[ARRL-OK] Fw: NEW NTS Net

[Mark Conklin]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: N9ACQ <n9acq at hughes.net>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 11:58 PM
Subject: 
 

Contact Richard Webb, NF5B
 
richard.webb at 116-901.ftn.wpusa.dynip.com
 
Beginning August 1 at 0100 UTC.
Frequency:  3810 khz or first clear spot between 3810 and the general class sub-band limit.
Essentially 3810 khz or next clear spot below 3810 but above 3803 khz.
 
Duration:  We'll try to remain actively guarding that frequency until 0500 UTC. 
 
The net will handle all legal traffic.  Any traffic which would be other than an informal "words with" etc. should be formal written traffic. 
Net members such as NTS liaisons with other nets may wish to assist those not conversant with formulating formal messages. 
 
                            Rationale
 
The central area night watch is not intended to draw usual functions such as tcc schedules from the usual scheduled cyclic activity of region and area nets within central area.  Its sole purpose is providing manual access to the NTS structure for
stations who may for whatever reason be unable to access normal Morse circuits during those hours.   A second purpose is to provide support for ARRL sections experiencing communication difficulties and outages due to disasters or large scale emergencies.
 
Many sections do not operate late sessions of their cycle 4 nets. Although parts of regions 5 and 7 may be covered by the presence of independent phone nets the remainder of central area is under served after about 0115 UTC.      This will give stations who would otherwise be able to provide access to NTSD circuits who are not cw operators a way to move traffic.
 
With some daytime nets within central area unable to provide every day service methods of access to the system in addition to those during limited times is desirable to help educate and recruit new traffic handlers.  By encouraging mobiles and others to maintain a listening watch during nighttime hours with a controlled net helping facilitate communications could provide great benefits as I discussed in the white paper I submitted to multiple ARRL bodies, and for public comment. 
 
This is a pilot project which will begin running August first at 0100Z. 
 
Another important reason for the net to exist would be the standing up of an emergency resource almost immediately when needed.  This would provide all comers with outlets for traffic, including health and welfare advisories from the disaster area and tactical messages, both formal and informal. 
Short term goal is to maintain a directed net until 0300 UTC daily with stations standing a watch over that frequency until 0500.
 
All stations with appropriate amateur privileges are encouraged to utilize the facilities of Central Area Nightwatch. 
 
Please note that CANW will remain in extended session at the request of any section manager, section emergency coordinator or section traffic manager to facilitate emergency communications.
 
Central Area NIghtwatch is part of the ARRl National Traffic system.  All stations are welcome.
 
Richard Webb, NF5B
 
Chair, ARRl NTS Central Area