Saguaro
National Traffic System (NTS) Net

The National Traffic System of messaging began over 100 years ago with the formation of the American Radio Relay League in 1915, a proud tradition that continues today. Our intention is for this site to be a helpful resource to all ham radio operators interested in handling message traffic.

FIELD DAY IS JUNE 24-25, 2017! This is a very special weekend where hams in the U.S.A. and Canada gather at various locations and operate for a solid 24-hr period to compete for the most QSOs (radio contacts) and other activities. The Amer. Radio Relay League (ARRL) web site has all the information, rules, even a map where stations will be setup, at their ARRL Field Day pages.
Our FIELD DAY 2017 page has sample messages (for clubs to model their radiograms from) to earn 200 bonus points, our net schedule (2 extra nets), and other helpful information.

WHAT IS A RADIOGRAM MESSAGE?
Radiogram messages are the heart of the National Traffic System (NTS). Remember the telegraph messages of old? Radiogram messages are 25 words or less, and range from birthday and holiday greetings to simple messages to keep in touch. These messages can go to anyone, whether or not they are a ham (amateur radio operator). Radiogram messages are relayed on radio nets and sent digitally by hams all over the United States and can be sent to other countries (wherever Third Party Traffic is permitted). In times of an emergency, hams handle Health & Welfare message traffic to and from disaster areas.

SAGUARO NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM MONTHLY NUMBERS:
MAY 2017: Sessions: 31; Check-ins: 205; Messages: 143 (62 Originations, 44 Service, and 37 relays).

SAGUARO NTS NIGHTLY NET:
The Saguaro NTS Net meets EVERY NIGHT on ham radio at 6:30 P.M. (1830 hrs MST) on the EAARS Repeater Network (Eastern Arizona Amateur Radio Society). EAARS repeaters cover Eastern Arizona clear into new Mexico! If you cannot reach the EAARS repeaters, connect via EchoLink on a desktop machine, laptop or smartphone via K7EAR-R (EchoLink Node 614350), or use IRLP (Node 7787). Please join us and learn and participate in NTS messaging. Training tidbits are offered nightly and we are happy to help.
 
Our purpose is to relay radiogram message traffic within the United States (and outside the U.S. wherever Third-Party Traffic is permitted). The Saguaro NTS Net meets on VHF/UHF two-meters and 70-cm, voice mode, to enable hams with any level of amateur radio license to participate. Pink, K7ILA, and Bill, KC7ZZ, started the Saguaro NTS Net after Field Day (a national ham radio weekend) in June 2009. Many thanks to the Radio Society of Tucson (Randy, KF0X, in particular) for encouraging us to start the net on the K7RST repeater atop Mt. Lemmon. We moved to the EAARS network in 2010 to reach a wider geographic area, and utilize KK7OEM, -146.880 (110.9 PL), and -145.250 (156.7) as our alternate repeaters. As of 5/1/17, Pink, K7ILA, is Net Manager; Dick, W0PZD, is Assistant Net Manager, and Byron, AA7BM, is Training Manager.

ARIZONA TRAFFIC & EMERGENCY NET (ATEN):
The Saguaro NTS Net is an affiliate of the Arizona Traffic & Emergency Net (ATEN), an HF voice net which meets nightly on 3986 KHz (80 meters) at 7:00 P.M. (MST) or 0200z. Saguaro NTS members relay traffic to and from the ATEN, and also connect with other wide-area HF nets. Saguaro participants also utilize CW, Pactor and other modes to relay traffic into and out of Arizona.
 
Please join us on the air! Click here to join our Yahoo group e-mail list (or ask any of our net control operators for an invite).