Traffic net operations – Aaron

This page is part of the NTS training series. On this page…

A traffic net consists of a group of amateur radio operators who work together to relay messages. This structured exchange provides an efficient means for moving messages into and out of a local area, across the country, and around the world.

While traffic can move over Morse code (CW) digitally, and via phone on HF frequencies, for this discussion we will focus on traffic nets taking place on an FM repeater.

Participants

Generally speaking a traffic net has four sets of participants: the net managers, net control stations, liaison stations, and net participants.

Net manager

The net manager is responsible for overseeing the particular traffic net they manage. This includes scheduling net control stations, maintaining the net member roster, and providing monthly traffic reports to the Section Traffic Manager. A net manager may also select one or more assistant net managers to help with managing a traffic net.

Generally appointed by the net manager, liaison stations represent various agencies that participate in traffic handling, such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). Liaisons are also appointed to act as bridges between traffic nets, such as a liaison in a local net that brings traffic from and takes traffic to a regional traffic net.

Stations that check in to the net are considered net participants. Some traffic nets have membership rosters, which may be mandatory or optional in terms of being able to participate in the traffic net. Participants are generally expected to be able to handle traffic, although some nets offer training and will mentor new participants to help them become traffic handlers.

Traffic net structure

Again, generally speaking, a traffic net has four sections: the preamble, check-ins, traffic movement, and postamble. There may also be a questions, bulletins, and announcements section.

Preamble

The net control station starts the traffic net by providing information about the net\’s goals and details on how the net will operate.

Welcome to the traffic net. My name is Aaron, my callsign KILO EIGHT ALPHA MIKE HOTEL, and I will be your net control station. We ask that all stations use ITU phonetics and ID at the end of all transmissions.\”

This is the opportunity for stations to check-in with net control to indicate they would like to participate. If a station is bringing traffic, the net control station will ask what traffic to understand how many and their destinations.

I will now take check-ins from stations with traffic. If you have traffic, come ahead with your callsign phonetically.

YOU: ECHO X-RAY FOUR MIKE PAPA LIMA

Net control recognizes EX4MPL, welcome to the net. Do you have any traffic?

At this point you would indicate if you have traffic, and where it\’s headed. Let\’s say you\’re bringing one piece of traffic (one radiogram) for someone in Wisconsin.

YOU: Hello. Yes, I bring one for Sometown, Wisconsin. EX4MPL.

At this point net control will acknowledge and, based on others that check in, will work to route your traffic to another station for further relaying or delivery.

In this stage of the net the net control station will attempt to move any listed traffic. This will depend on what other stations have checked in, and what their traffic handling capabilities are.

Let\’s say you need to send a message to Nakoosa, Wisconsion. There would need to be a station checked in that can help with moving that traffic in that direction. If a station is available, you will be directed to work with that station to move the traffic along. If not, you may be asked to hold onto your traffic for another net in the hope someone will attend and be able to assist.

Once all traffic is moved and there is no further business for the net, the net control station will close the net by reading the net postamble.

That will conclude this session of the traffic net. Thank you to all stations that participated. This is KILO EIGHT ALPHA MIKE HOTEL returning the repeater to unmoderated amateur radio use.