Program Overview

Ready to Copy - ARRL National Traffic System - Message Management
Copyright 2014 - D. Lane Kendall WK4WC

This section covers the basic features of the application as well as the theory of operation.

• Handling NTS Traffic
• Features
• NTSD Interface with AirMail 2000
• Setup and Static Table Maintenance
• About the program
• About the author

Handling NTS Traffic
Amateur radio operators have been handling NTS traffic since the founding of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). The Radiogram format is quite rigid and methods and practices for handling traffic are specified but each operator has his / her own system for recording and tracking messages (radiograms) received and sent. Traffic handlers are encouraged to produce a monthly Station Activity Report for their section traffic manager as part of their Public Service Honor Roll activities. 

RTC is a software tool for traffic handlers. All NTS traffic is stored in a database so station activity reports are practically instantaneous. The most efficient way to use RTC is to type messages directly into the editor as they are received or generated. Using RTC as your system or record can eliminate paper radiograms altogether. 

The RTC editor is free-form. You don’t have to tab from one text box to the next while you are taking traffic. You don’t have to worry about how many words you have typed in the message text or how many words are on a line, because the program will format and count them for you. You just type as you would in notepad with some minor format restrictions that will be explained in a later section.

Some users are not comfortable with typing messages on the computer. While testing the software we found that transferring paper traffic to RTC is not difficult and well worth the effort because there are many features and tools to help. 

I would encourage all users to type messages directly into RTC. Try copying traffic off line, like you did when you started, and you may be surprised how easy it is to completely eliminate paper for your day to day traffic handling.

Features

• Graphical user interface
• Small screen footprint on screen lets you run other applications as well as RTC.
• Optional resizable Radiogram screen with font selection
  
• Secondary screens are small and can positioned as needed.
• Free-form editor includes…
• Automatic message text formatting and word count (check) verification.
• Create, delete and clone messages
• Easy navigation features using message index as well as a “Find” feature
• Convert typed characters to upper case
• Remove unwanted punctuation with the “Clean” feature
• No save button. Changes are stored instantly as they are entered
• Originated, Received, Sent or Delivered information for each radiogram
• Automatic time / date stamping
• Notes field for personal notes about message delivery attempts etc
• Popout to Microsoft Notepad for Notes field editing
  
• Individual radiograms can be previewed and/or printed
• Station activity reports can be previewed and/or printed
• Internet access from RTC
• Web based callsign lookup using http://callook.info and other popular callsign lookup sites
  
• Launches website for telephone number lookup. Multiple website options
• Launches mapping website for city location. Multiple website options
• Data filters allow the user to view active, complete or all messages
• Maintain and import NTS Standard Text (canned) messages into the editor
• Maintain an address book of commonly used recipients
• Maintain drop down codes for message to, from and via fields
• Maintain, generate and track outgoing message numbers

NTSD Interface with AirMail software

• Seamless import and export of NTSD messages to and from AirMail 2000
• NTSD statistics are included as a part of station activity reporting.

Setup and Static Table Maintenance

• Manual time offset so you can use local or UTC for automatic received / sent time recording
• Force uppercase and insert modes in radiogram editor
• Backup database to a folder of your choice
• Reset secondary window positions on exit
• Re-index tables and purge deleted records
• Archive and retrieve records to text

About the program
Ready To Copy is a desktop database management application. The underlying data platform is Microsoft’s Visual FoxPro.

The VFP data model is ultimately based on The Jet Propulsion Laboratory Display Information System (or JPLDIS) a file management program that was the inspiration and precursor to dBASE, arguably one of the most influential DBMS programs for early microcomputers.

VFP is inherently fast because of the enhanced “Rushmore Technology” used by the proven database engine. RTC is self contained and does not require other packages or DLL files to be installed.

About the author
RTC’s author is a self taught veteran of desktop database management programming. Since 1983, he has designed and implemented many databases and applications for multiple disciplines including but not limited to engineering and finance. Currently retired, his most recent position was with a major national financial institution.