Tag: NTSChallenge

NTS Letter / Publicity and Outreach

Summer 2025 Radiogram Portal Challenge Results

- by Jay

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 receive a special certificate and acknowledgement in The NTS Letter. (We needed to cut short the challenge by a few days to meet the August NTS Letter deadline.) I’m pleased to report that seven participants met the challenge! They left messages on the portal every day from July 1-28, and will receive a handsome certificate for their accomplishments:

  • Michelle Roeten, K2MJR, Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Phil Temples, K9HI, Watertown, MA
  • Bill Novak, KA9IKK, Katy, TX
  • Shawn Dodds, N1CVO, Lowell, MA
  • Jay Fox, NK2Y, LaGrangeville, NY
  • Bill Smith, WX2DX, Port Matilda, PA
  • Rodney Youngblood, W5RFY, Splendora, TX

Honorable mention for depositing messages for five or more days goes to:

  • Clark Ross, KI5EYI, Kingwood, TX
  • Ed Messman, KT5EM, Katy, TX
  • Glenn Killam, VE1AQF, Saint Alphonse, NS, Canada

The Radiogram Portal, written by Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, 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 via a non-public interface and pick up any messages for origination.

If you have questions about the Portal, contact Portal administrator Marcia Forde, KW1U, at kw1u@comcast.net.

Publicity and Outreach

Radiogram Portal Challenge

- by Jay
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 of the Portal to the general public, activity is slow on some days. We need more messages to “keep the system lubricated.” There is no reason why regular traffic handlers can’t take advantage of the portal’s capabilities and boost radiogram traffic while also having fun at the same time.

All traffic handlers (and non-traffic handlers) are invited to take the Portal Challenge. Log into the Portal each day and leave a message destined for a ham or non-ham, friend or family member. Those who qualify by depositing one message each day from July 1 through July 28 will receive a special certificate and acknowledgement in the August 2025 issue of The NTS Letter. This is a great way to demonstrate how the public can be served by the National Traffic System and amateur radio! To qualify, you must introduce at least one message onto the Portal each day for pickup and origination by a qualified radiogrammer. Remember, in this particular situation, you are not the station of origin but rather are acting as a “third-party” and therefore your message will not count as an “origination” or “sent” point in your Station Activity Report (SAR).