Amateur Radio Message Handling Bill Ellis, KF7PB April 19, 2012 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Amateur Radio Message Handling Bill Ellis, KF7PB April 19, 2012

Formal Messaging

ARRL Radiogram

Radiogram Components • Preamble • Address • Text • Signature

Preamble

Number • Assigned by the station that originates the message. Any alpha numeric sequence is acceptable but usually it is a numerical sequence starting with 1.

Precedence (Relative Urgency of Message) • Routine (R) — Most day to day messages. Routine messages are rarely used in a disaster. • Welfare (W) — Used to inquire or send information about the health and welfare of an individual in a disaster. • Priority (P) — Used for messages with a time limit for action. Generally any emergency-related message not covered by the Emergency Designation. • Emergency (never Abbreviated) — Messages with life or death urgency.

HX — Handling Instructions (Optional field) • A# — Collect telephone call within # miles. • B# — Cancel if not delivered within # hours of filing time. • C — Report date and time of delivery to originating station.

HX — Handling Instructions (Continued) D — Report to originating Station Date and time of delivery Identity of station delivering the message Each station report station to whom they delivered message

HX — Handling Instructions (continued) • E — Delivering station to get and send a reply from the addressee. • F## — Hold delivery until ## date. • G — Deliver by mail or telephone (no toll call). If toll required cancel message and notify sending station.

Station of Origin • Call sign of first station that put message in into NTS format. (this is not the messages original author) i.e. If the message was given to you to send then you are the station of origin.

Check • The number of words in the message including X-Ray (written as X) used for periods.The preamble, address and signature are NOT included. X-Ray is not used after the last word of the message.

Place of Origin • The name of the building or agency where the originator of the message is located. This is NOT the location of the station that first handled the message (see Station of Origin).

Time Filed • Optional for routine messages but used for welfare, priority and emergency messages. In emergencies use local time followed by PST or PDT in our case.

Date • The date the message was first placed in the traffic system. Use the same date as the time zone indicated in the Time block.

Reading Preamble on Air • Do not read the headings of each block. Read only the information in the block. Read above preamble as follows: • EOC Zero Zero One, Priority, Echo, Whiskey Seven Mike India Romeo, One Four, EOC, One Eight Four Five PDT, April One Nine. (Pause between each block to give receiving operator time to write.)

To (Address) Add call sign if going to a ham. Be sure to include area code in phone number. If you received the message from some other ham fill in the block on the right.

Message (Text) • 25 words maximum, 5 words per line. Word count this message is 12. • Use “xray” for period and “query” for question mark. • Write signature and call sign below the text. Include phone number

Received/Sent • Name, call sign, date and time received. • Name, call sign, date and time sent (sent block used when relaying a message.)

ARL Numbered Text • Numbered text is used to reduce the word count in a message. • ARL text numbers are always spelled out. I.e., ARL SEVEN. • Word count, Check, is written ARL#. I.e., ARL12 to alert receiving station that at least one ARL message is included.

ARL Numbered Text ONE--Everyone safe here. Please don't worry. TWO--Coming home as soon as possible. THREE--Am in ____ hospital. Receiving excellent care and recovering fine. FOUR--Only slight property damage here. Do not be concerned about disaster reports. FIVE--Am moving to new location. Send no further mail or communication. Will inform you of new address when relocated. SIX--Will contact you as soon as possible. SEVEN--Please reply by Amateur Radio through the amateur delivering this message. This is a free public service. EIGHT--Need additional _____ mobile or portable equipment for immediate emergency use. NINE--Additional _____ radio operators needed to assist with emergency at this location.

ARL Numbered Text • TEN--Please contact ______. Advise to standby and provide further (Continued) emergency information, instructions or assistance. • ELEVEN--Establish Amateur Radio emergency communications with ______ on _____ MHz. • TWELVE--Anxious to hear from you. No word in some time. Please contact me as soon as possible. • THIRTEEN--Medical emergency situation exits here. • FOURTEEN--Situation here becoming critical. Losses and damage from ____ increasing. • FIFTEEN--Please advise your condition and what help is needed. • SIXTEEN--Property damage very severe in this area. • SEVENTEEN--REACT communications services also available. Establish REACT communication with ______ on channel • _____. •

ARL Numbered Text (Continued) • NINETEEN--Request health and welfare report on______. (State name, address and telephone number.) • TWENTY--Temporarily stranded. Will need some assistance. Please contact me at ______. • TWENTY ONE--Search and Rescue assistance is needed by local authorities here.Advise availability. • TWENTY TWO--Need accurate information on the extent and type of conditions now existing at your location. Please • furnish this information and reply without delay. • TWENTY THREE--Report at once the accessibility and best way to reach your location. • TWENTY FOUR--Evacuation of residents from this area urgently needed. Advise plans for help. • TWENTY FIVE--Furnish as soon as possible the weather conditions at your location. • TWENTY SIX--Help and care for evacuation of sick and injured from this

Comments • MIRO has not used ARL numbered text in the past. The information was included to show that they do exist and are used in NTS messages.

Informal Messaging

Comments Word count is not needed. Header is simple. More messages can be passed in a given period of time.

Volunteer Message Form

Header Date/Time call was received from the field over the radio. Incident number assigned by radio operator (keep log) Circle Precedence (See bottom of form for assignment of precedence)

From/To Block From: Field station sending the message. Message To: Name to whom the message is being sent. If message is forwarded indicate in the noted blocks.

Incident Location • Identify the location as specifically as possible.

Message If you are the sending operator, be prepared to edit to message to reduce the word count without changing the meaning of the message. Some message writers don't think of keeping it short.

Transmitting Message • Speak slowly. Remember someone is writing the message down as you speak. • Stop frequently for a few seconds by saying “Break” • Make certain that the message is received before signing off.

Questions?