NTS traffic flow outside a section is very well set up and detailed by the ARRL NTS (National Traffic System). This includes Section Net to Region Net, Region Net to Section Net, Region Net to Area Net and the Transcontinental Corps (TCC). What is not so set in the inter-section traffic flow.
The traffic flow within a section is usually set up and controlled by the Section Traffic Manager (STM) who makes prior arrangements with local traffic nets. In the NH Section, this traffic flow needs to include the FM repeater network as well as Packet Radio for traffic to flow into the communities which are not in the highly populated areas. The only traffic net serving Southern NH, to my knowledge, is the net operating on the W1ALE repeater on 146.940 under the name of Granite State FM Net. This net does what it can to handle NTS traffic with members who attend the net but traffic in and out of the net is not formally managed. For this to happen, as with other FM nets, is that a station needs to take all traffic from the Section CW net, which is not sent to a delivering station, to the FM net for listing. Traffic not sent to a delivering station on the FM net needs to go back to the CW net the next day. In this manner the traffic be able to utilize all available outlets and eventually get delivered. Net Control Stations should make sure the traffic keeps getting relayed until delivered. With a system of this type established and working, stations will not feel reluctant to take traffic to another net for fear of being “stuck” with it.
If you’re in a net where traffic is listed with no takers, offer to relay it to another net. This gives the net the traffic count, keeps you in practice, and will get our section known as one that gets the message through. Delivering a Radio-Gram to a non ham is a joy everyone should experience.
Remember, always ask if the recipient would like to reply. In this way, we can get non amateur traffic and introduce more people to the amateur service.
73, Jim Belanger, N1NH