139 lines
7.4 KiB
Plaintext
139 lines
7.4 KiB
Plaintext
DELIVERY.NTS (7/89)
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Handling third party traffic is the oldest tradition in Amateur Radio. This
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is most valuable during disasters. Nationwide the National Traffic System
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(NTS) has hundreds of local and section nets meeting daily in order to
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facilitate the delivery and origination of such messages. This system
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functions on a daily basis as positive public service for fellow hams and the
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general public. It serves another function as well. The NTS provides a well
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oiled and trained national system of experienced traffic handlers able to
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handle large volumes of third party traffic accurately and efficiently during
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disasters. At least that is the goal. More and more of this traffic is being
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originated, relayed, and delivered on packet. The following concentrates on
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the procedure of delivering a third party message.
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Of course, we encourage all originating stations to give a complete address as
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possible including a telephone number; but this is not always possible and is
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not a requirement. We have seen disaster related NTS traffic as well as
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everyday NTS traffic be delivered with as little information as the first and
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last name and the city. Here are some "preferred" procedures to effect the
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goal:
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USING TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES AND DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE
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If the message doesn't have a phone number check the phone book. (Be sure to
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check for "close" or alternative spelling possibilities due to possible errors
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or typos).
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Then call 411 and repeat (especially necessary for new listings). Granted this
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second step may cost the operator 25 cents, but we feel that this is well
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worth it for the benefit of Amateur Radio. Many stations refuse to spend even
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25 cents at this stage. We can't force them to do it, as NTS is a volunteer
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system, so they can refuse to accept the message. However, it is considered a
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minimum procedure for a NTS station to do.
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MAILING AND HAND DELIVERING MESSAGES
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If no phone number can be obtained, a good NTS operator will deliver the
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message by hand to the address given (if it is reasonably close to your QTH).
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In the case of PO Boxes or addresses too far away, it is recommended that the
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message be mailed in ARRL radiogram forms, stating the reason for mailing
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(Mailed because no phone number given or listed).
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SERVICING MESSAGES
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If the message can not be delivered via the phone or dropped off directly at
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the destination QTH, mailing is not required only preferred. One is permitted
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to service the message back to the originator found in the NTS preamble (not
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necessarily the same station who first put the message onto packet). All that
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is necessary is to read the station of origin and place of origin and put that
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in the address field, i.e., W1PEX Nashua NH. The message may be sent to NTSNH
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@ NTSNH if no zipcode is known. Normally this type of addressing is sufficient
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in NTS as originating station are usually known at the local or section net
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level; however more complete addressing is often possible by using an up-to-
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date callbook. Also a zipcode can be found even without a callbook using a
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decent zipcode book.
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Many times NTS can get a message delivered even when the phone number is not
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known at the originating end through the judicious use of local telephone
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directories and alternate spellings. We do strongly advise all originating
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stations to give as a complete an address as possible and it is left to the
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discretion of the delivery operator to what extent he/she will be able to put
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forth the necessary effort to get the message delivered. Obviously there would
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be a difference in how one would treat a disaster message versus a simple
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"Welcome to the QCWA" message. Regardless, it is often cleaner and of greater
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service to simply mail the message as the worse case, rather than service it
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back to the originator. Some so called "junk" messages actually contain the
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optional handling instruction HXG in the preamble, which reads: "Delivery by
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mail or landline toll call not required. If toll or other expense is involved,
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cancel message and service originating station".
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The rules are a little vague as to when a message can be serviced. We must be
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sensitive to the fact that the whole system is a volunteer, and that we cannot
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force deliveries. What we must be strongly opposed to is the destruction of
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messages. In other words, if the message cannot be delivered, it should not be
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accepted. If it is accepted it must be delivered or serviced back telling the
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originator the reason it is undeliverable. If there is no one at a local BBS
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who is willing to deliver a NTS message via mail, then the NTS packet manager
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at that BBS, should service the originator, telling them: "Message
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undeliverable because no phone number given or listed".
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Likewise, if only a Post Office Box is given a telephone may be able to be
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obtained through the directory or 411.
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Lately we see many so called NTS operators on local and section nets refusing
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to deliver messages that do not have phone numbers. This practice is abhorrent
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to many old timers. A good NTS operator will take the message and do all
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he/she can do to find a way to deliver it. Don't accept it unless you are
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willing to deliver it or service it.
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In servicing a message, you can best be succinct using the ARL sixty seven
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message which reads, "Your message number____ undeliverable because of____.
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Please advise."
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An example could be:
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NR 123 R W6ABC ARL 20 Podunk Hollow CA Sep 16
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W1PEX
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Nashua NH BT
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ARL sixty seven 123 phone
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number incorrect no listing 73 BT
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Joe W6ABC ar
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This message tells W1PEX, a well known NTS operator in Nashua New Hampshire,
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that his message number 123 was undeliverable and why. W1PEX has the option of
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sending W6ABC a corrected phone number, if available, or of cancelling the
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message. If W6ABC doesn't hear from W1PEX in a few weeks he can assume that
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the message can be filed.
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DELIVERING MESSAGES ON THE TELEPHONE
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Be friendly, clear, and pleasant. Assume that the recipient knows nothing
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about Amateur Radio. Assuage their fear about any costs. A good opening may
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be as follows.
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"Hello Mrs. Smith? This is an Amateur Radio operator here in Podunk Hollow and I have a radiogram message to you from you from your Uncle in Iowa Flats. It
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is dated Sept. 15 and is for you and Mr. Smith. It reads...read the text
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now...signed, Uncle Herbert."
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Pause here for any response. Usually you will get profuse thanks. Sometimes
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questions on how the message was relayed or questions about Amateur Radio. If
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the person who received the message seems to be a bit stunned or apprehensive,
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you might ask if she understood the message and if she would like to send a
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message back to Uncle Herbert. Explain that the service is free and is a
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public service of Amateur Radio. Remember to get as a complete an address as
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possible for any replies, including a telephone number, if possible. Thinking
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of yourself as an ambassador from Amateur Radio often helps.
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DELIVERING A MESSAGE VIA MAIL
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OK, if all else fails, mail it; but make it neat. You can get ARRL radiogram
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blanks from the ARRL in pads or in post card form at most good ham radio stores
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or from ARRL Headquarters (see "QST Magazine"). Otherwise, make it look
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professional by typing it. Give your home phone number and address if they
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have questions. Explain that this message is a free public service of Amateur
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Radio.
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Lastly, thanks to you who are willing to do something in return for Amateur
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Radio. It is YOU who make NTS work.
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