NTS.TXT  801               SENDING NTS TRAFFIC on APRS
Bob Bruninga WB4APR

Version 8.0 of APRSdos incorporates a limited NTS send and receive 
capability that displays messages in the NTS format of a radiogram.  
This capability is only meant to simplify the distribution of low volume
NTS traffic to the end receipient via the APRS system where convenient, 
not to replace existing NTS traffic handling systems.  The new commands 
are as follows:


TRANSMIT:  ALT-N command.  The user is prompted with an NTS form that 
forces the message into the NTS format.  APRS then arranges the data
into 4 or more standard APRS formatted one-line messages as follows: 

  N#\num\prec\handling\check\origin\time\date
  NA\address_line1\line2\line3\line4
  NP\phone number
  NT\line 1 of message text
  NT\line 2 of message text
  ...
  NT\line 5 of message text
  NS\Signature block
  NR\Received from\date_time\sent_to\date_time

These lines are backwards compatible with all APRS versions.  The last
line "NR\..." is for local logging only and is not transmitted.  It is, 
however, saved to the APRSdos ALL page and to the .LOG file if logging 
is enabled.


RECEIPT:  When APRS sees these formats, it simply parses out the blocks 
and displays them on an NTS RADIOGRAM form.  The FORM will appear
automatically once the signature line has been received to alert the
receiver that he has new traffic.  Otherwise the message lines just
appear on READ screen.  They can be re-displayed at anytime on the 
READ page by hitting the N key.

APRSdos uses sequential delivery so the individual lines all arrive 
in sequence.  For messages from Mac/Win which are transmitted in 
parallel, the lines may be out of sequence.  Therefore the {MMn line 
numbers are displayed so you will know their sequence.

The lines are numbered with {MMn where MM is a MESSAGE serial number 
and n is the line number within that message...

PRINTING:  With APRSdos, you can print the NTS screen directly to a
printer (just like any other APRS screen) by hitting the shift-PRINT-
SCREEN key as long as you executed the DOS GRAPHICS command before
you executed APRS.

LISTING TRAFFIC:  If you know who will take the traffic, just use the 
ALT-N command  above.  Otherwise, it is best to just LIST the traffic
with a one line GROUP-MESSAGE so that other NTS traffic handlers can
see what traffic you have pending.  They can then send you a message
saying they will accept the traffic.  For example, I might be interested
in traffic to the following MESSAGE GROUPS:

   BTN  - Baltimore Traffic Net
   MSN  - Maryland SLow Net
   MEPN - Maryland Emergency Phone Net
   
If I enter those as BTN,MEPN and MSN using the INPUT-MY-MSGgroups command,
then I will receive any group messages sent to those calls.  So to list
my outgoing traffic for BTN, I might send TO BTN: 3 routine. 1 for W3XYZ
and 2 for downtown.

OOPS:  APRS803 has a typo and the INPUT-MY-MSGgroups is actually I-M-C
and not I-M-M as it should be...  THis is fixed in all later versions.

BULLETINS.  ALso, in APRS804, you may send NTS messages that are addressed
to all radio amateurs as an APRS BULLTEIN, and it will also be displayed
by all receipients on the NTS form, if they hit the N key.


CUSTOMIZING:  You may add your name, address and Phone number to your
NTS display page by manually editing the line in your CFIG800.APR
file.  Look for the line that has the default entries.  Be careful
when editing the CFIG file.  Every entry must be in the right place,
no extra lines etc.   But this line is relatively safe as long as
you separate the fields with the backslash and keep it on one line.