WHY BELONG TO A NET ?

By a show of hands, how many in this group currently check into a traffic net? How many have never checked into a traffic net?

As a group, can you give me three good reasons why you should belong to a net? Anyone have any reasons why you shouldn’t learn to pass traffic and net procedure?

In this day and age of instant cellular communications, traffic nets might be considered the equivalent of sending smoke signals when compared to other means Limited content Slow passage Slow response While the format may remain the same the method of getting a message from point A to point B is what has changed.

A little ancient history Who first recognized the need for a system of passing messages from one ham to another? A little ancient history

Hiram Percy Maxim Founder of the Amateur Radio Relay League or ARRL

What major event in his life led him to feel the need for a message relay network?

Maxim needed a part for his radio station Maxim needed a part for his radio station. A fellow ham in Springfield, Massachusetts had the part. Numerous attempts to contact the other ham directly were unsuccessful. Remember, the frequencies used at that time were in the 200 meter band. Not easy to communicate across town or from Hartford to Springfield.

Because of this problem, Maxim felt there was a need for other hams to pass messages (traffic) to other hams. To exchange technical information and parts. Remember, you couldn’t just go to a local store and order components. You had to build them. From this idea was born the American Radio Relay League.

Ham radio has come a long way since the old 200 meter turn of the century days. World War l saw an increased need for trained radio operators as radio was just “coming of age”. If there was a book on message handling it was in short supply. Requests for trained radio operators at the start of World War ll was answered with over 500,000 hams answering the call. Hams previously trained to pass civilian messages were now passing military traffic.

Needless to say if it weren’t for our nations ability to instantly call upon a highly skilled cadre of communications experts, the war might have continued longer with a greater loss of life. The ability to communicate faster and better than the enemy was one advantage our nation had.

In the years after World War ll many technical developments took place. CW which had been the main means of communicating for so long had some new friends. AM (later referred to as Ancient Modulation) was joined by SSB (Single Sideband) and FM (Frequency Modulation) Packet, JT65, and AMTOR to name a few. Today computers have joined the ranks giving us internet capabilities.

While all of these technologies have allowed the hobby to progress technically, the need for a traffic network exists now more than ever. Society has become dependent on cell phones and computers that, the failure of one or more, results in a major disruption to both personal and business activities.

What happens when, not if, it breaks down? Discussion question

This year alone our country has seen the devastating effects of hurricanes, tornadoes and massive fires. Hams, even outside of the affected area, have always answered the call to provide emergency services. As a group we have become the 21st century definition of the communications minute man. recently

Add to the equation that we are now faced with terrorist threats both foreign and domestic. CERT teams are being formed as another layer of public response in the event of an emergency. In many cases it may only be local in nature. These teams will need members with communications training.

We respond with our own radios, repeaters, antennas, computer networks, portable power, as well as our own transportation (boats, ATV’s) and camping gear. Most often overlooked is the knowledge we bring to help those in need whenever disaster requires our assistance. This is knowledge you can’t just pick up and learn during a disaster.

A major part of this knowledge is the correct passage of traffic which falls into several categories. Emergency information must be accurately, and without delay, sent to the recipient. Expect that a life or lives may depend on this traffic being delivered with both speed and accuracy. For example: rescue, medical supplies, manpower, etc.

Priority information, as with emergency traffic, must be accurately, and without delay, sent to the recipient, delayed only by the passage of emergency traffic. Normally not a life threatening situation but, one requiring sending without delay. For example: need for food, clothing, shelter, etc.

For example: Family members wish to know: Welfare information must be accurately formatted, as with all traffic, and follows priority as traffic that shall be sent without delay. For example: Family members wish to know: The safety of other members Where are they now How can they be contacted

Routine information requires accuracy, but with no actual time or delivery date required. For example: The dog just had puppies Don’t forget grandma’s birthday Congratulations on your promotion, etc.

So lets have a little fun with regards to traffic handling. Need four or more volunteers One person go to each corner of the room and stand by for an important message which you must relay to the next person in line as directed.

At the end of this demonstration it is clear something happened. Feedback. What went right? What went wrong? What simple step would have made it work better?

Written communications in a common format which is easily understood is the first part. I will now hand out a copy of the current accepted ARRL message format. FEMA currently has a slightly different form (at some future point both forms may merge for commonality of passage)

Keep the instruction page for your station as reference Keep the instruction page for your station as reference. We will actually use a separate form in this exercise. Lets take the same message we tried to pass a few moments ago and put things into order.

Each person is to originate a real message to someone (friend, relative, military member) on any subject (happy birthday, happy holidays, Merry Christmas, or whatever subject worth considering). exercise

Give your message to any other member in attendance. One per attendee Everyone now has a legitimate message in their possession and must now deliver that message for the sending party. This is the trust part of the program where the message is now in your possession.

Some local traffic nets CT Phone Net 18:00 hrs 39.73 LSB every night HRS Traffic in and out of State of Connecticut WESCONN Traffic Net 20:30 hrs 145.410 (R) 144.810 (T) PL 143.0 every night traffic into and throughout the State of Connecticut

EASTCON Traffic Net NUTMEG Traffic Net 21:00 hrs 146.730 (R) 146.130 (T) PL 156.7 every night Traffic in and throughout the State of Connecticut NUTMEG Traffic Net 21:30 hrs 146.685 (R) 146.085 (T) PL 77.0 every night