nts2.arrl.orgNTS 2.0 – ARRL's National Traffic System for the 21st

Century May 15, 2024 NTS 2.0 ARRL’s National Traffic System for the 21st Century Home What Is NTS? History of the National Traffic System The NTS 2.0 Project Working Groups Steering Committee Digital Networks 2.0 Emergency Communications, Agency Engagement, Documentation, & Procedures Performance Standards, Assessment & Activity Reporting Recruitment, Training & Online Presence Updated Access & Delivery Methods Standards & Procedures NTS 2.0 Traffic Delivery Standard Numbered Texts HX Handling Instructions Using Radiograms to Pass Agency Forms Special Projects NTSGTE: an APRS-NTS Gateway Introducing the Radiogram Web Portal Radiogram Portal Training and Documentation ICS-213 Training ICS-213 Training Module ICS-213 Training Video Radiogram Portal Training Radiogram Portal Quick Start Introducing the Radiogram Web Portal Radiogram Portal – Functional Specification Promotional Resources Contribute Your IdeasPublicity and Outreach / Updated Access & Delivery Methods Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, Featured on QSO Today March 20, 2024 March 22, 2024 - by admin Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, Ridgefield, Connecticut, inventor of the highly popular program EchoLink,” was featured as guest on the QSO Today podcast, episode #487 . Taylor is also author of the NTS 2.0 Radiogram Portal web application. From QSO Today: Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, has reached his 50th year has a ham radio operator, is the creator of Echolink, one of the first amateur radio Voice over Internet Service linking amateur radio stations, the receiver of technical innovation awards, and author of ‘VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs,’ now in its second edition. K1RFD checks all of the ham radio boxes for operating, homebrewing, software development, radio restoration, and is my QSO Today.” Digital Networks / Updated Access & Delivery Methods NTSGTE: an APRS-NTS Gateway October 11, 2023 October 11, 2023 - by admin You can now use APRS to send a radiogram through the NTS gateway. 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. This service can be useful in situations where you need to send a radiogram but are unable to check in to a traditional NTS net. [ Details ] NTS Letter / Recruitment, Training & Online Presence ARRL Launches the NTS Letter October 10, 2023 December 20, 2023 - by admin From ARRL News: 10/06/2023 – There’s a new newsletter in the ARRL repertoire as of this week. The first issue of The NTS Letter was published on October 3, 2023. The NTS Letter is a monthly digest of all things related to the ARRL National Traffic System®. It is edited by Marcia Forde, KW1U, who is a veteran traffic handler and serves as the Section Traffic Manager for the ARRL Eastern and Western Massachusetts and Rhode Island Sections. The NTS is network that allows for rapid movement of messages, referred to as traffic,” from origin to destination, and for training amateur operators to handle written traffic and to participate in directed nets. The network consists of the layering and sequencing of both voice and CW traffic nets, as well as a digital system that operates 24/7. This nationwide system operates 365 days a year, generally relaying routine message traffic for training purposes and for maintaining readiness if called upon in an emergency. If called upon, these operators stand ready to assist emergency communications personnel and served-agency partners in relaying welfare and other messages. It is the modern continuation of the historic radio relay” from ARRL’s founding in 1914. Director of the ARRL New England Division, Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, said the NTS is a great way to get involved in emergency communications. Newly licensed and experienced amateurs alike who participate in NTS find satisfaction and enjoyment in learning the skills of sending and receiving concise written voice and CW traffic in an organized, on-air network. It’s a natural complement to the skills and training one needs to become an effective emergency communicator and Amateur Radio Emergency Service® volunteer. Plus, it’s an opportunity to meet new friends, and it’s fun!” said Kemmerer. The NTS Letter is published monthly and is free of charge to ARRL members. Members can subscribe at arrl.org/opt-in-out by selecting edit” to view all of their subscription preferences (members need to be logged in to their ARRL website account to do this). Publicity and Outreach Update on NTS 2.0 Modernization Project June 11, 2023 June 11, 2023 - by admin Marcia Forde, KW1U, writes: The following update on the NTS 2.0 modernization project was recently sent to all ARRL Section Managers and Section Traffic Managers for dissemination to traffic handlers in their areas. More information can be found on the new website nts2.arrl.org under the Standards and Procedures tab. Information on handling instructions and numbered radiograms is available now and information on the encapsulation radiograms for emergency communications will be there soon. There is also a tab To Contribute Your Ideas if you wish to contribute those. Greetings to all STMs and SMs, It was brought to my attention that little to nothing has been disseminated regarding progress on the part of the NTS 2.0 teams. My apologies for not keeping folks better up to date. You are aware that we held briefings throughout the various ARRL divisions during the latter part of 2022, and enlisted the help of 35 to 40 volunteers. Each was assigned to one or more of five implementation teams who have met weekly since the beginning of 2023. We have been able to secure a page on the ARRL website to inform you of the ongoing projects, but it is only recently that we are now able to share some results of these teams’ work. 1. An article on NTS has been published in the July issue of QST which you may have received already. We are grateful to the editors of QST for highlighting this program and look forward to more articles in the future. 2. Perhaps highest on the minds of most folks is an update to the Net Directory. This is a major undertaking as the current directory has not been updated in recent times and the software has not been felt by many to be very user friendly. While we don’t have a finished product to show you at this time, it is important for folks to know that one of our NTS 2.0 implementation teams has drawn up a set of requirements we think various groups will want to see implemented and this has been forwarded to the IT department at ARRL. Emergency manager Josh Johnston KE5MHV and the IT department have been pleased with our work and are now working with us to develop a product we hope you will find informative and easy to use. It will take a little time yet before you will see a finished product as the entire website at ARRL is in the process of being updated. We want you to know however that definite progress is being made, so we ask for your patience and hope you will be happy with the new net directory once it has been completed. 3. 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. 4. Because of the above mentioned use of emergency type traffic,...