The National Traffic System®, or NTS®, is a network that allows for rapid movement of traffic—or radiograms—from origin to destination. NTS helps to train radio amateurs in relaying messages accurately and in a timely fashion. It also reinforces good on-air procedures. Message relay and training form the basis of the National Traffic System.
Why should I get involved in NTS?
Because it’s fun! And it helps you to become a better communicator.
During normal times, radiogram messages are typically routine greetings (“Happy birthday Aunt Mary”). They keep the system well oiled and the operators trained so that everything works when needed.
But during disasters or other communications emergencies, these same radiogram messages can convey critical information that can inquire about the health or welfare of a victim in a disaster area, or even potentially save lives and property.
You can become involved in traffic handling by checking into a local net on a 2-meter repeater using an ordinary handheld transceiver. Training nets are also available on the internet via Zoom.
You can find the time and frequency of your local NTS net in the “ARRL Net Directory.” Or you can ask your ARRL Section Manager. Their name and address is listed in any issue of QST on p. 16.
Improving NTS
A project informally known as “NTS 2.0” started in 2022. It seeks to improve and expand upon the ways in which we deliver and originate radiogram messages. It also seeks to restate our purpose to the general public and served agencies.
The project set out to devise tools and methods to allow our network to expand its current capabilities to provide better training, access and delivery, updated volunteer recognition and incentives, and wide-area message communications services for ARES, SKYWARN, RACES, and other served agencies.
We welcome your ideas and involvement in improving the National Traffic System!
In June, we announced a fun “contest” that challenged individuals to leave messages for origination on the Radiogram Portal. The rationale went something like this: Let’s promote the use of the Portal to both amateur and non-amateur audiences by boosting radiogram traffic, while having fun at the same time. Participants logged into the Portal each day and left at least one message destined for a friend or family member. Those who qualified every day would …
The following update was included in the August NTS Letter by Phil Temples, K9HI: ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARES® conducted a summer exercise on August 2, 2025, called “Summer Strike,” and NTS health and welfare operations were integrated into the plan. According to Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, the exercise, held the same day as a Section-wide exercise in Rhode Island, called for heavy wind and storm surge damage to portions of coastal …
In June, we announced a fun “contest” that challenged individuals to leave messages for origination on the Radiogram Portal. The rationale went something like this: Let’s promote the use of the Portal to both amateur and non-amateur audiences by boosting radiogram traffic, while having fun at the same time. Participants logged into the Portal each day and left at least one message destined for a friend or family member. Those who qualified every day would …
The following update was included in the August NTS Letter by Phil Temples, K9HI: ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARES® conducted a summer exercise on August 2, 2025, called “Summer Strike,” and NTS health and welfare operations were integrated into the plan. According to Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, the exercise, held the same day as a Section-wide exercise in Rhode Island, called for heavy wind and storm surge damage to portions of coastal …
Bill Leibengood, N8RWF, writes: NTSTIN Sessions Postponed The National Traffic System Training and Information Net (NTSTIN) has been postponed indefinitely, writes Bill Leibengood, N8RWF. Bill cites, in part, the "lack of interest and participation in this digital voice traffic net concept, and reflector hotspot connection issues." However, he's optimistic about local traffic nets now holding training sessions. Bill encourages all traffic handlers and would-be traffic handlers to support their local, section, region, and area traffic nets. For …
ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, signs NTS-RRI MOU. -Photo courtesy K9HI From ARRL News: ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® (ARRL®) and Radio Relay International® (RRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). [PDF] The formal agreement, signed by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and RRI Board Chairman James Wades, WB8SIW, outlines the value the organizations find in cooperation. SEE THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE [PDF] ARRL, established in 1914, is the nation’s leading …
During the July Radiogrammer challenge we have seen a sharp uptick in available messages in the Radiogram portal. In the first 9 days alone over 90 messages were added to the National Traffic System (NTS) from the portal. With this increased number of available messages, some might wonder: "How do I account for the messages I get off the portal with regards to my monthly Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)?" The answer is as follows: …
The following update was published by the Radiogram portal creator Jonathan, K1RFD: The Portal has been updated so that any newlines in free-form text are now converted to spaces. This aims to solve issues with multi-line text which is pasted into the text box, or if the submitter inserts newlines while typing a message. Previously, newlines were being stripped, causing the last word of one line to be joined with the first word of the …
As appeared in the June NTS Letter: By, James Wades, WB8SIW Emergency Management Director, Radio Relay International Don Rolph, AB1PH, and his NTS Digital team have been experimenting with various digital methods to identify best practices for reliable transcontinental messaging within a time constraint of 30 minutes or less. There is precedent for these activities in the Cascadia Rising disaster exercise simulating a major earthquake and tsunami affecting the Pacific Northwest, which took place in …
Message from: Phil Temples, K9HI The traffic handling community has been equipped with an exceptional tool known as the Radiogram Portal, written by Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, which allows third parties to deposit a message for origination and delivery via the National Traffic System. The Portal is supported by a cadre of registered traffic handlers (“radiogrammers”) who check the site daily and pick up any messages for origination. Even though we’re beginning to promote the use …
The following message was posted to the radiogrammers groups.io by Jonathan, K1RFD, the author of the Radiogram Portal with regards to two recent minor updates: Text punctuation conversion: In the text, an exclamation mark is converted to EXCLAMATION, and an at-sign to ATSIGN. As before, a slant bar is allowed verbatim, a pound sign becomes NR, and all other punctuation marks are converted to the letter X. But if the text ends with a punctuation …
The following article appears in the June issue of the NTS Letter: In a previous issue of The NTS Letter, we reported on the efforts of one of the NTS committee working groups to create a series of certificates (such as the one shown below) to recognize and show appreciation to traffic handlers for their time, effort, and dedication in support of the National Traffic System®. These new ARRL-authorized certificates will generally be awarded and …
The National Traffic System®, or NTS®, is a network that allows for rapid movement of traffic—or radiograms—from origin to destination. NTS helps to train radio amateurs in relaying messages accurately and in a timely fashion. It also reinforces good on-air procedures. Message relay and training form the basis of the National Traffic System.
Because it’s fun! And it helps you to become a better communicator.
A project informally known as “NTS 2.0” started in 2022. It seeks to improve and expand upon the ways in which we deliver and originate radiogram messages. It also seeks to restate our purpose to the general public and served agencies.
The project set out to devise tools and methods to allow our network to expand its current capabilities to provide better training, access and delivery, updated volunteer recognition and incentives, and wide-area message communications services for ARES, SKYWARN, RACES, and other served agencies.