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!
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 …
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 following article was included in the May NTS Letter: Field Day is said to be the highlight of the year for amateur radio operators. It is held annually on the fourth weekend in June, which this year falls on June 28 and 29. There is something for almost any amateur radio operator. It is perhaps foremost an exercise in emergency preparedness, one of the primary reasons for the existence of the Amateur Radio Service. …
The following story appeared in the March 18, 2025 issue of ARRL Club News: Your club is planning to staff a table at a local community fair or event. Offer to send radiograms. Recruit volunteers to explain what a radiogram is and, later, send the messages. Who in your radio club is active on the traffic nets? How many members know the radiogram format or know how to send a radiogram message on the air? …
Many Technician class amateurs miss out on fun and skills learning of traffic handling because they reside in areas of the country where local traffic nets on VHF repeaters don’t exist. The Virtual NTS Training Net (VNTN) seeks to address this problem with the creation of a Zoom-based local traffic net that can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. VNTN will accept check-ins and radiogram traffic utilizing standard phonetics and pro-signs; in short, …
Interested in NTS and Traffic Handling? Join us Monday, October 14 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. This training will incorporate videos and open discussion to get you started in an exciting aspect of the hobby that’s been around for over 100 years! Your hosts: Western MA Section Manager Ray LaJoie, AA1SE; MARI Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U; Bob Sparkes, KC1KVY; and Shawn Dodds, N1CVO, will discuss NTS traffic handling basics and traffic net procedures. …
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.