Contact
Marcia Forde, KW1U
Interim RI Section Traffic Manager
10 Digital Way Unit 10117
Maynard, MA 01754
[email protected]
Introduction
The National Traffic System (NTS) is an organized network of amateur radio operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the U.S. and Canada.
During normal times, these messages are routine greetings (“Happy birthday Aunt Mary”) and keep the system well oiled and the operators trained so that everything works when needed. When there is an emergency or disaster NTS works closely with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service to provide emergency communications. The most common type of disaster-related messages are “health and welfare” inquiries and notifications into and out of the area affected by the disaster. In time of disaster, it is easy to expand the system by simply creating additional meeting times for the nets with high volume, or by setting up a specific “trunk line” between two points.
History
Traffic passing by formal relay (via amateur radio) originates from the founding of the American Radio Relay League. The NTS as it exists today was first outlined by George Hart, W1NJM in “New National Traffic Plan: ARRL Maps New Traffic Organization for All Amateurs” as part of the September 1949 issue of QST. While traffic passing between amateur radio operators was nothing new, Hart’s system extended coverage of traffic capability in a uniform manner across the U.S. and Canada, creating formal section and area nets devoted to handling NTS-organized traffic.
Organizational structure
NTS is defined using geographic areas. The U.S. is divided into areas that approximate time zones. Areas are divided into regions, and regions into sections that correspond to a state. Each of these subdivisions has nets for collecting and distributing traffic. A net is nothing more than a time of day and a radio frequency where the appropriate group of amateur operators can meet to send the messages on their way. ARRL Radiogram traffic typically begins and ends its journey at local nets, often through nearby repeaters. Local nets typically involve city or county-wide coverage on VHF (2-meter band) or UHF (70 cm band), and although the ARRL does not endorse a single mode for traffic passing, messages are typically relayed by voice at this level.
Representatives from section nets relay traffic collected from local nets up to the appropriate region net, or relay to a nearby section for further delivery. Messages are exchanged between section and region representatives, which are then passed to area nets, the highest level in the system. Nets at these upper levels usually take place on HF band modes for their distance capabilities (e.g. 80, 40 meters) and can be passed by voice, CW, digital, and even packet modes.
As traffic trickles back down through the area, region, section, and local nets, messages are typically delivered via a local telephone call, depending on handling instructions. Messages can also be delivered by hand or via message carrier, including the postal service, however Part 97 dictates that ham radio operators cannot receive financial restitution for their service. If a message is undeliverable, handling instructions may dictate that a service message be originated back to the sending station.
[from Wikipedia.org]Getting Started
Thank you for your interest in the National Traffic System. It may seem like an arcane aspect of radio communication, but get ahead of the curve and appreciate the renewed interest in trained Amateur Radio operators with traffic handling skills.
All clubs and ARES groups can promote awareness of this aspect of the hobby by re-introducing to their members how to send a basic Radiogram and repeat this exercise on, for example, a monthly basis.
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Download a Radiogram from the ARRL website here:
- https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/RADIOGRAM-2011.pdf
Please document and share your baseline capabilities, and let’s see what we can accomplish step by step over the coming months. Remember that radio is all about growth-mindset and repeatedly risking to (even awkwardly) learn new things. For whatever reasons, RI has let this skill lapse and our operators can greatly benefit from the collaboration extended to our state from Massachusetts.
Please let everyone know if you have a playbook ready to go for clubs bringing their members up to speed on sending their first Radiograms.
From this baseline skills audit, club members interested in developing or re-establishing this aspect of their emergency communication skills are encouraged to set reasonable goals for NTS learning and skills development in 2023.
Please take the time to understand why this matters with this free course material:
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NTS 2.0 – ARRL’s National Traffic System for the 21st Century
- FEMA core courses: ICS-100 and 700
- (NOTE: FEMA’s online learning platform is being updated and will be down late June to a relaunch July 14, 2023)
- ARRL course EC-001 (Section 3) – Introduction to Emergency Communication
- Section 3 – Message Handling
- RI-ARES – NTS Manual (2015)
- NOTE (June 2023): In accord with renewed interest in emergency communications preparedness on the part of amateur radio and the ARRL in particular, several of our teams have been working on encapsulation of the forms used by emergency service organizations. Forms such as the ICS-213, ARC-213, HICS-213 and the Texas STAR Form originated by emergency personnel must be deliverable exactly as sent, and to accomplish this these forms must be encapsulated within a radiogram for transmission via the National Traffic System. A great deal of thought and testing have gone into this product which will be revealed on the ARRL’s website (nts2.arrl.org). Documentation and training will be provided. While we recognize such emergency traffic will likely be sent via digital means where available, we feel it is important that voice and CW circuits must be capable and practiced in the event they are needed.
NTS Nets in Rhode Island
As we rebuild Rhode Island Traffic Handling skills, please take advantage of the collaboration offered through the MA-RI-Phone (CW & Digital) Nets- held Monday to Saturday.
- Mass Rhode Island Phone Net
- 3.978 MHz at 5PM Local Time Monday thru Saturday
NTS Leadership
ARRL-NE Assistant Dir. for Emergency Communications and Public Service – Jack Ciaccia, WM0G
Official Relay Station Appointees
Public Service Honor Roll
Each month in QST‘s Field Organization Reports column, the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognizes the efforts of Amateur Radio operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. There are chances that you’re already involved with some aspect of Amateur Radio that would apply to the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR).
Take a look at these categories and descriptions to see where your Amateur Radio activities fit in. At the end of each calendar month, just add up your qualifying points. If it reaches the 70-point level (or more), you’ve qualified for the Public Service Honor Roll! Report the good news with your call sign and monthly PSHR point total to your ARRL Section Manager or Section Traffic Manager. The ARRL section leaders, in turn, would forward the report onto ARRL Headquarters so that Headquarters staff may prepare these for listing in the Field Organization Reports segment of QST‘. [via http://www.arrl.org]
For additional details, see http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll.