Time does seem to fly by and here we are at the end of April. Spring is here! As I start thinking about the months ahead, I want to remind folks of some upcoming events.
Field Day is June 24 and 25 and among other things it is a time for increased participation on NTS nets and the DTN. It’s a good time to remind your club officials that extra points are to be had by sending radiograms. Help them to learn how to create a radiogram, list and pass on a traffic net. If you’re not familiar with the digital network which some may prefer to use, direct them to me KW1U or to Michael WZ0C.
The first Sunday in August is August 6. That is traditionally the day of our annual traffic handlers picnic when we can get together to meet and chat with those with whom we handle traffic. Any traffic handler or prospective traffic handler in the New England area is welcome. More details will follow, but for now mark your calendars.
HamXposition 2023 will be held August 25-27. Again, we will hold a “Meet and Greet” session for New England and Hudson Division traffic handlers. In addition, there will be a forum with a presentation on the ARRL’s NTS 2.0 project for revitalization and expansion of the National Traffic System. Much effort has been made to fix some of the existing problems along with implementing training and readiness for emergency communications. You won’t want to miss these two forums.
The Big E Exposition 2023 will be held September 15 – October 1 in Springfield MA. Amateur Radio will be represented with a booth again this year. It has been suggested that we might demonstrate to the public what NTS can do for them. This has been done in the past by the CT traffic handlers but has not been done in recent years. Most folks are not aware of this public service and, with our current infrastructure dependency on the internet, may not feel the need. However, if made aware of the consequences of infrastructure failures some may find great value in learning more about what “hams” are able to provide. If you think this is a good idea, I’m looking for someone who would be willing to help coordinate such an effort as well as others to provide personnel for staffing should we take on such a project.
I would like to give recognition to those who go that “extra mile” and I would like to commend Bob Sparkes, KC1KVY who most of you know from both VHF and HF nets. Bob has not only been instrumental in delivering traffic, assuming net control and liaison to upper level nets, but has been a big contributor of message traffic with his contact confirmations for POTA activations, QSO parties and other events. Bob has also been instrumental in extending Peter KC1HHO’s training in message handling to HHTN. Most recently he participated in the testing of ICS-213 encapsulated radiograms. With a renewed interest in emergency communications on the part of NTS, the NTS 2.0 teams have been working on a procedure for relaying such traffic via analog nets. Bob took this in stride and assisted admirably in this test. Many thanks to Bob!
Tim Doyle W1TCD, net manager, states “The Cape & Islands Traffic Net has a group of eight newly licensed hams who all took instruction together last year from the “elmers” provided by the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA). Excited about ham radio, they’ve energized our net with questions about NTS procedures, antenna design, digital modes, propagation, and much else. Our sessions now run almost twice as long as before, and it’s been fun to help them along. I’m very glad that Section Manager Jon N1ILZ, FARA President Chris WA1CMR, and others are available to offer their expertise.” Congrats and thanks to Tim and all on the CITN for your efforts in helping these “newbies” along.
The March report can be found with the link below. Thanks for your participation and support of NTS. We very much appreciate the efforts of all no matter how much you can do.
73, Marcia KW1U STM