The Virtual NTS Training Net (VNTN) will take a break over the holidays and will not meet on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve 2025. The net will resume its normal schedule on Zoom beginning January 7, 2026, at 7 PM ET. VNTN has been in existence since 2024, providing amateurs who may not be within range of a local VHF traffic net an opportunity to learn traffic-handling skills.
Purpose
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, participants will enjoy the same experiences as those who check into conventional “RF” traffic nets. The net will incorporate a “hands-on” training approach in traffic procedures, radiogram creation, and relay.
It is our hope that new amateurs who participate in VNTN will be motivated to join section and region nets on HF after upgrading to a higher license class.
Time and Zoom “Frequency”
The Net meets Wednesdays at 7:00 PM ET. In future, it is hoped that a west coast version will be established at around 7 PM PT. The VNTN URL is:
<https://nts2.arrl.org/vntn-url>
This expands currently to <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83636861544?pwd=6tWXi587LbTwJwJDPkUsT7FfmZtXYC.1>
Here is additional information for telephone dial-in:
Ttelephone information:
+13017158592,,83636861544#,,,,*597248# US (Washington DC)
where the comma indicates a slight pause
Here’s the rest of the general Zoom information:
NTS is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Virtual NTS Training Net – VNTN
Time: Sep 3, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Wed, 48 occurrence(s)
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcrdO-gqDovHtBsC1i7Nq8lpMSjFamcb1jf/ics?icsToken=DB365L_M9EoT_rfkUQAALAAAACQUyIrULf6WANayZCp781_J_B4FbN6t2PuUOArSs-_RF6dgk8CjF1yr5sXpgjeODwEQUuZXTdwaQCUQPDAwMDAwMQ
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83636861544?pwd=6tWXi587LbTwJwJDPkUsT7FfmZtXYC.1
Meeting ID: 836 3686 1544
Passcode: 597248
Cirriculum
If there are lots of questions or we run out of time, then some subjects will be carried over to the next session.
Hopefully newbies can start on Week 1 and continue through the month.
All attendees should have already downloaded a radiogram form to print copies of, and/or a fillable PDF radiogram form.
The one I’ve been recommending is at https://www.idahoarrl.info/needed_files/Fillable%20Radiogram%20Form.pdf
Week 1
- Pass any traffic that’s brought
- NTS overview
- How traffic is routed and relayed
- Explanation of radiogram form
- Precedence and handling instructions
- Voicing, Prowords and ITU phonetics
- Practice receiving if enough time
- Homework: Bring a radiogram to the next session to send
- Can be internal for others in the session, or to be relayed/delivered someone else you know
Week 2
- Pass any homework or ‘real’ traffic
- Asking for/providing fills
- ARL numbered messages
- Service messages
- ARL use in Health and Welfare situation
- Homework: Bring a radiogram to the next session to send
Week 3
- Pass any homework or ‘real’ traffic
- Book traffic, basic to intermediate
Week 4
- Pass any homework or ‘real’ traffic
- Traffic net operations/procedures
- Delivering by phone (play acting)
- System Activity Report (SAR) and Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)
Week 5, if there is one
- If we didn’t finish something, it carries over to this week
- Creating and sending more radiograms in the session.
- Lots of time for questions
[Monitor this page for updated information and Zoom URL changes.]