November 14, 2025: I begin a series on the m1ke WLAN IP transceiver in this issue, with future installments planned as I get more comfortable using the device.
NTS is a great system that has been proven successful. However, it feels like the use case for NTS narrows year after year with accessible communications systems being pervasive and incredibly resilient. I think it's great to have as a back-up, but it's hard to invest in something that hasn't seen wide or significant use since I would guess before cellphones and "free" long-distance calls were pervasive? It would be interesting to see NTS ported to other communication channels, not just ham radio. Perhaps an opportunity to broaden reach and regain relevance?
NTS is a great system that has been proven successful. However, it feels like the use case for NTS narrows year after year with accessible communications systems being pervasive and incredibly resilient. I think it's great to have as a back-up, but it's hard to invest in something that hasn't seen wide or significant use since I would guess before cellphones and "free" long-distance calls were pervasive? It would be interesting to see NTS ported to other communication channels, not just ham radio. Perhaps an opportunity to broaden reach and regain relevance?
Yes, NTS is still viable. The revamped NTS website ... https://nts2.arrl.org/radiogram/ ... makes it easy to have anyone send a radiogram.
Built into that system is the checks and balances to insure FCC prohibited communication does not get moved along.