Chapter Seven: Operation of the Transcontinental Corps

The purpose of the Transcontinental Corps (TCC) is to relay traffic from one NTS area to another, conducting liaison with NTS nets to do so. Each NTS cycle has specific functionaries under the supervision of a TCC director.

The function of the TCC director is to assign functions, centralize, coordinate and supervise these activities and file status reports each month with ARRL Headquarters. There are six TCC directors, two for each area.

TCC functions are performed in several ways, according to circumstances. In many cases, the method used is an out-of-net schedule between TCC counterparts of different areas to effect the exchange of traffic from one area to another.

Times and frequencies of the schedules are worked out by the TCC directors working together and are arranged in accordance with time available, propagation conditions, stations available and other factors, always with the objective of the best service possible on an organized, systematic basis.

TCC stations must have the following qualifications:

1. Adequate signal power and appropriate mode to perform the job to be done.
2. The highest caliber of operating ability and NTS net savvy.
3. Capability (both operator and equipment) to keep the required schedules.

 

7.1 TCC Station Functions

 

A TCC station might perform only one TCC function per week. On other days of the week, other stations perform the same function. TCC operates on a seven-day-per-week basis. Each function consists of two steps, as follows (all times in UTC):

Station A

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station reports into Eastern Area Net at 0130, receives all traffic for the Central Area.
2. Reports into Central Area Net (CAN) the same night at 0230, distributes the traffic upon direction of the CAN control station.

Station B

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station reports into Eastern Area Net (EAN) at 0130, receives all traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station H some time between 0230 and 0430 and sends this traffic to him/her.

Station C

1. Normally located in the Central Area, reports into Central Area Net (CAN) at 0230, takes all traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station K some time after 0330 and sends this traffic to him/her.

Station D

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station J some time between 0530 and 1930 to receive traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Sends this traffic into destination Local, Section, Region or Eastern Area Nets at first opportunity.

Station E

1. Normally located in the Central Area, this station reports into Central Area Net (CAN) at 0230, receives all traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station G between 0330 and 0430 and sends this traffic to him/her.

Station F

1. Normally located in the Central Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station I between 0530 and 2030 to receive traffic for the Central Area.
2. Sends this traffic into destination Local, Section, Region or Central Area Nets as soon as possible after received.

Station G

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station E between 0330 and 0430 to receive traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Reports into the Pacific Area Net (PAN) at 0430 to distribute this traffic under direction of the PAN control station.

Station H

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station B between 0230 and 0430 to receive traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Reports into the Pacific Area Net at 0430 to distribute this traffic under direction of the PAN control station.

Station I

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station reports into the Pacific Area Net (PAN) at 0430 to receive traffic for the Central Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station F between 0530 and 2030 to send this traffic.

Station J

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station reports into the Pacific Area Net (PAN) at 0430 to receive traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station D between 0530 and 1930 to send this traffic.

Station K

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station C between 0330 and 1930 to receive traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Sends this traffic into destination Local, Section, Region or Eastern Area Nets as soon as possible after received.

Station L

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station reports into Eastern Area Net (EAN) at 1930, receives all traffic for the Central Area.
2. Reports into Central Area Net (CAN) at 2030, distributes the traffic upon direction of the CAN control station.

Station M

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station reports into Eastern Area Net (EAN) at 1930, receives all traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station S some time between 2030 and 2230 and sends this traffic to him/her.

Station N

1. Normally located in the Central Area, reports into Central Area Net (CAN) at 2030, takes all traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station V some time after 2130 and sends this traffic to him/her.

Station O

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station U sometime between 2330 and 0130 to receive traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Sends this traffic into destination Local, Section, Region or Eastern Area Nets at first opportunity.

Station P

1. Normally located in the Central Area, this station reports into Central Area Net (CAN) at 2030, receives all traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station R between 2130 and 2230 and sends this traffic to him/her.

Station Q

1. Normally located in the Central Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station T between 2330 and 0230 to receive traffic for the Central Area.
2. Sends this traffic into destination Local, Section, Region or Central Area Nets as soon as possible after received.

Station R

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station P between 2130 and 2230 to receive traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Reports into the Pacific Area Net (PAN) at 2230 to distribute this traffic under the direction of the PAN control station.

Station S

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station M between 2030 and 2230 to receive traffic for the Pacific Area.
2. Reports into the Pacific Area Net at 2230 to distribute this traffic under the direction of the PAN control station.

Station T

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station reports into the Pacific Area Net (PAN) at 2230 to receive traffic for the Central Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station Q between 2330 and 0230 to send this traffic.

Station U

1. Normally located in the Pacific Area, this station reports into the Pacific Area Net (PAN) at 2230 to receive traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Keeps a schedule with Station O between 2330 and 0130 to send this traffic.

Station V

1. Normally located in the Eastern Area, this station keeps a schedule with Station N between 2130 and 0130 to receive traffic for the Eastern Area.
2. Sends this traffic into destination Local, Section, Region or Eastern Area Nets as soon as possible after received.

In addition, functions equivalent to the Q/T and O/T schedules are implemented in accordance with Cycle One in the Pacific Area. Further, the Atlantic Region Net (ARN) maintains liaison with EAN for the movement of international message traffic into and out of the NTS.

Figure 6, how TCC works.