N1DN Station Activity Report February 2018 (SAR and PSHR)

SAR & PSHR
N1DN - Station Activity Report
MO YR      Originated / Sent / Received / Delivered
Nov 16          0 / 6 / 18 / 4     Total 28
Dec 16          0 / 12 / 12 / 4   Total 28
Jan 17           0 / 9 / 21 / 3     Total 33
Feb 17          0 / 12 / 31 / 4    Total 47
Mar 17          0 / 32 / 24 / 6    Total 62

Jan 18     
Feb 18          0 / 21 / 7 / 2       Total 30

Public Service Honor Roll
MO YR         1          2          3          4          5          6          Total
Nov 16         33        28         0           0          0          10         71
Dec 16         40        28          0          0          0          10         78
Jan  17         19        33          0          0          0          10         62
Feb 17          24        40         0          0          0          10         74
Mar 17         32        40         0          0          0           10        82
Jan 18
Feb 18        23            30       0          0         0             10       63

Categories
1-Participation in a Service Net Check-in
2-Handling formal radiogram messages
3-Serving in an ARRL sponsored volunteer position
4-Participation in scheduled, short term, public service events
5-Participation in an unplanned emergency response
6-Develop and maintain a digital relay system, web page, or email list oriented toward amateur radio public service

Kenwood TM-D710G Resources

I'm using a Kenwood TM-D710G for Home Base VHF work and Packet activity.   Here are some good on-line resources for the D710.  Let me know your suggestions.   Phil, N1DN


Basic APRS Settings
KC9RMU Chris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_uHaf8CdFQ&list=PLDMugICWOHFZn-8JkSV2KEnAJ7H4oKTTb


WG5L and W5JBL
Cross Band Repeating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGnwKkAnSTE&index=2&list=PLDMugICWOHFZn-8JkSV2KEnAJ7H4oKTTb

Jack - Basic Setup and Repeater Programming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dixlFnyZD5A&list=PLDMugICWOHFZn-8JkSV2KEnAJ7H4oKTTb&index=7

N1CY
Basic Features and Programming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM-miIlbXDQ&t=413s

N1DN 10 Meter Beacon is on 28.284 MHz

My 10 meter beacon is on the coordinated frequency 28.284.   Check out the listing of 10 meter beacons at http://www.qsl.net/wj5o/bcn.htm

ALL Beacon Reports are most appreciated!

73

Phil, N1DN

Radiogram Message Number

The radiogram message number is the very first part of the Preamble, and is assigned by the station originating the number.   I've noticed that some operators use sequential numbers, and others start from zero every January 1.  I've decided to use sequential numbers, and I'm up to message number 105 after about 16 months of working with traffic nets. 

The message number stays with the message UNCHANGED throughout its course all the way to the point of delivery.   

 Service messages are generated to notify the originating station if a message can not be delivered.  If the message is a service message, then the letters SVC are placed in front of the message number.  I've only heard a SVC message once, and I don't think this is used often today.

Connecticut ARES Region 3 Save the Dates

Announcements from DEC George, AB1GL for CT ARES Region 3:

March 18, 2018 is the Southington Hamfest

April 7, 2018 Connecticut ARES Region 3 Meeting
Southwindsor Fire Department Headquarters
Prelim Agenda included morning training session for ECs, potluck lunch, and afternoon session open to all ARES Members.

ARRL Radiogram Format

This is the standard ARRL Radiogram that is published in many forms.   I've printed this out and used it to copy my lessons from the Maryland Slow Net.  Over time, I've come to copy, send, and receive messages on my computer using a running table in MS Word.

This table allows me to keep track of messages to send, relay, or in need of delivery.  I can also quickly search my message database for common text.

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Reference:  The Official Download Page for the KV5R Reformat of the ARRL NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines

A List of National Traffic System Reference Guides

There are some great online references for learning about National Traffic System procedures.  While nothing substitutes for on-the-air experience, these references guides have helped me quite a bit.  They serve as my continuing education in Traffic Handling and as the references for material found here on my blog.

American Radio Relay League (ARRL) NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines
I suspect this is the NTS Bible and it's volumes can be found on the ARRL website.

The Official Download Page for the KV5R Reformat of the ARRL NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines

KV5R has taken the ARRL pages on NTS above and assembled them into an EXCELLENT resource.  This is my "go to guide" on NTS operations. 

"An Instructors Guide to Training Traffic Handlers" by Mark W. Rappaport W2EAG is a very nice digestible resource that is posted on the Hit and Bounce Net Website.    Thanks Mark for this great paper - it's on my reading list.

Radio Relay International has released their RRI Traffic Operations Manual 2017.  This is perhaps the most contemporary resource and it's located on my digital bookshelf.  

Ideas for Message Originators

I think part of the fun of participating in NTS Traffic Nets is originating messages to other amateur radio operators.  I will periodically send messages to fellow members of the Straight Key Century Club.

Some good ideas for message topics comes from James Wade, WB8SIW as referenced on the TEX NTS Home Page:

• Thank you for joining our club / association
• Thank you for renewing your membership in xxxx
• Thank you for the QSO or for participating in xxxx contest
• Thank you for applying for xxxxx award.  Your application is being processed.
• Congratulations on obtaining xxx award.
• Birthday or anniversary greetings to friends and relatives.

Reference:  http://www.k6jt.com/

Looking for CN

I'm looking for the Connecticut Net (CN) CW NTS net this evening.  I think it only runs on weekends on 3.533.   I picked a bad night, for there's a ton of CW activity on 80 meters this evening for the ARRL International DX CW contest.   I then changed over the 3.565 and caught the MARICW net, the Massachusetts Rhode Island CW Net - a very nicely run slow / med speed CW net that seems to move traffic on a regular basis!   Thanks to NCS KW1U for a nice welcome.

WESCON Wester Connecticut Traffic Net for February 16, 2018

Checkins as Recordewd by N1DN

K1LYP JOHN NET CONTROL STATION
KC1BXB MARIE EAST HARTFORD 1 THROUGH
N1TAA TRAVIS COLUMBIA 1 THROUGH
K1XFC PHIL SOUTH WINDSOR LIASON CPN 1 N1URO
K1HEJ LARRY NEW BRITAIN LIAISON PACKET
ECHOLINK CHECK-IN
-NILL
K1STM ANNE SOUTHINGTON
N1DN PHIL WEST HARTFORD
K1MTD MARY ANDOVER
W1YSM ED WALLINGFORD
W1SVC STEVE CONVENTRY
KB1FQS EDDIE BERLIN
KC1IWX JOE GROTON
KC1EER AMANDA VERNON
K1AH VINCE PORTABLE ENFIELD

Station Activity Report

January 2018 was a good month for NTS Traffic Handling.  I don't have the opportunity to send my Station Activity Report and Public Service Honor Roll via a local CW net.   However, I'm going to share the CW format here, guided by the wonder resources of the Eastern Massachusetts NTS Site. 

NR   R  N1DN  15  WEST HARTFORD CT  FEB 07
K1STM
CT SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER
BT
SAR JANUARY O/0  R/14  S/30 
D/5  T/49  PSHR  1/36  2/40 
3/0  4/0  5/0  6/10  T/86
BT
PHIL N1DN