An Electronic NEwsletter of the ARRL National Traffic System Richard WEbb, nf5b, editor PUBLISHED BY TRAFFIC HANDLERS FOR TRAFIC HANDLERS NTS Region area and tcc stats: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/NTS-stats.xls NTS resources web page: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pubservice.html#ntsr Volume III Issue 3 COpyright 2009 by THe ARRL National Traffic SYstem Contents Editor's corner NTS news briefs From the editor's email inbox General articles: NTS Nuts and Bolts NTS Training: The ITU phonetic alphabet, learn it, love it! BPQ features: A conversation with ae5v 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 ******** Yes, another committee. HERe's why Anybody who's read the works of Lawrence Peter, the man who brought the world the Peter principle knows his definition of a committee. MR. Peter posits that a committee is: "a group of people, appointed by the unwilling to do the unnecessary." There are times that a committee is just what is needed however. Some projects just won't happen without a group of people tasked with getting the job done. High quality managers and leaders know when this is so, and choose individuals with the skills necessary to "git 'r done" as Larry the cable guy would say. AT the Arrl board meeting this last July it was proposed that an emergency communications advisory committee be formed by the league. The proposal failed. I'm sure the proposal will be brought up again, and here are my thoughts on why it should be approved. Anybody who hasn't lived in a cave where amateur radio affairs are concerned is familiar with the fiasco over the Red Cross MOU and what type of background checks they demanded from communications volunteers. Had there been an emcomm advisory committee such a group would have provided valuable input to ARRL HQ before they accepted those terms, then had to go back and renegotiate because the bulk of the amateur committee dug in our heels and said no. The attitude displayed by many toward this issue is that essentially emcomm issues should be handled in a top down fashion, with ARRL hq stating what they think should be priorities and where the emphasis should be. IT seems to me that some of the priorities are a bit backwards here. I have no problem with requiring a certain competence level, including the Arrl emergency communications certification and certain fema courses. However, I do have a problem with all the emphasis being placed on rote memorization and bureaucratic definitions as opposed to actually learning techniques which you'll need when the brown stuff hits the proverbial fan. Also, it seems to me that if contesting and vhf uhf activities are important enough to merit advisory committees then emergency communications, that item first listed in the rules and regs on why an amateur radio service should merit the same treatment. The training we can provide the emergency communicator has been too long devalued and underappreciated by ARRL leaders and headquarters staff. I've said it before, and I'll keep hammering on this point, but I don't care how much bureaucracy you know, if you can't conduct yourself with discipline on radio network circuits and cannot handle a piece of traffic sent by telephony or Morse with accuracy then you have no business holding yourself out to the public and the served agencies as an emergency communicator. The example I used elsewhere in this issue when discussing this topic was the construction worker who is hired as a carpenter. HE can read blueprints quite well and do all sorts of paperwork, but if the poor guy can't drive a nail or cut a board accurately he's not much of a carpenter. The architect and the general contractor however should darned well be able to read and interpret blueprints. The general contractor is the guy who tells the folks where to dig the foundation, and where to stud up the wall. Nts and Ares leaders should have such a committee to convey to hq their ideas and concerns. Participation needs to be more than a piece of paper which says you spent some time with rote memorization. Participation means taking part in training and drills. TO get the average ham on the street to participate training needs to be meaningful, rewarding, and sometimes fun. Such training of course should consist of what we offer in traffic handling, as well as field deployment to test one's readiness and capabilities. With input from such an advisory committee ARRL staff can devise standardized training that induces that average ham to actually get involved, and really participate. Without it, one cannot count on much from groups such as ares except that there are names on a roster. An emcomm advisory committee can provide an important bridge between those average hams, nts leaders and the folks at hq. Meaningful training builds greater participation and hones skills actually put to use when the big one hits and we're pressed into service. IT's high time that emergency communications and public service are given more than lip service and more bureaucracy by the staff at arrl hq. It's time for our elected leaders to recognize that those of us out here in the trenches who are serious aren't their adversaries when it comes to training and certification. WE want the agencies to perceive us as a high quality resource they can call upon. But, we want more than the perception, we want it to be the reality that shows itself when we are called. Nearly a century of learning is being lost to us as our old traffic handlers die off or can no longer participate. The cure is better training, and utilizing the training resources already developed effectively. I am quite tired of being told that this facet of amateur radio is outmoded and irrelevant while working to teach lids elementary lessons in circuit discipline on nets I work with. I'm no longer willing to pay my dues to see many people I've grown to respect over the years disrespected and denigrated by the folks whose salaries we pay with our dues. Nearly a century of refinement and development has taken place in formulating the procedures we utilize to get that message through and provide the services that the agencies will need when that stuff hits the fan. if our input isn't desirable then our money isn't either. If the feedback from the folks actually doing the work of providing the service isn't sought then there is no way that the folks who administer emergency communications programs can adjust to changing conditions and provide meaningful relevant training to those interested in serving. Our board of directors and the staff at hq need to remember that we are indeed volunteers. Many of us are extremely dedicated to this facet of amateur radio. IF we weren't, we wouldn't be building on the skills taught us by those who came before, refining and adapting those skills to keep up with technology and changing conditions and requirements. WE are not adversaries, we're the folks out on the sharp end of the rope, and we ask for the respect of the leaders and the administrators whose salaries we pay. WE don't just ask for it, we require it! Think the previous paragraph a bit harsh? COnsider this before you make that judgment. OUr program administrators in NEwington need to develop programs that get the job done. The job in this case is serving the public, both generally and the agencies whom we expect to call upon us when we can be utilized. They need the feedback, both positive and negative that such an advisory committee can provide them. YEs, they can tell us what they interpret the needs of the served agencies to be, and we can help them develop the training and other programs that enable us to get the job done when they call upon us. The programs they develop will be more effective, and the service we provide the public improved. Brief news items We regret to report the recent passing of two NTS stalwarts. A couple months back Jim least, kb5w became a silent key. ON August 8 we received news that DAve Knight w4zjy had become a silent key. OUr thoughts and prayers are with the families of these two fine gentlemen. ----- The passing of the two mentioned above leaves a few holes in central area staff. We're going to need a digital coordinator, as well as tcc director for cycles 1 and 2. ----- A note from the administrator of the NTSD equipment bank. DAve wb2ftx can be reached at wb2ftx@optonline.net if you can help with this effort. The EA NTSD equipment bank will be empty after the delivery of the latest requested Pactor 1 compatible PK-232MBX TNCs.. As you may know many of our operators have used the services of this bank to start their NTSD participation efforts. At this point, we need either an infusion of Pactor 1 capable TNCs (or those that can be upgraded to this capabilty via a firmware upgrade for which I can burn eproms) or cash to continue to procure additional PK-232 MBX TNCs from used sources such as Ebay, Eham, QRZ, or QTH classifieds. So if you have any PK-232MBXs sittting around on would like to contribute cash for more acquisitions please let me know. I think I and the operators who have previously received loans from the bank would appreciate it... Also if you are considering upgrading your operation to Pactor 2 or 3 with an SCS modem, consider donating your present TNC to the equipment bank... Also if you are considering upgrading let me know... As I scour the equipment sale listings I occasionally find an SCS modem at a reasonable price. I can get this info to you if you are sincerely and fanatically interested in upgrading your operation and capabilities. 73 Dave WB2FTX ----- COming soon in bpq: Dabbling in computer aided morse code? Tune into, and participate in your cw section net. Even if you don't think you'll ever use MOrse regularly the basic structure of a cw net can facilitate nets using such modes as psk31 and other real time keyboard to keyboard methods. NOt just will you learn a valuable technique, but if your decoding equipment is reliable you might be that scarce resource your cw net needs. ******** 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 . 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. k4pg writes: HOW TO LIMIT BULK TRAFFIC ON OUR NETS I HAVE BEEN A TRAFFIC HANDLER SINCE 1961 WHILE IN THE NAVY SERVING ON MIDWAY ISLAND. BOY, DID I HANDLE TRAFFIC! BETWEEN TYPHOONS HITTING GUAM, AND REGULAR NAVY COMMS, I HANDLED TRAFFIC. UPON LEAVING THE NAVY MY HAM RADIO GRADUALLY BECAME MY TRAFFIC FRIEND. I WORKED AND WENT TO COLLEGE, USING MY RADIO FROM TIME TO TIME. I WAS MARRIED IN 1967 AND SETTLED DOWN. HAM RADIO AND TRAFFIC HANDLING BECAME PART OF MY LIFE FROM THAT TIME ON (HT-37, DRAKE 2BQ AND INVERTED VEE). NEVER IN ALL OF THIS TIME DID I EVER HEAR, READ, OR EXPERIENCE A TRAFFIC OP BEING ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT TRAFFFIC HE OR SHE WILL TAKE OR NOT TAKE, WILL DELIVER OR NOT DELIVER! IF YOU QNI A NET AND YOU TAKE TRAFFIC, YOU HAVE COMMITTED YOURSELF TO RELAYING THAT MESSAGE OR DELIVERING THAT MESSAGE. NO CHOICES HERE. OURS IS NOT TO PICK AND CHOOSE. IF WE TAKE IT, WE HANDLE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END AND HONOR THE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS. CHOOSING NOT TO HANDLE THE TRAFFIC IS A DIFFERENT MATTER. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE BOOK IS? DO YOU ASK NCS? NOW I SEE THE QNI ASKING NCS, "IS THIS AN IQI MESSAGE"? NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, OR I SHOULD SAY, NCS SHOULD NOT LET IT HAPPEN! ALL OF THE TIME I HEAR TRAFFIC LISTED AS "A BOOK OF 4." THE MANUAL SAYS LIST TRAFFIC, NOT BOOKS. NCS SENDS THE STATIONS OFF FREQUENCY TO MOVE THE TRAFFIC. RECEIVING STATION STARTS TO COPY AND SEES THE TRAFFIC IS BULK FROM NKD, BREAKS AND SAYS NO OUTLET, SORRY, BACK TO NET. A SVC MESSAGE GOES BACK TO NKD FROM THE RELAYING STATION, NO OUTLET. ALL OF THIS IS WITHIN THE RULES, BUT IS IT REALLY PROPER, OR PROFESSIONAL (AS FAR AS AN AMATEUR CAN BE PROFESSIONAL)? I MIGHT DECIDE I WILL NO LONGER TAKE ANY WB0AAA TRAFFIC BECAUSE IN MY OPINION IT IS TOO SILLY (IT HAS HAPPENED), OR W1AAA TRAFFIC BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOULD GO THROUGH COMMERCIAL CHANNELS SINCE IT DEALS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ARRIVAL AT AN AIRPORT (WRONG OF COURSE). WHY DON'T WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND LEGISLATE AWAY THIS TRAFFIC; THAT WILL FIX IT...WHAT DO YOU DO IF THE ORIGINATORS KEEP SENDING IT? FINE THEM? SEND THEM NASTY LETTERS ABOUT BREAKING THE RULES; QRM THEM ON THE NETS? COME ON! I DO NOT LIKE THESE MESSAGES ANY MORE THAN YOU DO, BUT WHEN I TAKE ONE, I HAVE PLEDGED MY AMATEUR EXPERTISE AND PROMISE TO RELAY IT, DELIVER IT, AND SERVICE IT BACK TO THE ORIGINATOR AS SET OUT IN THE PREAMBLE OR TEXT. I CANNOT, AND DO NOT CHANGE THE TEXT, ALTER THE SPELLING, ADD WORDS, OR DELETE WORDS. I COPY 100 PERCENT CORRECTLY, ASK FOR CONFIRMATIONS, CHECK COUNT, AND WHEN I ROGER IT, I OWN IT. START SENDING GOOD MESSAGES, A LOT OF GOOD MESSAGES. GET OUT THE FAMILY ADDRESS BOOK AND START ORIGNATING MESSAGES. GO TO SCHOOL FUNCTIONS, TOWN FUNCTIONS, AND SET UP A TABLE AND TAKE MESSAGES. ASK NEIGHBORS FOR MESSAGES; SEND A MESSAGE TO ALL OF YOUR QSO'S. YOU KNOW THE DRILL. I AM ALWAYS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN I GET A MESSAGE THAT IS NOT PRINTED ON MY LIST OF BOOK TRAFFIC FOR SPECIFIC CALL SIGNS. I GET A HAPPY FACE. ISN'T THAT A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS? MIght be, but we've allowed this to happen. AS you and others note, the answer is not killing traffic in transit. That's not the sort of thing we should be doing while providing a service. The solution is twofold. First, we must do a bit of educating, not just of the bulk traffic originators, but the general ham public. We must be active in showing them how using radiograms can enhance their awards chasing and other ham radio activities. Make sure that address is good in the database before you send that qsl card. Along with doing this, he's providing high quality training for his ham radio brethren. Again, the name of the game is outreach. A bit of, if you'll excuse the term, evangelism. Talk up the system and its capabilities at your favorite ham radio gatherings. Really truly get involved with your local ares organization and make that offer to provide proper training in message handling, and that offer to be a local outlet for traffic. NO takers? Make that offer again. Throw enough mud at the wall some is going to stick. ******** NTS Nuts and BOlts AS noted elsewhere we've been undergoing some changes here in the central area of NTS. Some of these changes are newcomers stepping up to the plate and filling important positions. So, for those newcomers, a description of the system, how it operates and how it operated in the past. Current system topology is as follows: Traffic moves from its point of origin to the section level, then to a region level network or distribution point if bound outside the section. IF bound outside the region traffic moves to an area net or distribution point, and then in many cases to a station which is part of the Transcontinental cOrps. TO provide you with an analogy, consider what you might do if you live in a small town in Illinois. YOu don't wish to drive, but you want to travel to Los Angeles. YOur trip might start by taking a taxi to your local bus terminal. THe tadxi in this case is analogous to the originating station. YOur trip continues from the local bus terminal on a bus to Chicago. AT Chicago the bus might drop you off at the airport, or you'll have to engage transport to the airport. AT the airport other long distance travelers such as yourself are all gathered together, and they in turn board the plane to Los Angeles with you. This is akin to the region area and tcc topology. Traffic from a section is gathered by a representative to the region net. Traffic bound outside the region is gathered by a representative from the region level net to the area net. At the area net traffic bound outside the area of the country represented is put in the hands of appropriate Transcontinental Corps stations. Areas are based roughly on time zone boundaries, i.e. Eastern covers the eastern time zone and U.s. and Canada possessions in the Atlantic. Central area encompasses the central time zone. Pacific includes the mountain and Pacific time zones, and any U.s> and CAnada possessions in the pacific. Traffic moves between areas on phone and cw utilizing tcc stations keeping appropriate schedules with each other. Although NTSD doesn't have the tcc component nTSD works on the principle of hubs at the various levels. The current system as we know it was developed in the 1950's with the phone components for cycles 1 and 2 added in the 1960's. The theory behind current operating practice is rather simple, and actually quite effective given minimal levels of staffing. The cyclical operating periods allow for two sessions of a section net as well as a region net, with a session of the area network. OF course, not all parts of the country operate all four cycles, but during a large scale emergency or disaster cyclic operation can be instituted with predictable results, i.e. operators would know where and when to find section and region nets and be able to get traffic moved effectively. OF course, it wasn't always this way. a system of trunk lines covered 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. IN the beginning: Hiram PERcy Maxim, the founder of ARRL 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 Hart and 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 efficient movement of traffic. AS currently designed the system enables a message originated on one coast to be in the vicinity of its destination within the same day. This can only work if there is sufficient manpower to move the traffic. COnsiderations for net managers: Even when operating under routine conditions net managers will want to encourage volunteers to be liaisons to the next net in the hierarchy, as well as stations with capability to move traffic to other modes and cycles of operation at the same level. I.e. the late daytime region net should endeavor to have a station present who can take any traffic which didn't have an outlet on to the nighttime cycle of the region net, or to ntsd for further handling. LIkewise, the second nighttime session of the region net should endeavor to appoint a liaison for the early daytime region net. Primarily digital stations will want to endeavor to move traffic not finding an outlet to region and section participants using phone and cw in a timely fashion as well. THis requires that a net manager get to know his or her regulars, their capabilities and interests. THis will enable him to find mentors for newcomers wishing to gain experience with unfamiliar modes and techniques, gaining more personnel equipped to provide service between cycles and modes. ******** The ITU phonetic alphabet, learn it, love it! A few decades ago the ITU phonetic alphabet, and the phonetic alphabet used in civil aviation communications changed. Although you'll still hear the old phonetic alphabet in use the new one is the one most of us are familiar with. Still, I'll encounter oldtimers who remember, and use the old school phonetic alphabet. To add to the confusion, that isn't the only phonetic alphabet in widespread use. The standard ITU phonetics as currently formulated are the better tool for our uses as traffic handlers and emergency communicators however. A few decades ago the ITU and the INternational civil aviation organization recognized that they could do better, and the standard phonetic alphabet they use was updated to reflect their thinking. For the newcomers there's probably a question in their minds why it had to be changed, and yet old curmudgeons like myself keep preaching learn and use the ITU phonetic alphabet. LEt's consider first the job that a phonetic alphabet is supposed to do for radio communicators using telephony. A phonetic alphabet assist you in spelling words that might be misconstrued, or conveying a call sign accurately. IN other words, it helps you communicate effectively by removing ambiguity and saves time. Fewer repeats are necessary if one spells possibly unfamiliar words out, and phonetics are a necessary part of this process. I'm not even sure at this point that I can remember all the old phonetic alphabet, but I can tell you that many of the letter representations in the newer version were changed so as to make it easier for them to be copied and understood correctly under difficult conditions. ONe way this was accomplished was by using multiple syllable words where the older standard used many single syllable words. Take for example the letter J. The old phonetic was jig. We all remember dancing the jig, but easy to miss in noisy conditions. So, the present ITU phonetic alphabet uses Juliet. Same with Y. The old phonetic for Y was yoke. The current version uses yankee. Nancy was changed to November, tear for tango. Two single syllable words remain in the current ITU phonetic alphabet, golf and Mike. There used to be quite a few more. Some of the two syllable words have been supplanted with words of three syllables. NOt just do we have confusion between the old and newer itu phonetic alphabet, but many from law enforcement and public safety backgrounds are familiar with the APCO phonetic alphabet as used by personnel of these agencies. Airline pilots, maritime radio operators and others do not use the Apco phonetics for a variety of reasons. The conditions for which the apco phonetic alphabet were designed are a bit different than those of the other services. Law enforcement personnel will be using their phonetic alphabet to spell names on identification documents of subjects, as well as vehicle identification information, addresses, etc. For the most part, street and other place names are going to be familiar to public safety personnel working within a locale. HEnce you aren't going to hear them spelled phonetically very often. Also, public safety personnel are accustomed to fm and repeater systems. If one is having trouble being heard move a little bit, achieve a clearer signal to dispatch or the repeater system and send it again. A ship at sea which is sinking, or an aircraft about to crash doesn't have that luxury. Along with this, there's the "not invented here" syndrome at work. Apco's phonetic alphabet was a distillation of most commonly heard and used phonetic alphabets within public safety agencies around the country. Although they utilize their version quite successfully, the Apco phonetic alphabet doesn't serve us as readily as noted earlier. Again, your author's pet phrase "horses for courses" applies. As traffic handlers we don't have the luxury the apco folks have. WE are going to be handling traffic where we aren't familiar with all the strange and varied place names we'll encounter. We're often forced to operate in less than ideal conditions, and if the receiving operator isn't cw or digital ready, or we're not then we have no choice but to send the traffic with the means available. You'll note if you listen to your local law enforcement channels that you'll hear common names used for many of the phonetics. Ida instead of INdia. Fairly close to the old ITU phonetic of item, but not quite. JOhn instead of juliet, King instead of kilo. King was in fact the old itu phonetic for k. So, as the title of this piece says, the ITU phonetic alphabet in its current form is the best tool we have at our disposal to perform its job. YEs vise grips work as a wrench when they're what you have, but the proper sized wrench works much better. Cops and firefighters use apco, but for our purposes the modern ITU phonetic alphabet works better. So, even if you learned your radio in a police cruiser or while working as an emt it's important that you learn to use the proper tool. This proper tool is the current iteration of the ITU phonetic alphabet. At this point, you're probably expecting to see the modern iteration displayed for you. IT's available from a lot of reference sources so it's easily enough found. IF you're new to the world of traffic handling check out the ARRL emergency communications level 1 course as well as other popular references. You'll find the current ITU phonetic alphabet listed in Unit 6 of ARRL Emergency Communications course level 1. IF you're an old hand, this article will hopefully explain why you should take the time to educate newcomers as to why the ITU phonetics should be used instead of the apco phonetics they heard on their police scanner. Finally, an article about phonetic alphabets wouldn't be complete without a discussion of our propensity to create cutesy phonetics for our call signs. Almost everybody has done it, if not for their own call sign then for that of a friend or family member. ON local repeaters and within local ham groups these can help newcomers familiarize themselves with regular members and add a bit of levity and humor to the daily chitchat. The problem rears its ugly head when these cutesy phonetics make their way onto hf nets. Even when casually operating or chasing dx the cutesy phonetics can present a problem. OPerators the world over are accustomed to the current ITU phonetic alphabet. I'll always remember one day while working as net control for the Maritime MObile service net. A regular, now a silent key checked in with me. HE gave his call sign, not using the phonetic alphabet the first time, which was kh6fmd. I had a rather high ambient noise level that day and I wasn't sure whether that was fmd, mmb, nmg, etc. So, I asked him to give me his call sign phonetically, as I didn't even have the prefix correct in a reliable fashion. About the only part I had clear in my mind was the numeral. So, Robbie comes back with "king Henry the sixth four muddy ducks." To which my response was, "eh?" Finally after half a dozen times I got "fox mike dog" out of him. WE then went with "is this fox mike golf?" Had he given me "foxtrot mike delta" the first time, we would have been able to move along, get his nose counted, which was why he checked in, and move on. INstead it took me at least two minutes to get his call sign logged correctly. ON a busy net this is unacceptable. Encouraging newcomers and those who've developed bad habits to learn and use the standard ITU phonetic alphabet is important. IT might mean the difference between saving a life, or losing one. If you learned your phonetics using the old itu/civil aeronautics phonetic alphabets, which were one in the same endeavor to unlearn them and learn the new ones.The civil aviation and ITU phonetic alphabets are still the same for either service, but both adopted the newer phonetic alphabet decades ago.AS one who spends a lot of time copying stations in poor conditions using ssb I can tell you that without a doubt the newer iteration is easier to get right the first time. ******** A conversation with ae5v A two part series consisting of a dialogue between myself and Benson, ae5v from Louisiana. HE is an active NTSD station operator and has been a leader in central areaNTSD for a number of years. This conversation is enabling me to make some statements about where we've been with NTS, and where we might be going, as where we should be in my humble opinion. IF the rest of nTS is anything like central area we have numerous manpower shortage and public image issues needing attention. So, stay tuned, and agree or disagree with me stay in there working to improve and maintain NTS> The system needs, and deserves your continued support and participation. FIrst some comments on the previous issue's editorial. Benson used my call sign before quoted portions, and his beginning his comment. HE says: NF5B: The theory behind the ARRL field organization when it comes to EmComm is that NTS and ARES will work closely together. Again, it's not working. AE5V: NTS, ARES, and ARRL should recognize that the national message network is the NTS and not ARES. Generally there are no "ARES" traffic nets or networks beyond the local VHF nets. Would agree there, but there needs to be closer cooperation between the two. NF5B: It is high time that NTS leadership takes a stand on the bulk book traffic issue AE5V: Because the NTS leadership has chosen to not make a stand so to speak, they have loudly said it is OK and keep it up. We have what we have by the choices of the NTS Staff. INdeed they have, but many of the folks out there in the trenches have said otherwise. THere are some sections where you can't beg someone to take traffic unless you assure them a few times that it is other than this bulk book traffic. I've already commented on the poor training it often represents. last June I was quite surprised, and appreciative of two good third party messages which came through morning region net. NF5B: Consider what happens when we're pushed out of the way. There will be no EmComm available to anybody that doesn't have an affiliation with some alphabet soup agency somewhere. AE5V: I do not agree. There are other groups out there and they will fill any needed gaps. Will they seek out those folks who bring health and welfare outbound from their neighbors? I was glad to have NTS outlets for some health and welfare I sent out of University HOspital NEw Orleans. INdeed, I used the nets on 14300 khz for some of that, and might have others had I the need to. ARe those other groups well enough organized? I don't believe so. Catch as catch can isn't good enough. An organized system such as NTS assures one of outlets for this traffic. YEs, I could have listed my outbound H & w on Satern, but it was more efficient for me to move them on regular NTS nets. I didn't have time to sit through a bunch of blather. I needed to get my business handled and get back to the tactical frequencies for obvious reasons. I did utilize them, as well as the Maritime MObile SErvice network for traffic I will admit. Still I utilized NTS circuits because of the potential for greater reliability. Sometimes ad hoc doesn't get it. NF5B: I have no real quarrel with it (MARS), but I do have a bit of a problem with the attitude displayed by leaders in many parts of the country that MARS is the only long haul game in town, AE5V: Army MARS is less short hop relay oriented than the NTS. PRobably so. IT's the one solution approach I have a problem with. I"m big on "belt and suspenders" in many aspects of our endeavor. Backup power sources, backup message routing, etc. NF5B: and that all EmComm is agency oriented. AE5V: I think the difference is between agency back up and H&W type messages. They are both beneficial to society. Some would say the H&W is secondary to agency communications. Probably so, but there are enough frequencies, and enough places to go for this. IF I've got tactical traffic brought to me it will of course be prioritized, but otherwise I'm going to be looking to help my neighbors out in any way I can. This might mean summoning rescue assistance for a man trapped in a building, or sending a message for my neighbor to his aunt Martha letting her know he's alright. Either way, it makes no difference to me. Both are useful to the public, and resources permitting I'd just as soon either be moved efficiently. AS has been said, "a message is a message is a message." So long as it is legal under FCC rules I'll give it the same level of care. By accepting the message I agreed to exercise diligence in moving it to its destination. IF I am unwilling or unable to do that then I either should not have accepted the message, or I should endeavor to return it to the originator with an apology, or get it into the hands of someone who can. I'm not assured of "somebody who can" when I go to one of the ad hoc nets and hear some guy who sounds like he just migrated over from the CB band and has trouble even copying the text accurately. NF5B: We should not be placed in an adversarial role with MARS folks! AE5V: And I don't think Army MARS wants to do anything but be complimentary and share manpower and other resources with the amateur community. THis isn't a leadership position within mars, but happens more in some localities. IT's not a leadership thing as much as it is local hams who aren't aware of all the options available to local emcom leaders. Why are they unaware? Because the ARRL field organization itself has done a poor job of properly educating them. NF5B: The training we potentially offer is excellent for the ham who's interested in participating in MARS as well. AE5V: That may have been the case in the past. Currently Army MARS is much more stringent and tightening all the time. By the Spring in 2010, to remain a member, one must be NCS at least quarterly, have completed a basic training course with on the air training and pass an initial exam. Then one must complete a 12 week on the air training course with a 50+ question exam. That is in addition to minimal quarterly on the air activities. FEMA 100 200 700 and 800 are required, as well as Internet access, Winlink 2000 via Telnet at least, and preferably HF Pactor. Sound card modes are used regularly with MT-63 and Olivia for those without Pactor. Unfortunately, all one needs for ARES and NTS is a request to be put on the roster. That is not much assurance to an organization or groups needing communications assistance. Maybe, I've passed all the above fema courses you cite, as have many in our local ares unit here. I've also taken and passed all three ARRL emergency communications courses. i would venture to say that most of the information one is tested for in the fema courses isn't something I'm going to need to utilize that much as a communicator. YEs I know which branch of ics I"m under, and chances are if I deploy to assist somewhere I'm going to be told who that individual is. But, I don't care howh much training you've got in alphabet soup if you can't copy a simple message sent you on voice and relay or deliver it accurately you're of limited value. If you haven't learned proper circuit discipline then you're as much hindrance as help, whether that be on a mars net, an NTS net, ares, etc. We have quite enough folks out there that don't know how to properly operate their stations and be an effective part of a network. Knowing ans using proper circuit discipline are more important to me than knowing what the heck the daily briefing is. Chances are I'm never going to be asked to attend one. The results that come out of said daily briefing are going to manifest themselves at my operating position as messages to be handled. Just as a good construction worker should have knowledge of blueprints and how to read them emergency communicators should have knowledge of the material in these fema courses, but first and foremost he or she should know how to operate properly. IT doesn't matter iof the carpenter I hired can read a blueprint, if he can't drive a nail straight or cut a board accurately I don't need him. NF5B: We can no longer allow these individuals to run roughshod over the diligent operators who spend hours manning circuits AE5V: Sure we can. We have for a number of years. The NTS Staff has chosen to do nothing. This may be true, but we're in a no win situation. IF we don't address the issue we'll see further erosion in participation. IF we do establish some limits and guidelines we'll be accused of not being politically correct. NF5B: We're going to have to cajole people into using it, AE5V: We should offer something they want to do. The NTS cannot survive having to persuade every person who becomes active. The NTS Staff has had free and pretty much full control of the NTS without ARRL direction. For the most part, the NTS is failing on all fronts. Would agree, but some of us honestly believe it doesn't have to be this way. IT's failing on all fronts because managers have failed to effectively manage. LEaders have not been leading effectively. AE5V: Significant manpower shortages. Which have grown progressively worse since the issue you're responding to was published. NF5B: Region Ten formerly met on 7277.5 kHz at 1:45 and 3:45 P.M. Central Time daily. AE5V: Not good times for anyone with a day job. True, and not everybody has a "day job" some of us find our working hours at night. Although the majority of those who are of working age are day workers there are still enough of us who work night shifts that we should be able to field enough stations to cover long haul circuits. Some adaptation is going to be necessary however. NF5B: I've seen a couple of creative ideas brought forward lately, and am impressed. AE5V: Share them on BPQ. OUR division director is utilizing the system a bit more these days. HE's undertaking to do quite a bit more communication with his constituents via radiogram, especially those who help organize hamfests and other gatherings and events. As I've noted, I use the system to thank another station for a useful contact in pursuit of operating awards, etc. NF5B: The first thing NTS leadership can do is promulgate and then publicize some guidelines on bulk book traffic. Those of us who hold staff positions should push this effort, as the troops are getting restless, and in many cases the troops are just refusing to participate. AE5V: The troops have mostly retired, expired, and gone on to do something much more constructive, more fulfilling, and more fun. Agreed. I'd rather work with groups such as the folks on 14300 khz to be honest when it comes to that or handling another batch of w1gmf book messages. I've been able to get a good feeling more than once by doing such things as running a phone patch for a missionary in Central America or a person at sea. I still remember with pride the day my station was instrumental in a consultation with an orthopedic specialist for a doctor in the jungles of Central America. A young boy needed the skills of an orthopedic specialist, but there was none near. So this doctor in the bush had me run a phone patch to an orthopedic specialist in Chicago. Much more pleasurable than handling a dozen w1gmf book messages. I might have made a positive difference in the rest of that little boy's life that afternoon. Yes, I know, sacrilige, heresy, etc. But, doesn't matter what I think. IF I take such a message as the aforementioned bulk book traffic I mentioned I will endeavor to the best of my ability to move it on to its destination. Continued in the next issue of BPQ. ******** 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 plain text email. Again, attachments of plain ascii files preferred. If using MS Word choose the save-as option to save as plain text, possibly called dos text. CHeck your favorite word processor's doccumentation 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. 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BRASS POUNDERS' QUARTERLY Published by traffic handlers for traffic handlers COpyright ARRL National Traffic SYstem, electronic distribution encouraged. *** end of file***