Field Day
NTS training, modified 6/27/2025
Why am I
doing this?
Field Day sites/clubs can get up to 200 additional points for originating formal messages from the site over amateur RF. 100 points for a radiogram to their Section Manager (SM) or Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC), and 10 points each for up to 10 other messages sent from the site. Read the ARRL Field Day 2025 rules, section 7.3.5 and 7.3.6 for more. https://www.arrl.org/field-day-rules
Last year, I assisted one site. This year, I’m hoping to introduce the minimum training for clubs across the area to create and send their radiograms over voice.
When will
this happen?
The training will occur on Wednesday June 11th and 18th at 8pm ET Zoom at the link below. We can add another session for the 25th if there is enough interest. If you need more information about the Zoom meeting, please email me using my email address at QRZ.com. Zoom sessions will be recorded, and the link posted on this page.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82953888331?pwd=fwh7RXWXXBsdwzWaaRmlRfchE3Hv5C.1
I have contacted the MMRA organization and can use their linked repeater system on the afternoon of Field Day Saturday June 28. The current plan is to have a traffic net on that network, so that messages can be entered into the National Traffic System. The preliminary time for those nets will be 4pm, 6pm and 8pm ET. Check https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html then click on HHTN at the bottom, for a repeater near your Field Day site. We will be using the HHTN configuration, so not all repeaters will be linked in. The HHTN configuration should occur at 3:45pm ET. I have been informed that Echolink will be ‘linked in’, but that should not be used to send from the FD site.
Of course, you can always check in to another traffic net and pass the traffic there. Traffic nets in Eastern MA can be found here: https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/ .
What will
happen during training?
We’ll start off with the radiogram form and minimal info on what the sections are.
I will then send a sample radiogram for folks to copy, so that you can see/hear how to send one. ‘Standard’ ITU phonetics will be used and are recommended: https://ema.arrl.org/itu-phonetic-alphabet/
Then, attendees will be encouraged to create their own short radiogram and send it during the session. I or others will then comment on how well you did, and encourage you to try again. It will be a ‘safe space’ to learn and try.
Some key
things:
1.
Brevity,
the longer the message, the more likely mistakes will occur
2.
Enunciation,
speak clearly, use ‘thee’ and not ‘thuh’ for the word
‘the’, etc.
3.
Pacing,
only send as fast as you can write with your non-dominant hand 😊
That’s a
joke, but if you think you’re sending too slowly, send slower. It’s easier than the receiving operator
having to ask for fills.
4.
Prowords,
I SPELL, FIGURES, INITIALS, FIGURE(s), AMATEUR CALL, etc.
a.
Reference guide for phonetics and prowords at https://www.k8amh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Traffic-handling-reference-guide-Nov-19-2020.pdf
5.
Numbers
throughout the radiogram. All voiced as
individual digits. Not nineteen, but one
niner. Not twenty twenty five, but two zero
two five
6.
Only
character symbol allowed in message is slash ( /
). Use X for period.
What do I
need to have?
Before attending, you should download radiogram forms for training as well as to originate radiograms for Field Day. You can download a fillable PDF at: http://www.idahoarrl.info/needed_files/Fillable%20Radiogram%20Form.pdf . You can also print copies of this to fill in during training and for use at the FD site.
Each session will take about one hour, and each session will be essentially the same. We can go longer if needed.
If you want a head start, there is a good intro to creating and voicing radiograms at: https://www.k8amh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/National-Traffic-System-and-Radiograms.pdf
I will also post more info at the Virtual NTS Training Net (VNTN) groups.io page at: https://groups.io/g/vntn/topics
Sample
radiogram forms:
In the following radiograms, I have used ARL numbered radiogram messages. These are ‘canned’ messages which can shorten the amount of info you need to voice. It is up to the delivering ham to ‘expand’ an ARL numbered message into layman’s language. The list is at: https://nts2.arrl.org/numbered-texts/
Message to the Section Manager
In the following two samples, ARL FIFTY is “Greetings by amateur radio”. I used the name/call of the Eastern MA Section Manager (SM) in these, and if you're outside of Eastern MA you'll need to look up the SM for your location. Since I know that N1ILZ is a regular on traffic nets, I didn’t provide email or phone number.
Template radiogram for Section Manager
Example radiogram for Section Manager (SM)
One message to ‘somebody else’
In the following example, I used ARL FIFTY ONE, which translates to “Greetings by amateur radio. This message is sent as a free public service by ham radio operators at _________. Am having a wonderful time”. Whatever follows the ARL FIFTY ONE is used to fill the ‘_____’ in the message.
Voicing script for ‘others’ sample
A ‘book’ of messages
Getting the ‘biggest bang for your buck’: Sending ‘book’ traffic with an ARL numbered message.
The simplest form of book traffic is like sending an email to somebody and CCing others. You don’t have to send multiple emails. All book traffic has a common part, and specific parts. For Field Day, IF you can manage to use the same message for your ‘other 10 radiograms’, you can save a lot of time on-air. You send the ‘common part’ once and then send the ‘specific parts’ one after the other.
Voicing script
example for a book of messages
Traffic
Net Operations:
At the beginning of a traffic net, the Net Control Station (NC) will read a preamble, stating the purpose of the net and giving instructions to participants on how to check in. Do not attempt to check in at any time other than when the NCS asks for check ins.
IMPORTANT: UNLESS YOUR MESSSAGE IS DESTINED FOR A HAM
WHO FREQUENTS THE EMA TRAFFIC NETS, ALL MESSAGES MUST HAVE AN ADDRESS WITH ZIP
CODE, AND EITHER A KNOWN-GOOD PHONE NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS. EVEN IF IT IS A HAM WHO FREQUENTS THE TRAFFIC
NETS, YOU SHOULD PROVIDE NAME, CALLSIGN, CITY, STATE AND ZIPCODE.
When checking in with traffic, you generally give the destination of a radiogram and the number of radiograms for that destination.
Example: THIS IS … NOVEMBER ONE CHARLIE VICTOR OSCAR … SHAWN IN LOWELL … I HAVE BOSTON THREE AND ANDOVER ONE
If you have traffic going out of state, that traffic will need to be relayed by somebody who can handle ‘THRU’ traffic and you should let the NCS know it is ‘thru’.
Example: THIS IS … NOVEMBER ONE CHARLIE VICTOR OSCAR … SHAWN IN LOWELL … I HAVE THRU TWO
If you have book traffic, you need to list the destinations.
Example: THIS IS … NOVEMBER ONE CHARLIE VICTOR OSCAR … SHAWN IN LOWELL … I HAVE A BOOK OF FIVE CONTAINING BOSTON TWO … ANDOVER TWO … AND THRU ONE
Special
thanks to:
Ray AA1SE for the use of his Zoom account
Minuteman Repeater Association (MMRA) for the use of their repeater network on Field Day Saturday
Phil K9HI and Marcia KW1U for the opportunity to train folks on the VNTN
Bob KC1KVY for providing training after my long hiatus from traffic handling
Traffic handlers everywhere for keeping this valuable activity alive
73, Shawn N1CVO
Recordings
June 11:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/HRBNE0Tdqj0wgikKibufkh3_uueYWr2vwwlV9ChpLH8xXckExHI2zxGWf9ucgr7q.NFEu-yORViijDbl3
Passcode: uNvQ0*C%
June 18:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ElHLjYZ3jhnYtQzEDvh6ZXndpT_XboPBXYZzUELiLcvEbHiy9ZTvNsw5JPqlOQ.5_dUJrZcQ9NDl3Ew
Passcode: X^99t44@