Author: W2ZXN

Traffic Tips #6

How do I use a period/dot in a radiogram? That depends! How do you want to use it? When finishing a thought or changing subjects in a radiogram message, use “X” to end the statement or thought as in Example1. When referring to a decimal point, use “R” in place of the period/dot as in Example2. When referring to an email or website, use “DOT” written out as in Example3.

Example1: WE HAD A GREAT TIME X WHY IS IT THAT WE ONLY VISIT IN FALL QUERY

Example2: 146R52 IS THE CALLING FREQUENCY

Example3: WWW DOT GOOGLE DOT COM

Traffic Tips #5

Punctuation in a radiogram is simple. No punctuation such as commas, periods, colons, hyphens, question marks, etc. are permitted in a radiogram. Instead, other characters or words are used in their place. For example, “X” is used to indicate a period (but should NOT be used as the last group in a radiogram) and the word QUERY is used in place of a question mark. Hyphens or dashes should be left out, unless they are necessary, then should be written as HYPHEN or DASH.

Traffic Tips #4

When building a radiogram including a telephone number, it is important to remember that phone numbers are split into either two or three groups, depending on if an area code is necessary and/or included. The NTS Methods & Practices Guide, section 1.2.4 indicates that with an area code, a telephone number is split into three groups – 3 digits, 3 digits and 4 digits.

Traffic Tips #3

When correcting check errors the original check should be maintained in the message and the corrected check should be noted. In the radiogram the original and corrected check should be noted with a “/” which on voice would be read as corrected to. This also applies to missing ARL designator in messages where ARRL Numbered Radiograms are used. Example1: A check of 15 that was corrected to 14 should be noted as “15/14” which would be read as “one five corrected to one four“. Example2: A message which starts out with ARL Fifty and has a check of 14 should be noted as “14/ARL 14” and should be read as “one four corrected to A-R-L one four“.

Traffic Tips #2

It is best practice to indicate initials as initials versus taking them for abbreviated words. Changing some word-groups can change the check of the message, while some simply imply that a word is written out; but both change the message, which should always be avoided. One example of this is changing NJ by reading it as “New Jersey” instead of “initials november juliette” or “initial group november juliette” which would change the word count as well as alter the original message. Another example of this is changing KHZ by reading it as “kilohertz” instead of “initials kilo hotel zulu” or “initial group kilo hotel zulu” which, while minor, alters the original message that was sent, which should always be avoided.

Traffic Tips #1

When sending a message by radio there are many factors that may change the way a message is heard by the receiving party. This is especially true of numbers. It is best practice to indicate “figures” and voice each number in a group of numbers as a single digit. For Example: 14 should be sent as “figures one four” because the word “fourteen” may be misheard or believed to be written out with letters.

147.300 W2OCR

The W2OCR 147.300+ repeater has a PL tone of 67.0 – this is important information for those who may be looking to take/pass traffic for the Syracuse area on that repeater. Thanks to John WA2U for the reminder!

SAR WANTED!

Our WNY ARRL Section leadership is interested in Station Activity Reports (SAR) from our Official Relay Stations (ORS) and other stations participating in the National Traffic System.

Please send your report as a radiogram to Matt K2EAG/STM within the first week of each month for inclusion in the section traffic report to our section and field organization leadership. 
Here’s an example of a combined SAR and PSHR:
JUNE SAR ORIGINATED 5 SENT 29 RECEIVED 34 DELIVERED 7TOTAL 75 PSHR 31 4010 0 0 0 TOTAL81
The SAR points are made up of these four categories:

Originated
(An off-the-air function) Any ARRL standard format message traffic prepared by you (the first party) for someone other than yourself (a third party), and filed at your amateur radio station for initial transmission over the air. Count one point. In other words, this is a radiogram which you created for another per-son using your station’s message number and call sign.
Note: A message that you create for yourself does not qualify as an Origination, but will be covered later under the SENT category.
Sent
(An on-the-air function) Any message traffic to be sent by your station to another amateur station (a second party), whether such a message is initially transmitted from your station as your Originated message for a third party, a message for your-self, or one that was received from another amateur station. Count one point.
Note: Messages sent by means of telephone, postal, E-mail, etc. do not count as Sent, however they may qualify for counting as Delivered.
Received
(An on-the-air function) Any ARRL standard format radiogram received over amateur radio by your station. This will include message traffic received, whether for yourself, for relay to another amateur station (the second party), or received for delivery to the message addressee (a third party). Count one point.
Note: Messages received by other means, such as telephone, postal, E-mail, MARS, in-person, etc., are not counted as Received, however they may cause you to Originate a message for later transmission.
Delivered
(An off-the-air function) Any message traffic that is delivered by you to the message addressee (a third party), provided that the message was received at your station by amateur radio and that the addressee is someone other than yourself. This delivery is done by telephone, postal, E-mail, in-person, etc. Count one point.
Note: A message sent by amateur radio to the final addressee at another amateur station is counted as a sent message, not as a delivered message. 
The Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) includes 6 categories and should be reported in this order:

  1. Participating in a public service net, using any mode.

    1 point per net session; maximum 40.
  2. Handling formal messages (radiograms) via any mode.

    1 point for each message handled; maximum 40.
  3. Serving in an ARRL-sponsored volunteer position: ARRL Field Organization appointee or Section Manager, NTS Net Manager, TCC Director, TCC member, NTS official or appointee above the Section level.

    10 points for each position; maximum 30.
  4. Participation in scheduled, short-term public service events such as walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, parades, simulated emergency tests and related practice events. This includes off-the-air meetings and coordination efforts with related emergency groups and served agencies.

    5 points per hour (or any portion thereof) of time spent in either coordinating and/or operating in the public service event; no limit.
  5. Participation in an unplanned emergency response when the Amateur Radio operator is on the scene. This also includes unplanned incident requests by public or served agencies for Amateur Radio participation.

    5 points per hour (or any portion thereof) of time spent directly involved in the emergency operation; no limit.
  6. Providing and maintaining a) an automated digital system that handles ARRL radiogram-formatted messages; b) a Web page or e-mail list server oriented toward Amateur Radio public service.

    10 points per item.

Amateur Radio stations that qualify for PSHR 12 consecutive months, or 18 out of a 24 month period, will be awarded a certificate from Headquarters upon written notification of qualifying months to the Public Service Branch of Field and Educational Services at ARRL HQ.
While PSHR is earned at 70 points and higher, all active stations are encouraged to include PSHR along with their SAR.
Do you still have questions? We’d love to help! Please contact one of your Section Traffic Managers below:
Matt K2EAG

WNY Section Traffic Manager

k2eag@…

Hamshack Hotline 5748

716-616-0188


Andy W2ZXN

WNY Assistant Section Traffic Manager

w2zxn@…

Hamshack Hotline 11359

315-219-2219