Training is an integral part of the NTS 2.0 program. We want to ensure you can learn how to handle traffic using easy-to-understand, modern video and other content. This page contains our expanding library of NTS training content.
Getting Started in Traffic Handling
The first video provides a brief introduction to the National Traffic System.
A Brief Introduction to the National Traffic System
You can view a copy of the presentation used in this video here. Thank you to Ray Lajoie, AA1SE, for producing these training materials.
Traffic Handling 101 Series – The Basics
The following is a three-part series of training videos that are particularly useful for introducing NTS and helping new traffic handlers get started.
Traffic Handling 101 – Introduction to the National Traffic System
Traffic Handling 101 – Radiograms
Traffic Handling 101 – Sending Traffic
The following are the presentations used in the above training videos.
- The Complete Traffic Handling 101 Training Series
- Section 1 – Traffic Handling 101 – Intro to NTS
- Section 2 – Traffic Handling 101 – Radiograms
- Section 3 – Traffic Handling 101 – Sending Traffic
Thank you to Andy Harmon-Kimball, W2ZXN, for producing these training materials.
Getting Started in Traffic Handling – An Expert Panel Discussion
An expert panel of NTS 2.0 Program Volunteers held a panel discussion and Q&A session based on the 101 Training Materials above. The panel added some excellent commentary based on their extensive experience in Traffic Handling. You can watch this video below.
Traffic Handling Tools
NTS 2.0 Program Volunteers are working hard to produce some useful tools that enable the origination and handling of Traffic in new ways. The following are training videos for some of our tools.
Radiogram Portal
Now, there’s a way for YOU to try Amateur Radio messaging! Think of a friend or family member you’d like to contact by Radiogram. You can send any short message if it’s not business-related, urgent or critical, or too private or personal. Your message will be picked up by an Amateur Radio volunteer operator and relayed across the country to near its destination; finally, the recipient will get a local phone call from a nearby ham, or the message might even be delivered in person. Along the way, ham operators will relay your message by voice, digital, or even Morse code, and get valuable practice in emergency public service.
You can learn more about and try the Radiogram Portal here.
Radiogram Portal Training Video
Thanks to Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, for producing these training materials.
APRS Radiogram Gateway
You can now use an APRS to send a radiogram through the NTS gateway. NTSGTE is an APRS information service that receives radiograms and forwards them on to the Digital Traffic Network. Radiograms are then relayed on as usual. This service can be useful when you need to send a radiogram but cannot check in to a traditional NTS net. You can learn more about this tool here.
Sending an NTS Radiogram with APRS
Agency Traffic Handling Procedures and Forms
It is important to handle agency traffic using forms and formats that serve agencies’ specifications and to pass and deliver agency traffic in the exact format that it originated in. The NTS 2.0 project has developed a flexible system for encoding agency traffic to meet these needs. The following training videos explain how this system handles ICS-213 formatted Traffic. You can learn more here.
ICS-213 Part I – Encoding to Hybrid Radiogram