Introduction
Traffic handlers operate daily to help move information across town, across the country, and worldwide. This level of service is unparalleled in virtually any other amateur radio public service program, and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) wishes to recognize the dedication of its National Traffic System (NTS) volunteers who provide this critical public service. This page provides recognition descriptions and requirements for recognition awards for traffic handlers participating in the National Traffic System. Aside from the First Radiogram Certificate, all other recognitions require membership in the ARRL in good standing.
Certificates are available in a fillable form. The information below indicates who should initiate, approve, and deliver each certificate. Certificates can be delivered to the recipient electronically. The ARRL Field Services organization will provide the Challenge Coin and the Brass Pounders League (BPL) Award via the awarding Section Traffic Manager.
Fillable certificates are available for download by the designated administrators. Links are provided for each Certificate below. Please contact Mike Walters, W8ZY, ARRL Field Services Manager, at w8zy@arrl.org for assistance with awarding the Challenge Coin and the Brass Pounders League (BPL) Award.
Overview of Awards and Recognitions
| Award/Recognition | Criteria | Timeframe | Administered By |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Radiogram Certificate | Send first radiogram via an on-air NTS-affiliated net | As first radiograms are sent | Net Manager |
| Local Net Certificate | Regular participation in an NTS-affiliated local net | As stations qualify | Net Manager |
| Section Net Certificate | Regular participation in a Section traffic net | As stations qualify | Section Traffic Manager |
| Official Relay Station Certificate | Appointment based on current ORS requirements | Upon appointment by Section Manager | Section Traffic Manager |
| ARES Response Certificate | For handling message traffic in conjunction with official ARES activity | As stations qualify | Jointly by the applicable Section Traffic Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator, and local Emergency Coordinator |
| Challenge Coin | ORS turns in 48 Station Activity Reports | As stations qualify | Section Traffic Manager in conjunction with Field Services |
| Net Manager Participation Certificate | Appointed Net Manager submits 24 monthly net management report | Per section as Net Managers qualify | Section Traffic Manager |
| Net Control Participation Certificate | Net Control or Alternate Net Control serves at least once per month for 12 months. See section below for details to qualify | Per section as Net Control stations qualify | Net Manager, or Section Traffic Managers for Net Managers acting as Net Control in conjunction with the Section Manager |
| Section Traffic Manager Certificate | Appointed Section Traffic Manager submits 24 months of STM reports to Field Services | Per section as STMs qualify | Section Manager |
| Brass Pounders League Medallion | Achieve BPL for 3 months (nonconsecutive) | As stations qualify | Net Manager, or Section Traffic Managers for Net Managers acting as Net Control |
| Official Relay Station Of The Year Certificate | ORS who has gone above and beyond with respect to traffic handling in a way that furthers NTS mission, objectives, and participation | As stations qualify | Section Traffic Manager in conjunction with the Section Manager |
| Radiogram All States Certificate | ARRL member who has received radiogram traffic from all states | As stations qualify | Section Traffic Manager |
The details of the criteria to qualify for each award are covered in the sections that follow. This table is for summary purposes only.
First Radiogram Certificate
Issued by the Net Manager
Awarded for sending your first radiogram marks the beginning of a traffic handler’s journey, and this certificate helps commemorate the occasion and promote future involvement.
This certificate is open to any traffic handler, regardless of ARRL membership. To earn this certificate, a traffic handler must:
- Successfully send their first properly formatted radiogram via an on-air NTS-affiliated traffic net.
Generate a First Radiogram Certificate
Local Net Certificate
Issued by the Net Manager
Traffic handlers who regularly act as net control or check-in and actively handle traffic are valuable resources to the NTS. This certificate recognizes those who have demonstrated a commitment to the NTS and the art of traffic handling.
Certificates are available for participation in NTS-affiliated local nets.
To earn this certificate, a traffic handler must:
- Be an active ARRL member
- Participate regularly in an NTS-affiliated net
Note: Region, Area, and Transcontinental Corps Certificates will be added at a later date.
Generate a Local Net Participation Certificate
Section Net Certificate
Issued by the Section Traffic Manager
To encourage regular participation in NTS nets.
To earn this certificate, a traffic handler must demonstrate regular participation in an NTS net and a high standard of performance.
Generate a Section Net Certificate
Official Relay Station Certificate
Issued by the Section Traffic Manager
In addition to receiving an official appointment letter, this ORS certificate allows for traffic handlers who have demonstrated quality traffic handling skills to showcase their dedication to the NTS in their amateur radio shack, on their QRZ page, and other places.
To earn this certificate, a traffic handler must:
- Qualify for and be appointed an Official Relay Station by the Section Manager.
Generate an Official Relay Station certificate
ARES Response Certificate
Issued by the Section Manager
Cross-collaboration between our Public Service programs creates a powerful set of resources for the organizations and people we serve that no other amateur radio volunteer organization can offer. Recognizing stations that participate in both NTS and ARES shows our appreciation for their commitment to stepping up in times of need.
To earn this certificate, an ARES member must:
- Be an active ARRL member
- Handle formal radiogram traffic related to an incident or exercise/SET called by either the Section Emergency Coordinator or the local ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC)
- Have their activity submitted by the local ARES EC for review and approval by both the Section Traffic Manager and the Section Emergency Coordinator
Generate an ARES Response certificate
Challenge Coin
Issued by the Field Services Office
NTS Challange Coin
Official Relay Stations that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the NTS through participation and reporting are extremely valuable. Issuing them a challenge coin helps recognize their impact on the system in a unique and special way and is specifically for those who pass traffic to encourage active participation, competency, and currency in message relaying.
To earn this coin, an Official Relay Station must:
- Submit 48 monthly Station Activity Reports (SARs) during their time as an appointed ORS. These do not need to be consecutive. For example, if an ORS submits 32 Station Activity Reports, steps back for several months, and resumes submissions; they will qualify upon submitting 48 total monthly reports
- Have their qualifications verified by the Section Traffic Manager and issued by Field Services
You can request a Challenge Coin award via an email to w8zy@arrl.org.
Net Manager Participation Certificate
Issued by the Section Traffic Manager
Net Managers enable the day-to-day operations of NTS operations and help keep the system running smoothly and efficiently.
To earn this certificate, a Net Manager must submit 24 net management reports during their time as an appointed Net Manager. These do not need to be consecutive.
For example, if a Net Manager submits 18 net manager reports, steps back for several months, and then resumes net management duties, they will qualify upon submitting 24 total monthly reports.
Generate a Net Manager Participation certificate
Net Control Participation Certificate
Issued by the Net Manager or the Section Traffic Manager for Net Managers acting as Net Control
Net Control stations help keep order during traffic handling, whether during daily operations or during incidents. This certificate recognizes those who help maintain the system’s infrastructure and properly route traffic toward its destination.
To earn this certificate, a Net Control Station must:
- Be an active ARRL member
- Be a Net Manager recognized Net Control or Alternate Net Control
- Serve as either Net Control or Alternate Net Control at least once per month for 12 months
- These do not need to be consecutive. For example, if a Net Control serves as NCS or ANC for less than 12 months, steps back for several months, and then resumes NCS/ANC duties, they will qualify upon serving for their 12th time
Generate a Net Control Participation certificate
Section Traffic Manager Certificate
Issued by the Section Manager
Section Traffic Managers coordinate traffic handling in and around their Sections to help ensure interconnects between traffic nets flow in an orderly and efficient fashion.
To earn this certificate, a Section Traffic Manager must:
- Submit 24 Section Traffic Manager reports during their time as an appointed STM.
- These do not need to be consecutive. For example, if an STM submits 18 reports, steps back for several months, and then resumes STM duties, they will qualify upon submitting 24 total monthly reports.
Generate a Section Traffic Manager certificate
Brass Pounders League Medallion
Issued by the Field Services Office
Traffic handlers who work with large volumes of traffic are extremely valuable, and those who provide this level of contribution several times are recognized with a unique medallion recognizing their significance to the NTS and the people and organizations we serve.
To earn this medallion, a traffic handler must:
- Be an active ARRL member.
- Achieve BPL for three months.
- These do not need to be consecutive.
- Have their qualification verified by, and then the request for a medallion submitted by the Section Traffic Manager.
You can request a Brass Pounders League Medallion award via an email to w8zy@arrl.org.
Official Relay Station Of the Year Certificate
Issued by the Section Manager on a per-section basis
Official Relay Stations that go above-and-beyond regular traffic handling deserve special recognition for their efforts. They may hold traffic handling classes, mentor new traffic handlers, and/or made other significant contributions that benefit the NTS mission, objectives, and participation.
To earn this certificate, an Official Relay Station must:
- Be nominated by one or more Net Managers who shall include specific bullet point contributions and supporting details.
- For example, if an ORS mentors new amateur radio operators who are interested in becoming traffic handlers, the bullet point and details should provide objective data points regarding how many amateur radio operators were mentored, how many of those operators regularly participate in the traffic system while and after being mentored, and so on.
- Have their contributions reviewed by the Section Traffic Manager, who then makes recommendations to the Section Manager for consideration.
- Have their contributions and recommendations reviewed by the Section Manager for final selection.
Generate Official Relay Station Of The Year Certificate
Radiogram All States Certificate
Issued by the Section Traffic Manager
To encourage participation and traffic generation across all sections, traffic handlers may attempt chasing and earning a Radiogram All States certificate.
To earn this certificate, a traffic handler must:
- Be an active ARRL member.
- Submit documented evidence to their Section Traffic Manager that they have received traffic (as the addressee) over the air (RF) from each state.
- Delivery by email, voice mail, or other off-the-air methods do not qualify.
- Radiogram documentation must indicate what net it was received on.
Generate a Radiogram All States Certificate