NTTN - Why we are here.

The primary purpose of the Northwest Oregon Traffic and Training Net is to provide emergency radiogram messaging service to our communities when normal means of communications are disrupted.

As a local net, we limit our coverage area to a single VHF, 2 meter repeater. We are currently using the 145.27 Mhz Timber repeater. We do not rely on internet linked repeaters since they may be unavailable in an emergency and may also extend our coverage area beyond our local net designated capabilities.

We conduct regular scheduled net meetings on the air to familiarize ourselves with radiogram composition and routing procedures and to establish a place to meet when we are needed in emergencies.

We are not a social "check-in" net. We call for check-ins to build a roster of volunteers who will assist in the distribution and collection of radiogram traffic. Each participant is expected to accept traffic for delivery in their local zip code area.

Our operations conform to the RRI Traffic Operations Manual and the (NTS) Methods and Practices Guidelines.

We meet on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 18:05 local time, on the Timber, 145.27 Mhz (107.2) repeater.

Traffic Net Protocol

A Local Area Net designation in the National Traffic Network limits our coverage area to a confined boundary in the Northwest corner of the State of Oregon.

To limit our coverage area, we do not rely on linked repeaters. Use only 145.27 Mhz for NTTN business. Operators unable to reach this repeater are encouraged to originate their own Local Area net to serve their locality. This is the Local Area net model.

Routing Practices

Local nets route messages to/from Section nets. Traffic between Local nets is routed through the Section net via the Liaison station. We only serve Northwest Oregon. Our boundaries are defined as the coverage area of the Timber Repeater, 145.27 Mhz, 107.2 Hz tone. This covers areas North of Salem to the Columbia River and from Mt. Hood to the Coast. We do not process traffic out of Section. Washington Section Traffic is processed through Washington State Net, a HF Section/Region servicing net, or the Clark County Traffic Net. Messages addressed to areas outside of our Local area are processed via the Section Net Liaison station.

The Liaison Function

To facilitate traffic routing between the Local and Section net levels a Liaison Station is designated to relay messages between the two levels. Anyone can perform this function as long as they are able to operate on HF frequencies and are committed, reliable and understand traffic routing procedures. This is an important function of the traffic network.

Currently, Oregon has only one designated Section Traffic Net. Oregon Section Net is that net. It is a CW operation that meets at 18:30 local time on 3566 KHz.

Section level traffic is also handled by the Digital Traffic Network, Oregon Hub, W7EES BBS, accessible on various HF frequencies and on 144.93 Mhz, 1200 bd. packet radio. A Web-Mail portal is available to registered users at https://w7ees.net. Contact [email protected] for specifics.

In Emergencies

The net will shift to a Daily meeting time for the 18:05 formal net session. The net manager will assume NCS duties on unscheduled days.

NTTN net control stations will monitor the Timber, 145.27 Mhz repeater for health and welfare traffic, and/or any emergency calls that can be serviced by our operators, continuously until the situation resolves. Monitoring times will conform to the Watch Clock method. Three minute windows on the hour and half hour. Net Control will announce that they are monitoring for any traffic at 1 minute intervals during those windows. Depending on the severity of the situation, a voluntary watch list arrangement will be implemented as necessary.

Should the Timber repeater be unavailable, stations should first shift to 145.31 Mhz repeater, 123 Hz. tone. If unsuccessful there, shift to simplex frequencies 147.56 and 147.44 Mhz. It may be useful to have a scanner or preprogrammed radio in operation to monitor these frequencies. Operators note that in these conditions it is helpful to announce your frequency at the end of each transmission so monitoring stations know your channel and can contact you. Say; "This is N7XYZ on 744" when using 147.44 MHz simplex.

Traffic Priority

Operating procedures during an emergency prioritize Emergency Traffic Only for the first 72 hours of an incident. Priority traffic consists of any communication affecting life and property and is secondary to Emergency traffic. Health and Welfare traffic is held until the end of the 72 hour period and it is handled as secondary to any further Emergency or Priority traffic after that. NTTN should expect to handle only Health and Welfare traffic, but be prepared to deal with Emergency traffic if needed. ARES, RACES and AUXCOM groups will handle agency and municipal messages which may require forms according to their communications plans. NTTN serves the community at large with Radiograms only.

For guidance, refer to the NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines and the Western Area Digital Guidelines *.

*Needs frequency updates.

This page last updated 2024-12-01. For changes or corrections write to <w7ees at qsl dot net>.