Greetings All,
Holiday season is upon us and I have noticed an uptick in the number of holiday greeting radiograms. Have you sent yours? Many seem to be taking advantage of the new book traffic provision on the Radiogram Portal. You might give that a try. Also for those delivering holiday greetings take note of the holiday radiogram form on the NTS2 website at https://nts2.arrl.org/arrl-rri-form-christmas-radiogram-2025/. These forms can be filled out online, downloaded and saved as a PDF file on your computer and then sent as attachments via email to the recipient. Or they can be printed out and mailed. Spread a little holiday cheer and show friends and families this unique service by amateur radio. Help spread the word that amateur radio is still alive and well.
The December NTS Letter included an article on updated handling instructions. Here are a few points in case you missed it.
- HXA has been changed since collect toll calls are a thing of the past. Instead it states that delivery via email and/or text message is preferred. Telephone calls used to be the preferred method of delivery, but as we know, this too often no longer works.
- HXG, a commonly used handling instruction, has been reworded and now notes that if postage or other expense is involved, one MAY cancel the message and send a SERVICE MESSAGE to the ORIGINATING STATION (that’s the one whose call sign is in the preamble). However it is often beneficial to pay the postage and send a copy through the postal system. (Ask Shawn, N1CVO, about that.)
- HXC is another commonly used handling instruction but one that has unfortunately been most often ignored. It now has some added clarification with regard to responsibility for a reply when a message is sent directly to the message recipient via RF, such as on a traffic net. This raised questions in the past, particularly when messages were retrieved from a message board (MBO/BBS). In this case it is the recipient who responds to the originating station.
- There is also clarification regarding the HXD which makes it easier to comply using an ARL Ninety Four numbered radiogram.
- Three new handling instructions have been added, HXI and HXR used with emergency traffic, and HXT which will be used with messages being sent as part of performance testing. More on these at a later date.
The November STM report is below. I want to wish all you wonderful traffic handlers a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
73, Marcia KW1U
Section Traffic Manager