Greetings All,
This month I want to highlight one of our traffic nets, which dates back to the earlier days of VHF, as well as one man who kept it alive during some of it’s darkest days (or evenings).
HEAVY HITTERS – A HISTORY OF A POPULAR LOCAL NET
The Heavy Hitters Traffic Net was formed in the mid 1970’s by Alan Bacon K1BA (SK) and has operated continuously since then, although at one point it appeared it might be canceled.
Former net manager, Joe Weiss W1HAI decided to write a history of this net and it is now posted on the ARRL Eastern Mass website. You can find it at https://ema.arrl.org/history-of-heavy-hitters-traffic-net-hhtn/. (I remember the days of the Heavy Hitters baseball team. It was before I became a ham but my ham son played ball with them. I guess that dates me Hi.)
In earlier days the net was very busy handling many messages, but as traffic fell off and participation dwindled, the net was almost canceled. Fortunately one net control, Scott Cassidy N1SGB saved the day. He writes:”I started in 1997 on Tuesdays nights. Than moved to Friday’s about 10 years later. The Ham that got me into it was WA1TBY. The nets back in the late 90s early 2000s were quite busy. Than started to dwindle. They almost cancelled the HHTN, but I decided to stay on as the lone NCS on Friday nights.” Thanks to Scott for keeping the net going until eventually participation and traffic picked up again and now the net operates seven nights a week and through repeater linking covers most of Massachusetts. If you run into Scott be sure to send him a big “thank you”. Or better yet, send him a radiogram!
TRAFFIC ORIGINATIONS – HOW CAN WE MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING AND FUN?
On the subject of traffic, Phil K9HI offers some tips on originating radiograms. We see a lot of welcome radiograms to new hams and those are great. We’ve seen folks get interested in NTS via one of those messages. Shawn N1CVO tells us he got interested because Al W1PLK delivered a radiogram to him after he received his license and Al encouraged Shawn to listen in on EM2MN. Shawn is now an Official Relay Station and serves as a net control on HHTN. However, for a little variety Phil mentions “quiz” sessions where answers are submitted via radiogram. Peter KC1HHO initiated this in his training program with Trivia questions. K8AMH of Dallas TX also sends out a weekly Trivia question requiring a response via radiogram. (For more information on this go here.) Folks like Bob KC1KVY use radiograms to confirm POTA contacts. Phil mentions one amateur who offers free certificates for special event contacts provided the other party QSLs via radiogram. Does your club or ARES group conduct communications for walkathons, parades and other public service activities? Phil says “Why not thank participants for a job well done via radiogram?”
Routine radiograms are the “bread and butter” of traffic nets. They give us opportunities to learn and practice and fine tune our skills. Traffic handlers have been noted for their dedication and attention to accuracy and efficiency. How can you help keep it interesting and fun?
NTS LETTER – A REAWAKENING OF THE VALUE OF NTS
Last month I mentioned the new monthly NTS Letter which was about to be sent to all ARRL field services appointees. ARRL and the amateur community are finding renewed interest in NTS and formal message handling and ARRL is now offering a monthly NTS newsletter to ARRL members. The premier issue is out and can be found at https://www.arrl.org/nts-letter?issue=2023-10-03). If you wish to receive future issues and are an ARRL member log on to your account at arrl.org, click on opt in/out and then “edit”. You’ll find a list of publications to which you can subscribe. Be sure to click on the NTS Letter.
SENDING RADIOGRAMS NATIONALLY USING APRS
I know there are some of you who operate APRS. Want to try something new and practice message handling at the same time? APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System and is used by many amateurs as a digital communications information channel, conveying announcements, bulletins, messages, alerts and weather information. Michael WZ0C has created a gateway that allows one to send a radiogram via APRS and have it automatically relayed to the Digital Traffic Network for further relay throughout the network. Suppose you want to send a radiogram and are traveling, or for some other reason are unable to check into a traditional NTS net? You can use this gateway any time 24/7 using software on an Android phone or a Windows laptop. For more information check the NTS2.arrl.org website or email Michael at wz0c@arrl.net
The STM Report for the combined sections of Eastern and Western Mass and Rhode Island follows: