ARRL

Register Account

Login Help

NTS

National Traffic System™ (NTS™)

During disasters or other emergencies, radiograms are used to communicate information critical to saving lives or property, or to inquire about the health or welfare of a disaster victim.

To get involved with NTS , find your local NTS affiliate on the air: ARRL Net Directory Search.

Modernization of NTS (The NTS 2.0 Project)

The current National Traffic System is comprised of dedicated operators well trained and practiced in the art of traffic handling. They participate in nets at the local, section, region, and area levels 365 days per year.

Yet we cannot ignore reality: the proliferation of low-cost/free telephone calls, text messaging, and the worldwide web means today's general public has many alternatives to traditional radiograms. As a result, much of today's NTS traffic consists solely of amateur-to-amateur: "welcome to amateur radio," "license expiration" etc. In addition, there are serious questions as to the accuracy and reliability of our networks. Finally, it should be noted that some public agencies have never heard of NTS; or, have begun creating their own backup messaging systems.

For more information regarding the modernization of NTS visit The NTS 2.0 Project webpage.

Sign up to receive The NTS™ Letter

The NTS Letter is published monthly and is free of charge to ARRL members. Members can subscribe at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.

View all NTS™ Letter Issues

  • NTS PowerPoint

    Check out this PowerPoint on the National Traffic System (NTS) including an intro. to National Traffic System Digital (NTSD). Go Now

  • NTS Manual

    Read more about the purpose, policies, and procedures of the NTS. Go Now

  • Net Directory

    See how public-service nets that support the NTS™ have been registered with the directory database. Go Now

  • NTS ™ Forms

    Forms related to traffic handling and the National Traffic System™: ARRL Radiogram, FSD-3, FSD-89, FSD-125, & FSD-218. Go Now

  • NTS Digital

    Visit this website about the National Traffic System Digital (NTSD). Go Now

  • Instructors Guide

    This guide is written for the volunteers who are willing to train Amateur Radio operators about traffic handling. Go Now

  • Net Operations

    This PowerPoint Presentation explains amateur radio net operations Go Now

Third Party Traffic

Find out which countries share a third party traffic agreement with the United States with the Third Party Traffic List.

EXPLORE ARRL

Instragram     Facebook     Twitter     YouTube     LinkedIn