NTS PARADIGM SHIFT

(This was originally a post on the Radiogram Yahoo Group website. I have made corrections and edits here. Enjoy.)

I'm going to try to have a little fun this morning. So… if you are in one of those "taking everything seriously" moods, you should probably not read this post, go get another cup of coffee, and continue with whatever more important matter is on your plate for the day.

As I have had time to reflect upon the several posts within the group, as well as another half dozen or so groups that I follow, I have made some observations. The one thing that I have learned is that I cannot expect there to be a consensus concerning my observations… C'mon…. that is supposed to be funny. What I have learned here is that there is a very wide gap in the opinions concerning the role and the implementation of the NTS and traffic handling. When we spend our time fussing about the differences between e-mailing vs. snail mailing a radiogram, one thing becomes very clear: Among those that actively post comments, there doesn't seem to be a lot of "middle ground". Furthermore, there seems to be a lot!!! of passion from all involved.

Passion can be a bad thing when it is expressed by a mad man. But I am assuming that the players in this game are not crazy… everyone except me that is. I've been called crazy by some that know me the best, but that is a discussion for another group… Hi Hi. Passion is a GOOD thing when it is expressed by well meaning and polite people. Now, if we can just get all that passion working in the same direction… WOW!

As I looked back at the posting in various groups, there truly seemed to be more disagreement than agreement. As this seemed to also be the case here in the Radiogram group, at first I was a bit dismayed by this. My goal of trying to create an exchange for ideas on how to create more traffic seemed to rapidly deteriorate into a discussion on why "it" couldn't or shouldn't be done. New ideas were referred to as "schemes". And that crazy and thoughtless "200 Radiogram" guy… "What was he thinking????" Every village has an idiot. Right? (FYI… I'm that guy.)

The conversation became more of a history lesson of the failures, than a strategy for future success. So, I set out to try to see if I could figure out why there seemed to be such a disparity concerning that which is such a historic part of the Amateur Radio universe. And I must admit that I really reexamined my own participation in the NTS in light of some of the ideas expressed here in the group.

In my personal efforts to try to bring a little bit of fresh traffic into the system, were my efforts being misunderstood? I now have learned that apparently that was the case. So, I had to ask myself the hard question, "Was I doing more harm than good?" I suppose that the answer to that question is like a lot of the posts within the group… it just depends upon your perspective.

So… on to some of my specific observations, and remember… we're havin' fun this morning. So, lighten up and smile a bit.

Ideas and opinions seem to loosely follow a geographic pattern. 0's, 8's and 9's seem to have a similar view. If a Radiogram is being delivered to a SK, this is the group that seems to be able to deal with it in the most positive way. 4's and 5's tend to lean in a likewise direction, yet they have a unique Southern hospitality that is unmistakable. If there is any group that I would want to offer a "correction" to something I have done on a traffic net, it would be the 4's and 5's. They are always so "polite"… the first time they correct you. However, the second time they have to point something out… well… it's kind of like taking a trip out behind the wood shed. Been there, done that, don't want to go there again. 1's, 2's and 3's seem to be very passionate and share a lot of common ideas. And then there are the 6's… The 6's are great. They seem to have their own sort of view of things. 6's have created their own particular NTS galaxy party. I wish I was a 6! As for 7’s… (I’m having fun here, so everyone smile…) There are only 32 stations in all of 7-Land, so it’s hard to reach them for an opinion.

Also, ideas and opinions seem to loosely follow a pattern based upon how long an individual has been involved in Amateur Radio. Those that are new to the game, like me, and have no experience handling traffic back in the good ol' days seem to see the NTS and radiograms differently than those who handled "real" radiograms. I have learned that experience is sometimes the BEST teacher… but sometimes, it is the most boring as well.

Now, let's put this all together. What do you get when you put a "new 8" with an "experienced 2"? A TRAIN WRECK! What do you get when you put a "veteran 0" with a "6"? A PARTY… Remember: Any 6 mixed with anything else is a party! What do you get when you put an "old 4" with someone from 1-land? It doesn't matter `cause the 4 will bring some good Southern Sweet Tea to the shindig. And OMG what to you get when you put a "new IT / digital geek 3" with a "CW 8"? Complete and total confusion. And lastly, what do you get when you put a MARS operator from any call district with anyone else? "Stand up straight, soldier! Suck that gut in! What's your call sign? I can't HEAR YOU!!!"

Here's my present conclusion, and I reserve the right to make future revisions. I realize as a newcomer to the ARRL party that I most certainly have not earned a place to offer any advice or suggestions… but, I'm going to anyway. We can all play around here on this group and others like it, but ultimately it is up to the ARRL to determine the future of the NTS. They alone have the capability and the credibility to do what needs done.

It is time for the ARRL to call for an NTS symposium for the express purpose of establishing a new… a COMPLETELY NEW paradigm for the NTS. This symposium must be made up of very positive and forward thinking operators pulled from our ranks. This positive and forward thinking qualification must be the foremost consideration above all other items on a person's Ham Radio resume. Also, each participant in the symposium must realize that everything they come up with will most likely be met with stiff opposition. They will be told 100 different reasons why "that will never work".

One thing that must be of utmost priority in the development of this new NTS paradigm is the establishment of a group of very radical "nothing is off limits" operators whose assignment would be to prepare an NTS plan for the "unthinkable" collapse of the national communication infrastructure, as well as the civil unrest that would most likely follow. This would include even subjects such as Shack Security and Stealth Antennas. A complete examination of how to expand and exploit 2 meter simplex networks should also be discussed.

Using the NTS during "typical" disaster type scenarios has probably seen its usefulness replaced by other technologies. We really need to focus on our "When all else fails" motto.

The old pattern for using the NTS as a "messaging" service is probably not in our future, yet should be developed as a "recreational" use of the NTS between Hams. I still believe that the time for Radiogram contesting has come. I know that there are those that strongly disagree, but I think it can and should be done. And I believe the ARRL should spearhead this endeavor.

Another thing would be to create a group of operators whose assignment would be the preparation and implementation of an NTS Promotion that would be rolled out nationally once it was completed. It seems to me that time has come for the NTS to come out of the shadows. We need a program to positively promote the work of the NTS. It seems utterly ridiculous to me that a new operator's first exposure to the NTS is a (I loathe this term) spamgram.

These are but a few of my ideas. As you are thinking about these… Format and send me a Radiogram with your thoughts. And if you are a "mover and shaker" in the ARRL, I am especially interested in your thoughts.