Southern New Jersey
Section Traffic News
Traffic Handling Training Sessions
Coming To The SNJ Section
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
2000 to 2100 Hours
ZOOM Teleconference
Deadline to register is September 26, 2025
ARRL SNJ Section Introduction To National Traffic System : Part 1
ARRL SNJ Section Introduction To National Traffic System : Part 2
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Dave Sheppard W2PAX : ARRL Southern New Jersey Traffic Manager
csxtbonevalley <at> comcast <dot> net
csxtbonevalley <at> comcast <dot> net
NTS Resources
The National Traffic System® (NTS) is a network of Amateur Radio operators who move information during disasters and other emergencies. General messages offering well wishes also move through the NTS to help test the system and to help amateur radio operators build traffic handling skills. While the NTS is primarily set up to serve the United States and Canada, it is possible to move traffic internationally through the NTS through various local, regional, area, and international network connections.
The National Traffic System® (NTS) is a network of Amateur Radio operators who move information during disasters and other emergencies. General messages offering well wishes also move through the NTS to help test the system and to help amateur radio operators build traffic handling skills. While the NTS is primarily set up to serve the United States and Canada, it is possible to move traffic internationally through the NTS through various local, regional, area, and international network connections.
- NTS 2.0 : https://nts2.arrl.org
- NTS Manual : https://www.arrl.org/nts-manual
- NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines Table of Contents : https://www.arrl.org/table-of-contents-nts-methods-and-practices-guidelines
- Handling Instructions : https://nts2.arrl.org/hx-handling-instructions
- Numbered Texts : https://nts2.arrl.org/numbered-texts
- Form Encoding Rules for Form : https://nts2.arrl.org/form-encoding-rules-for-forms
Current New Jersey Traffic Nets - August 30, 2025
While Ron Fish KX1W and I work to spin up additional net activity in SNJ, I am working on compiling a current list of traffic nets throughout New Jersey. The list I have so far is below. The VHF nets are NNJ-centric, while the HF nets are considered state wide. I would encourage anyone with interest in learning how a traffic net operates to listen and check-in if they can, regardless of their location.
We will talk much more about traffic nets in our virtual training sessions in October.
Jersey Shore Traffic Net
146.910 127.3-
Daily 19:30
(Echolink limited to JSARS members)
New Jersey VHF Net
146.895 151.4-
Daily 19:30
(Echolink available via WS2Q-L)
United Counties Traffic Net
W2NJR Linked System (https://w2njr.net/)
Daily 22:00
(Echolink & Allstar available via W2NJR-R & Node 616530)
Central Jersey Traffic Net
146.760 156.7-
Daily 20:00
(Echolink available via K2GE-R)
NJ Phone Net
3950 kHz LSB
Daily 18:00
NJN CW Net
3544 kHz
Daily 19:00
If anyone has additional information or corrections, please post it in this thread.
73
Dave
W2PAX
Southern New Jersey Section Traffic Manager
DTS & ORS
We will talk much more about traffic nets in our virtual training sessions in October.
Jersey Shore Traffic Net
146.910 127.3-
Daily 19:30
(Echolink limited to JSARS members)
New Jersey VHF Net
146.895 151.4-
Daily 19:30
(Echolink available via WS2Q-L)
United Counties Traffic Net
W2NJR Linked System (https://w2njr.net/)
Daily 22:00
(Echolink & Allstar available via W2NJR-R & Node 616530)
Central Jersey Traffic Net
146.760 156.7-
Daily 20:00
(Echolink available via K2GE-R)
NJ Phone Net
3950 kHz LSB
Daily 18:00
NJN CW Net
3544 kHz
Daily 19:00
If anyone has additional information or corrections, please post it in this thread.
73
Dave
W2PAX
Southern New Jersey Section Traffic Manager
DTS & ORS
Virtual Traffic Handling Training Coming To SNJ Section
By Dave Sheppard W2PAX - ARRL SNJ Section Traffic Manager
In an effort to bring formal traffic handling back to South Jersey, please join us October 7 and 14, 2025 from 8 to 9 PM on Zoom for training sessions on the National Traffic System and radiogram format. The first session will be a basic description of what the NTS is and how it functions, moving messages across North America and around the world. The second session will be devoted to the radiogram, breaking down its parts and how to send one by voice.
For questions or additional information, contact SNJ Section Traffic Manager Dave Sheppard W2PAX at [email protected].
By Dave Sheppard W2PAX - ARRL SNJ Section Traffic Manager
In an effort to bring formal traffic handling back to South Jersey, please join us October 7 and 14, 2025 from 8 to 9 PM on Zoom for training sessions on the National Traffic System and radiogram format. The first session will be a basic description of what the NTS is and how it functions, moving messages across North America and around the world. The second session will be devoted to the radiogram, breaking down its parts and how to send one by voice.
For questions or additional information, contact SNJ Section Traffic Manager Dave Sheppard W2PAX at [email protected].
Dave Sheppard W2PAX
SNJ & SFL STM
Naples, FL
Many thanks to Ron for his confidence in appointing me as STM. I am humbled to be able to serve the section where I was born and raised, and where my amateur radio roots are. My grandfather, Gurdon Cooper (“Coop” to those who knew him best) was the original W2PAX. I have fond memories sitting in his shack in Gibbstown while he pounded out CW QSO’s, or riding along with him on amateur radio events. I have one particular memory of an absolutely scorching summer day along the Bike-A-Thon route at the Elm fire house.
As Ron notes, the National Traffic System is alive and well, and still relevant in the 21st century. A region or nationwide comms outage is a real possibility whether from power/comms grid failures, or a bad actor. We need to be prepared to handle messages for our neighbors, communities and our served agencies. That could come in the form of health and welfare radiogram traffic, or an ICS-213 packed into radiogram format.
One of the many ways we train for this is to exercise the NTS on a daily basis. Traffic nets and digital stations are running around the globe, around the clock. Routine “blue sky” messages could include birthday greetings, QSO thanks, congratulations on a license achievement, etc. While these messages may seem mundane, they are how we keep our skills and our nets ready to pass traffic during “gray sky” times without hesitation.
The SNJ section hasn’t had much of an NTS presence for quite a while. (To be clear: it hasn’t been zero, and to those who do their part regularly, we appreciate you!) With help from the entire section, I think we can change that. Here in SFL, all it took was getting some awareness and a little training, and we’ve had great luck in building interest. I expect the same can happen in SNJ.
Remember it won’t happen overnight. Ron and I will begin by having what will likely be more than one meeting/call to plan our approach. Then we’ll need to enlist the section as a whole to generate the participation needed.
For now, I am going to ask two things from the section :
* First
Please take some time to learn about the NTS in general. The ARRL has two websites :
https://www.arrl.org/nts
This is where you will find a basic description of the NTS. It also has several resources on the page, including a link to the entire NTS Procedures & Guidelines (if you need bedtime reading, hi hi). You will also find a link for opting into The NTS Letter. This is a monthly newsletter specifically for the NTS. I urge everyone to receive it.
NOTE: Do *not* use the net directory. This is not up to date. Updating the net directory was a significant goal prior to the ARRL cyber-attack, but has been pushed back while the League upgrades their IT infrastructure.
https://nts2.arrl.org
This is the homepage for the NTS 2.0 working group. The NTS 2.0 group has been working for about two years now to reinvigorate and modernize the NTS. Their work has been exemplary. Please take some time to read over the materials here and learn what the group is doing to keep the NTS relevant. You can also view back issues of The NTS Letter here.
* Second
I would like everyone to send a radiogram to me. In the signature of your radiogram, please include a phone number or email address for return messages to be delivered to.
Sending a radiogram is the first step to getting involved with the NTS. It isn’t hard, and there are several ways you can do it :
I will reply to ALL radiograms received – by radiogram! Depending how many radiograms I receive and their transit time, it may take a while to reply to them all, so be patient. Remember that during “blue sky” times, routine traffic can take a couple days to work their way through the cycle of nets in the NTS.
Finally, it needs to be noted that an out-of-section appointee is not the ideal situation. We need a candidate to fill the STM position from within the section who is willing to build out an NTS infrastructure (i.e. traffic handlers and local/section nets) and report to ARRLHQ. I hope that at least one of you will feel the same spark that I did when I got involved back in 2016 here in SFL, and eventually want to transition into a leadership role.
We will have more information coming your way, so stay tuned. Until then…keep the traffic moving!!
73
SNJ & SFL STM
Naples, FL
Many thanks to Ron for his confidence in appointing me as STM. I am humbled to be able to serve the section where I was born and raised, and where my amateur radio roots are. My grandfather, Gurdon Cooper (“Coop” to those who knew him best) was the original W2PAX. I have fond memories sitting in his shack in Gibbstown while he pounded out CW QSO’s, or riding along with him on amateur radio events. I have one particular memory of an absolutely scorching summer day along the Bike-A-Thon route at the Elm fire house.
As Ron notes, the National Traffic System is alive and well, and still relevant in the 21st century. A region or nationwide comms outage is a real possibility whether from power/comms grid failures, or a bad actor. We need to be prepared to handle messages for our neighbors, communities and our served agencies. That could come in the form of health and welfare radiogram traffic, or an ICS-213 packed into radiogram format.
One of the many ways we train for this is to exercise the NTS on a daily basis. Traffic nets and digital stations are running around the globe, around the clock. Routine “blue sky” messages could include birthday greetings, QSO thanks, congratulations on a license achievement, etc. While these messages may seem mundane, they are how we keep our skills and our nets ready to pass traffic during “gray sky” times without hesitation.
The SNJ section hasn’t had much of an NTS presence for quite a while. (To be clear: it hasn’t been zero, and to those who do their part regularly, we appreciate you!) With help from the entire section, I think we can change that. Here in SFL, all it took was getting some awareness and a little training, and we’ve had great luck in building interest. I expect the same can happen in SNJ.
Remember it won’t happen overnight. Ron and I will begin by having what will likely be more than one meeting/call to plan our approach. Then we’ll need to enlist the section as a whole to generate the participation needed.
For now, I am going to ask two things from the section :
* First
Please take some time to learn about the NTS in general. The ARRL has two websites :
https://www.arrl.org/nts
This is where you will find a basic description of the NTS. It also has several resources on the page, including a link to the entire NTS Procedures & Guidelines (if you need bedtime reading, hi hi). You will also find a link for opting into The NTS Letter. This is a monthly newsletter specifically for the NTS. I urge everyone to receive it.
NOTE: Do *not* use the net directory. This is not up to date. Updating the net directory was a significant goal prior to the ARRL cyber-attack, but has been pushed back while the League upgrades their IT infrastructure.
https://nts2.arrl.org
This is the homepage for the NTS 2.0 working group. The NTS 2.0 group has been working for about two years now to reinvigorate and modernize the NTS. Their work has been exemplary. Please take some time to read over the materials here and learn what the group is doing to keep the NTS relevant. You can also view back issues of The NTS Letter here.
* Second
I would like everyone to send a radiogram to me. In the signature of your radiogram, please include a phone number or email address for return messages to be delivered to.
Sending a radiogram is the first step to getting involved with the NTS. It isn’t hard, and there are several ways you can do it :
- If you have access to a traffic net, this should be your primary method of passing traffic. If it’s your first time, don’t be afraid. Most traffic handlers are more than happy to elmer a new traffic handler.
- If you don’t have access to a traffic net, you can use the radiogram template in Winlink. Fill the template out, and choose “RRI-REGION4” as the liaison at the bottom of the template. (NOTE: My full contact information including phone number are on my QRZ.com page)
- If you can’t access a traffic net or use Winlink, you can use the radiogram web portal at https://nts2.arrl.org/radiogram. Once entered, a traffic handler registered with the portal will pick up the message and inject into the NTS by a traffic net or a digital traffic station.
I will reply to ALL radiograms received – by radiogram! Depending how many radiograms I receive and their transit time, it may take a while to reply to them all, so be patient. Remember that during “blue sky” times, routine traffic can take a couple days to work their way through the cycle of nets in the NTS.
Finally, it needs to be noted that an out-of-section appointee is not the ideal situation. We need a candidate to fill the STM position from within the section who is willing to build out an NTS infrastructure (i.e. traffic handlers and local/section nets) and report to ARRLHQ. I hope that at least one of you will feel the same spark that I did when I got involved back in 2016 here in SFL, and eventually want to transition into a leadership role.
We will have more information coming your way, so stay tuned. Until then…keep the traffic moving!!
73
Definitions and Duties of the Section Traffic Manager?
The STM is appointed by the Section Manager to supervise traffic handling organization at the section level - that is, to coordinate all traffic efforts within the section, regardless of mode or National Traffic System affiliation, so that routings within the section and connections with other networks and digital traffic nodes will result in orderly and efficient traffic flow.
Requirements : Familiarity with traffic handling on all modes; Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL Membership
Responsibilities :
The STM is appointed by the Section Manager to supervise traffic handling organization at the section level - that is, to coordinate all traffic efforts within the section, regardless of mode or National Traffic System affiliation, so that routings within the section and connections with other networks and digital traffic nodes will result in orderly and efficient traffic flow.
Requirements : Familiarity with traffic handling on all modes; Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL Membership
Responsibilities :
- Establish, administer, and promote a traffic handling program at the section level, based on, but not restricted to, National Traffic System networks.
- Develop and implement one or more effective training programs within the section that address the needs of both traditional and digital modes of traffic handling. Insure that Net Managers place particular emphasis on the needs of amateurs new to formal network traffic handling, as well as those who receive, send, and deliver formal traffic on a "casual" basis, via RTTY, AMTOR, and Packet based message storage and bulletin board systems.
- Cooperate and coordinate with the Section Emergency Coordinator so that traffic nets and emergency nets in the section present a unified public service front.
- Recommend candidates for Net Managers and Official Relay Station appointments to the SM. Issue appointments/cancellations and appropriate certificates. At the SM's discretion, the STM may directly make or cancel NM and ORS appointments.
- Insure that all traffic nets within the section are properly and adequately staffed, with appropriate direction to Net Managers, as required, which results in coverage of all Net Control and liaison functions. Assign liaison coverage adequate to insure that all digital bulletin boards and message storage systems within the section are polled on a daily basis, to prevent misaddressed, lingering, or duplicated radiogram-formatted message traffic.
- Maintain familiarity with proper traffic handling and directed net procedures applicable to all normally-used modes within the section.
- Collect and prepare accurate monthly net reports and submit them to ARRL Headquarters, either directly or via the Section Manager, but in any case on or prior to the established deadlines.
- Encouraged to earn certification in Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.