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The Brass Pounders Quarterly
is an Electronic Newsletter of the ARRL National Traffic
System
Richard Webb, NF5B, editor
PUBLISHED BY TRAFFIC HANDLERS FOR TRAFFIC HANDLERS
Volume II Issue 4
Copyright 2008 by The ARRL National Traffic System
Contents
Editor's corner
NTS news briefs
From the editor's email inbox
NTS Training: The universal radiogram: still necessary and relevant
NTS outreach: HO HO HO!
NTS: Past and present, a brief history lesson
How to submit an article
Where to get BPQ
This electronic newsletter is free to all who may wish to receive it. You may
upload it to bulletin board systems; ftp sites etc. so long as no fees are
charged for access to it. Individual articles retain the copyright of the
author.
EDITOR'S CORNER
Is it time for another NTS test?
A few years ago some enterprising individuals put together a fairly good NTS
test, which tested accuracy, timeliness and other factors to gauge the
effectiveness of system wide reliability; operator training; and response times.
With some of the new modes we have available, and some new operators involved
maybe it's time to do it again.
As I recall, the way it worked was that a test originator would provide the
intended recipients a copy of the text he would send them. When they received
the message, they would compare this text against what was actually received.
They would also furnish the time and date they received the message.
To make the test work, and to truly make it a blind test, we'd need at least two
operators in each NTS area, if not more. The operators would need to send
messages within their region and area as well as outside to utilize all levels
of the system. Hopefully these operators would make sure that messages
originated utilized NTS cw, SSB, pactor/packet links etc.
Why not Winlink? Winlink could presumably eliminate numerous relay stations, and
for this exercise the objective is to see what happens to our test messages as
they travel through the system. In other words, from one's section to region to
area to TCC and back down the levels.
The key is not letting the operators handling this message know that it is one
of the test messages. Therefore, some additional operators would need to be
enlisted to originate more traffic so that it wouldn't be obvious to regulars
that this higher than normal volume of actual third party messages was part of
the NTS test. This would need to be a longer term test than just a couple of
days I would think to really be effective and meaningful.
It would seem to this writer that there is still the need for keeping the skills
of our operators sharp, and fewer opportunities to really do so. The result of
such a test if less than exemplary might just be the wake-up call that folks
need to start actually utilizing NTS again so as to keep our operators at the
state of readiness we should expect.
Of course, there may be problems with my approach. This is one reason I threw
this out as my editorial comments in this issue, so that we could possibly begin
the process of a meaningful test of our effectiveness.
So good reader, drop me a note telling me what you think about it. Let me know
your ideas too. Maybe we can start a conversation through BPQ which will result
in some meaningful testing of the system. Such testing will help net managers
and others with responsibility for emergency communications solve problems and
improve our readiness and capabilities.
We hear a lot of talk among traffic handlers about how local ARES groups don't
take an interest in traffic handling. We hear the same lament when it comes to
ARRL leadership. Along with this we see plenty of bulk book traffic advising an
operator that his/her license is about to expire, etc. We're told that if we
reject these canned texts we'll have no business at all, which has some truth to
it.
We also recognize that with cheap calling plans and the internet there is less
interest in sending a short message via amateur radio to that friend or loved
one far away. Yet, we must make some serious effort to get beyond these canned
messages and move some traffic through the system on a regular basis which
doesn't contain a canned text which is easily memorized by regular traffic
handlers. Along with this, we should take steps to assure those who utilize NTS
that their messages will be delivered accurately.
Any quality product or service is subject to quality control measures. To assure
emergency communications groups such as ARES of the reliability of NTS links is
just good sense.
This issue is being released a bit early to put some information and ideas into
the hands of regular NTS operators and others in time to make use of it this
holiday season.
Thanks for reading, and thank you for your continued support of NTS.
********
News briefs
Your editor is glad to report that Dave Knight, W4ZJY, is again back in service
after undergoing bypass surgery. Welcome back Dave, and may your recovery
continue as you
expect it to.
---
Traffic handlers can be sure now that at least one member of the ARRL board of
directors share their concerns with the state of NTS and the level of support it
gets at HQ.
Mickey Cox, K5MC, of Louisiana is now the ARRL Delta Division director.
Congratulations Mickey!
---
Coming next issue:
Finally, the promised article on sleuthing out that source of unintentional QRM
which may locally plague you. Tools and techniques to make you a better noise
detective.
Also, an article on NVIS antennas and their usefulness to the traffic handler
and emergency communicator.
In future issues: A multi-part series on effectively being a net control
station. Net control didn't show up for the daily net? Well then, as you said
when you were a kid, "tag, you're it."
********
From the editor's email inbox
A sampling of both positive and negative feedback we receive here at BPQ from
time to time will appear in BPQ. We welcome your comments suggestions and items
for publication. The editor reserves the right to edit letters to fit available
space. Even though we're an electronic newsletter, we're not trying to write a
book. Honest folks <grin>.
Send your comments to elspider@bellsouth.net and please indicate in the subject
line that this is a letter to the editor.
Now, on with the mail.
W4NTI writes:
Just read with interest the part about message handling and how our Amateur
format is good and gets the job done. Which I agree with.
However here in Calhoun county Alabama. And I am reasonably sure in a lot of
other places the format has ceased to exist. What has replaced it is a rambling
discourse such as this;
Going to Mr. Jones in New Orleans,
Mister Jones your neighbor, a Miss Judy Smith wants you to know that your dog
and cat are both dead.
I want to know what you would like me to do with the stinky bodies?
Since the phone is out maybe you can talk to the ham there and send it that way.
Thank you so much, the smell is terrible.
And off it goes.
I've seen just what Dan
describes above all too often. This shows us that proper training is important.
It might be thought that what we see is a lack of proper training and guidance
from leadership. Before we pick on leadership though let's put the blame where
it truly belongs. All the ops who don't want to participate regularly in proper
training. They don't want to originate traffic, and don't come to the nets
willing to handle traffic. Yet when the stuff hits the proverbial fan these
folks come out of the woodwork and want to be seen as helping out. Yes, I place
some of the blame on leadership, from the national on down to the local level.
My complaints about what isn't taught, or tested for in the emergency
communications courses from ARRL are already known to readers, so we won't even
go there. But, a bigger part of the problem is all these people who don't wish
to receive what training is available but fire up the rig whenever there's
something going on so that their call signs can be heard.
Yes, I've been told, "it's only a hobby, and these are just volunteers." I have
two responses to that statement.
First and foremost, I don't see anything about a "hobby" in part 97 of the FCC
rules. I see a lot of discussion of a "service" however.
Part two goes like this. If you live where fire and emergency medical services
are provided by a volunteer fire department you expect personnel to seek out and
participate in proper training. We should expect no less of the amateur
operators who wish to participate as emergency communicators. That means
learning how to conduct yourself on a network, formatting and transferring a
radiogram, etc. If you don't want to take the time to train, shut the radio off
and go do something else. If you don't want to train, don't offer to deploy.
It's that simple. Get training, or get away from the activity and let those who
have taken the time and made the effort do what needs to be done for those we
serve.
Yes I'm rather blunt about it. I still remember trying to arrange a MedEvac for
a mother and child on an emergency net at 5:00 A.M. on September 3, 2005 from
University Hospital New Orleans. After finally getting net control to do his
job, and exert some "control" of the net, and getting the know nothing operators
out of the way I was able to communicate with somebody who was able to get
things moving. I had a very limited time window in which to get this
accomplished, or mother and unborn child would both die. I had one means at my
disposal, and that was high frequency amateur radio. This isn't a game
folks!
The two essential skills: properly handling a piece of traffic, and conducting
oneself properly on a controlled net are the most important. I hear a lot of
talk about how awards pursuits and contesting shape good emergency
communicators, but a couple of facets are missing from those operations.
Yes, the contester can utilize those skills as a good NCS as he's accustomed to
picking out those call signs in environments that are not good, i.e. lots of
QRM, etc. The problem is then making the judgment calls that need to be made
that contribute to a well run net.
This is not to say you shouldn't take part in awards pursuits and contesting.
Quite the opposite. I happen to enjoy those activities as well. Yet we do our
newer hams a disservice if we don't keep making the offers to provide them the
proper training they need.
So, finally Dan, help be a part of the solution and offer to help train those
newcomers in your part of the world who don't know how to handle a piece of
traffic properly. Chances are you're going to be politely turned aside, but
sooner or later, one or two will show an interest.
I think the phrase goes something like this: "Each one teach one."
********
The Universal radiogram: still necessary and relevant
If you happen to be a reader of EmComm Monthly you've heard this drumbeat
before. If you're not a reader, check it out. If you happen to be in ARES
leadership, this article might be of assistance to you when it comes time to do
some educating.
First and foremost: IT is not the "NTS" format. the radiogram format is
universal, changed little from the early days of radio. I have few doubts that
it's changed little from the days of telegraphy over wires. Don't hit that page
down button just yet or flip the page if you print this out. Let's look at why
it hasn't changed before you dismiss it as antiquated and blindly follow the
lead of the nonexperts into using formats not quite suitable for our purposes.
The radiogram is formatted in such a way as to provide for the needs of the
sender; the recipient and any intervening relay stations in its travels from
sender to recipient. The "fields" for those more attuned to database programming
are designed so as to provide a standardized method of handling these. A
receiving operator knows what to expect next when copying, and can easily
request missing pieces that may not have been copied correctly due to fading or
local interference.
These " fields" offer another advantage. The radiogram is easily accessed for
reference after it has been handled if the need should arise. Each message has a
unique serial number along with the precedence, i.e. routine, priority, etc.
Along with the originating callsign these two fields allow any station along the
chain of custody to quickly refer back to that message and ascertain its
disposition. This audit trail is further enhanced by the group count which tells
operators along its path how many groups, notice I didn't say words are
contained within the text.
The addressee block contains enough information to ensure delivery, whether by
phone, courier or postal mail. Note no field for an internet address has been
added. Delivery by internet is felt by many to be akin to leaving the message on
an answering machine, or slipping a slip of paper into the crack in the screen
door and walking away. NO courier would keep his or her job very long delivering
items by just slipping them in a crack in the door and walking away. Delivery
happens when you either speak to the recipient directly or place it in the hands
of someone proximate to said recipient, i.e. a family member or coworker.
Finally, the signature block enables authentication of the message. You
know with certainty that Uncle Don said happy birthday, or that Bob Jones the
fire chief asked for that water pump to be sent.
Newly developed interoffice speed memos are all the rage these days. Many
agencies are asking trained communicators to forego use of the universal
radiogram in favor of these. Different schemes have been proposed for adding the
relevant information to them to provide the reliability and verifiability of the
radiogram. They might work reliably for some. I'll do it if I'm given no choice
because those I serve insist on giving me one of these 213 forms. However, I
feel that educating these officials is the better approach. I usually will start
my educational pitch something like this:
"You don't tell your doctor what tools and techniques to use to diagnose your
problem." Though your mechanic can use a vise grip or other apparent universal
tool to loosen that fastener you'd prefer that he or she get the proper sized
wrench from the toolbox so as not to round off that nut. I know what tools I
need to do the job properly and provide you the service you should expect.
Allow me to use them. To do my job properly for you I'm going to have to modify
your speed memo and I'm going to need information it doesn't provide. Please
utilize this form and transcribe it from your speed memo form if it must leave
your office via radio so that I can better serve you. At least, allow me or my
intake person to transcribe your speed memo to a proper radiogram format."
You can then explain that other than the field for emergency priority, etc.
You'll fill in the rest, such as the number, and check fields. If you spend some
time educating those who would rather you use their speed memo forms you'll find
that they're receptive. If they've asked you to be there to assist them they
know that you bring adaptability and resourcefulness to the table already. They
should allow you to use proven tools and techniques to get your job done.
I also explain to folks that these speed memos aren't known to those with whom I
must communicate, and are likely to change to a new flavor of the month the next
time some bureaucrat gets a bright idea. As with most things in bureaucracies
such as the requisite forms these speed memos will be replaced with something
else, maybe next week, next month, or next year. Meanwhile our radio operators
will still be using the standard radiogram, as did the military and maritime
operators in days of old. They worked reliably then, and they still do today.
Finally, next time you hear "the NTS radiogram format" please correct the
mistaken impression of the speaker by explaining that the universal radiogram
format predates the national traffic system by decades. If these statements are
coming from other radio amateurs who intend to be part of your emergency
operations provide them other training modules which have been published here in
BPQ. Tell them to read through them a couple times, and make sure they get
an opportunity to practice what you've taught.
********
HO HO HO!
With the holidays come an opportunity to introduce amateur radio (and
radiograms) to some of the uninitiated. You can give a good third party message
to that new ham to deliver or relay. The holidays usually cause a few to be
generated.
Still not enough? Well, let's talk a bit about strategies for generating a few
yourself this holiday season. When gathering with loved ones this holiday season
offer to send a few messages to those who couldn't be there. Yes, even Grandma's
got an internet account these days, but she'll be impressed that the gang wanted
to send her a short message that wouldn't get lost in all the spam and forwarded
jokes from her pals wintering in Florida.
Then there's an opportunity for the old fashioned message fair which we've
discussed here before. set up a station at the local shopping center, or take
your emergency response van or trailer to the parking lot of the local Wal Mart.
When it gets close to Christmas you can offer something in addition to the "send
a radiogram" displays. Many of the service nets on the HF bands operate what
they call a "Santa Clause net" on another frequency in their band of operation.
Groups known by this writer to do this are MIDCARS on 40 meters; mmsn/intercon
on 14300 kHz. Others may as well.
Usually you tune to the regular net frequency and listen for announcements by
NCS where Santa Claus is parked and taking calls from the kids. Some "Santa's"
go all out with the sound effects, making the little ones think they're hearing
all the activity around Santa's workshop.
Combine this with the regular message fair and you have a display that's sure to
draw some people in.
Not doing a message fair? Let the little ones visiting talk to Santa from your
house, then talk to your adult visitors about emergency communications, training
and why ham radio is important. Then offer to send some messages to those who
couldn't be a part of your gathering this year.
Spending a little energy this holiday season soliciting good third party
messages can pay great dividends for NTS as a whole. Training opportunities are
few with this bulk book traffic and newcomers are either scared away by the
jargon or discouraged by the older experienced hands. we can use this holiday
season to revitalize the system if we have good message traffic.
The flip side of this coin is that your neighbors and friends will gain a bit of
understanding when it comes to all those radios and antennas at your house, and
in your car.
So, fire up your imagination along with the rig this holiday season and help the
NTS nets demonstrate their relevance to the public, and to those hams that can't
quite get the motivation to get involved.
If you go to your section or region net regularly remember that it's considered
bad form to attend the potluck dinner without bringing something. Consider your
local traffic net in the same light. Try to contribute some high quality message
traffic to the nets this holiday season.
BPQ features
NTS: Past and present, a brief history lesson
Newcomers to amateur radio might find it interesting to note how the current NTS
system came to be. It's likely that some have wondered how this occurred, and
why.
As we all know, most working systems were not created out of a vacuum. As with
most systems and procedures there had to be earlier methods used and refined to
get to the current practices and procedures.
The current system as we know it didn't start out that way. In days of old when
radio amateurs were bold and built their own gear there was a system of trunk
lines crisscrossing the country. These trunk lines were basically straight line
paths that connected the major metropolitan areas. According to George Hart,
W1NJM, one of the founders of the National Traffic System there were fourteen
trunk lines in the U.S. and one in Canada at the time amateur radio was shut
down for the second world war. These trunk lines were developed by Hiram Percy
Maxim, founder of ARRL and were fostered and encouraged by the league.
This writer has heard more than one version of the story. The one most often
heard states that Hiram wanted to acquire a rare vacuum tube for a piece of
equipment and needed to inquire about its availability. So, he sent a message to
a friend, who relayed it to another, etc. until the message reached the locale
of the vendor of the sought vacuum tube. The vendor was contacted, the
information acquired and a return message sent on its journey back to Mr. Maxim.
Thus, the birth of the trunk lines.
Each trunk line station kept two schedules per day to move traffic. some manned
more than one trunk line if they were strategically placed to serve two.
frequency stability was the exception rather than the rule of course. Making and
keeping schedules was difficult at best.
George and some others had been considering ways to improve on the system. After
the war when ham radio started up again they put their minds to it again. The
present system as we know it, traffic moving from section to region to area to
TCC was devised back in the 1950's to facilitate the movement of traffic. The
equipment was improving and with this improvement came more operators, including
some who'd learned the art of radio in the war. Equipment which offered
frequency stability allowed nets to spring up, and with target operating
frequencies more operators could be enlisted to facilitate the movement of
traffic across the country. the first implementations of course were cw nets and
schedules, with phone operations coming later.
The current system has evolved even further with pactor bulletin boards and
Winlink. With these expanded routing topologies it's important for those of us
who are active in traffic handling and public service to continue to support and
maintain the regular section region area TCC topology using SSB and Morse.
Although the email via radio methods are quite handy they are still essentially
point to point systems, similar in some respects to the trunk line system of
yesteryear.
Once traffic is sent to another station utilizing these systems it must be
picked up and either sent on or delivered by the recipient of the email.
Contrast this with listing traffic on a net where if the usual liaison station
is missing another can volunteer to fill the hole and take on the liaison
assignment for the missing operator. When the system is providing disaster
communications, even health and welfare messages from the affected area this may
be preferable to sending traffic in the blind via the internet. NTS operators
who can be certain of timely movement of traffic can then pick up such traffic
from regular NTS nets for routing via Winlink etc.
By supporting the current NTS structure of scheduled nets and TCC schedules we
insure the continued viability of the system and provide newcomers and
experienced traffic handlers alike an opportunity to train and maintain their
level of readiness.
Why do I mention this? Because, at the time of this writing the system already
appears to be breaking down at least in the central part of the country. If you
tune to the published frequencies at the published meeting times for region nets
for NTS regions 9 and 10 during the daytime you'll not hear a region net in
operation.
These missing pieces deprive the system of outlets to move traffic effectively
and in a timely manner. Along with providing outlets for inbound and outbound
traffic they provide the system trained operators who could be called upon to
fill TCC and other liaison positions.
The pioneers who improved the system by shepherding its evolution from the trunk
line system of yesteryear to the system as it exists today would be more than
disappointed to see their work undone due to apathy. They understood some
fundamental truths. Among them were:
The section > region > area > TCC topology combined with the cyclical operating
schedule allows traffic to move rapidly from originator to destination.
This cyclical schedule permitted operators to gain skills and proficiencies
enabling the system to have an available pool of trained operators to accept
assignments as liaisons, net controls and net managers. Without all levels
functioning smoothly we starve the next level above in the hierarchy and deprive
the level below of opportunities to move traffic efficiently and provide
advanced training to interested operators.
In the central area we can already see this. Only three operators handle TCC
assignments for Central Area on a regular basis. CAN daytime NCS is filled 99%
of the time by one operator. Participation by regions 9 and 10 are virtually
nonexistent. The solutions to the problems presented by the old trunk lines
worked well for the better part of half a century, and can continue to do so, if
those of us with an interest in the health of the system continue to support
them. If we don't, we'll be taking a large step backward in time to the days
when point to point relaying of message traffic could be accomplished only if a
few diligent operators continued to faithfully do their part. The advantages in
the current system as seen by those who developed it will be lost to us.
********
How to submit an article
Send a file attach of a straight ASCII file to the editor at
elspider@bellsouth.net for
inclusion.
Brief items for our news section should be sent as a regular email.
Again, attach plain ASCII files only. If using MS Word choose the save-as option
to save as plain text, possibly called dos text. Check your favorite word
processor's documentation on creating ASCII files.
No graphics files, pdf etcetera please!
This electronic newsletter is
intended to be machine readable. This newsletter may be distributed on packet
and other radio systems where system operators and relay stations wish to
closely monitor content of transmissions. It is intended to be platform
independent which is not possible with graphical file formats. Even the operator
with the old commodore or Apple II should be able to read this newsletter, or
the fellow using the old dumb terminal. Text to speech systems etcetera should
have no problems reading this newsletter.
If possible use a file extension of .art for your article. If it fits one of
these categories use the category name as the file name. Regular categories for
which we seek articles are as follows:
General : articles of general interest to traffic handlers. Use a file name of
general.art
Training : Articles regarding training hints and tips. As above, use
training.art if possible.
Outreach : articles on ways to reach out to the public and promote NTS and
amateur radio message handling capabilities. As with the above examples,
outreach.art.
Using these naming conventions allows your editor to automatically process your
article.
Type the title twice, the first time at left margin preceded by a * character.
The second time centered as you'd like it to appear. The line with the * will be
used to automatically build a table of contents and the asterisk removed. Your
article will then appear with title centered.
Immediately below the centered title please place your name and call sign so
that folks will know who authored the article. If you have an email address
please provide it as well. Though often these can be looked up the information
provided in call sign databases is often incorrect. If you are a net manager or
hold an ARRL field organization position please provide this information as
well.
If possible keep line lengths to 70 characters or fewer. Again remember that we
are attempting to be platform independent. Many of our readers will wish to view
this on their screens instead of printing it out.
If you cannot save your article as plain text paste the text into an email and
send it. Your editor will do his best to format it properly for display on most
computer systems. If you do this state in the subject line that text enclosed in
email is an article for BPQ.
Although you retain the copyright on your work, submission of any articles
implies permission to publish them in BPQ and distribute said work
electronically without remuneration to you or BPQ. No fee may be charged to
receive BPQ.
Where to get BPQ
Many fine internet connected bulletin boards also carry BPQ in the hamnews file
area as a zip file using the same naming conventions as the text files within
them. These files are distributed by the ham-fdn and the International FIlegate
Project. Visit www.filegate.net/
FidoNet: Many fine bulletin board systems available via telnet www and dial-up
can link to the ham-fdn described above. If you don't see it on your favorite
fido board ask the sysop to link to the hamnews area through his/her regular
files link.
The headquarters of the ham-fdn can be accessed as follows:
Waldo's place USA. modem 12am-6pm EST. (919) 774-5930
telnet://bbs.wpusa.dynip.com
http://www.wpusa.dynip.com/
ftp://ftp.wpusa.dynip.com
RADIO RESCUE NET OPERATIONS BBS
Modem only 0600-1200 UTC 28.8 kbps n81 (901) 465-9921
If you are the system operator of a BBS (either landline or radio) and cannot
get BPQ through your regular links it can be sent you via email as either
regular email or a file attach. Send an email to
bpq.distro@116-901.ftn.wpusa.dynip.com
Provide your email address in the text and tell us how you'd like to receive
BPQ. Also tell us what kind of BBS system you operate, its frequencies of
operation if a packet board or its dial-up/telnet info etc. Also, please give us
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We wish to keep the email distribution list fairly small, so look to your
favorite internet dial-up or packet connections first if at all possible.
Thanks for reading and 73
Richard Webb, NF5B
Send correspondence to the editor via email using the following email address:
elspider@bellsouth.net
OR using plaintext only to:
bpq.editor@116-901.ftn.wpusa.dynip.com
All file attached article submissions should be sent to the bellsouth address .
See the earlier section on how to submit an article.
Place BPQ feedback or similar text in the subject line so that it receives
proper attention from the editor.
Reproduction of articles in club newsletters is permitted so long as BPQ and the
original author are credited.
For more information contact the
editor.
BRASS POUNDERS' QUARTERLY
Published by traffic handlers for traffic handlers
Copyright ARRL National Traffic System, electronic distribution encouraged.
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