/ntsgte-an-aprs-nts-gateway/.
Northeast HamXposition is coming August 21-24, 2025. Save the dates. Tickets can now be purchased and hotel reservations made at a special rate at the Best Western Hotel in Marlboro, MA. Check out https://hamxposition.org/ for details.
While marking your calendar, set aside August 3, the first Sunday in August, for the annual traffic handlers picnic in Concord MA More details to follow at a later date.
Below is the February STM report. Thanks to all for your participation and support.
73, Marcia KW1U, Section Traffic Manager
Massachusetts - Rhode Island STM Report for February 2025 (1)