Welcome!

This website is meant to be a resource for all amateur radio operators in the Western New York Section of the ARRL, which encompasses the following New York Counties: Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Genesee, Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates. Resources related to the National Traffic System (NTS), traffic handling guidance and procedures and eventually NTS nets (including schedules) as well as additional new ham resources will be added to this site as time allows. If you have any questions, comments or wish to suggest additions, updates or changes of any kind, please email web@wnyham.com and allow up to 48 hours for a reply. Thank you!

Watch Your Words!

When sending traffic, be mindful that certain words may sound the same but have two totally different meanings. In some contexts, the wrong word doesn’t fit, but in some, they can change the meaning. For example: Would/Wood, For/Four, To/Too/Two, etc. When coming across those words, it may be best to spell them to make it clear which word applies to the message being sent.

Traffic Tips #7

When checking into any formal net, which most traffic nets are… It is important to determine if you are going to be there a while. If for some reason you are unable to stay or pick up traffic and you simply want to ID yourself to the net controller, it is okay to check in as “in and out” or “short time” which signals the net controller to either move critical items your way, release you from the net or find an alternate route for traffic. Keeping in that same spirit, if you check in and then decide that you must leave, it is best practice to notify the net controller that you are checking out of the net. This helps the net controller keep track of who is still available and who is not.

S E T Weekend

Simulated Emergency Test (SET) weekend is upon us. Time to dust off your HT radios, spare batteries, generators and other off-grid methods for powering communications equipment. Test your emergency regularly and remember to follow safety protocols when operating equipment with off-gas or emissions.

WebSDR

If you’re looking for a way to listen to some HF activity, but don’t currently have an HF radio or maybe you’re lacking an antenna or live in an area with a heavy noise level – you can try using WebSDR to receive. http://www.websdr.org has a bunch of receivers on air that are broadcast over the internet, including one in Northern PA that’s great to listen to NY State/Section and Regional nets with. Examples being the New York Public Operations Net at 5PM daily on 3925 kHz or Second Region Net (2RN) at 6:30PM daily on 3926 kHz.

Traffic Tips #6

How do I use a period/dot in a radiogram? That depends! How do you want to use it? When finishing a thought or changing subjects in a radiogram message, use “X” to end the statement or thought as in Example1. When referring to a decimal point, use “R” in place of the period/dot as in Example2. When referring to an email or website, use “DOT” written out as in Example3.

Example1: WE HAD A GREAT TIME X WHY IS IT THAT WE ONLY VISIT IN FALL QUERY

Example2: 146R52 IS THE CALLING FREQUENCY

Example3: WWW DOT GOOGLE DOT COM