Last month I talked about copying a message on a net. After delivering the message you might need to send a message back to the originator. Anytime a message is undeliverable a service message is required. If the message you delivered had a handling instruction HXC the originator requests a message back with date and time of delivery. If a handling instruction is HXE the originator requests a reply from the recipient. Or you might just want to send a message to a family member, a friend or another ham. How do you go about it?
First, have your radiogram form in front of you and fill it out appropriately, including the boxes in the preamble, the full address and phone number if available, the text and signature. If sending a service message, ARRL Numbered radiograms can be used, ie ARL FORTY SEVEN if a message was successfully delivered, or ARL SIXTY SEVEN if you were unable to make a delivery. A list of ARRL numbered radiograms can be found on our website. When using one of these texts don’t forget to fill in the blanks. For example:
ARL FORTY SEVEN 123 K1ABC MARCH 10 2300, or ARL SIXTY SEVEN 456 PHONE 555 321 4566 DISCONNECTED.
When using these ARRL numbered radiograms add ARL to the check in the preamble, ie ARL 8, and spell out the ARL numbers in the text, ie ARL FORTY SEVEN, not ARL 47. 10 digit phone numbers in the text are sent in three word groups, ie 555 321 4566 is three word groups in the check.
When you check into a net, list traffic, and are directed by NCS to send your traffic, remember to read the message at a speed the recipient can copy. Imagine writing the words yourself as you read. Read all parts in the order of your radiogram form, using proper prowords where appropriate. Prowords introduce certain parts of your message and are used for clarity and to help assure accuracy in copying.
In the preamble the only proword we use is the word “NUMBER” at the very beginning. It is not necessary to say “station of origin is”, “check is”, etc. as the station copying the message is already anticipating the order of the preamble. Following the preamble go immediately into the name, address and phone number, spelling uncommon proper names using proper phonetics as listed on our website. Prior to reading the text, say “BREAK” and pause a few seconds to give the receiving station an opportunity to ask for fills. If no response, continue on to the text. NO need to say “how copy”, “text follows” etc. If the receiving station isn’t copying, he/she will ask for fills as needed.
When reading the texts, spell uncommon words or letter groups, introducing with “I SPELL”. Introduce number groups with “FIGURES” to distinguish from numbers spelled out. ie “FIGURES 678”. Introduce an alphanumeric group with “MIXED GROUP”, ie 0230Z”, or for callsigns, “AMATEUR CALL”, ie AMATEUR CALL KW1U”. At the end of the text, say “BREAK” again, pausing a few seconds to listen for any fills. If no response, continue to signature followed by “END NO MORE”, or “END MORE” if appropriate. Again, NO need to say “how copy”. Receiving station will ask for fills if needed, or say “ROGER”.
That’s it. Sound complicated? Not really. Just remember we have all made mistakes, including your section traffic manager, and we’re all here to learn to do better. We follow these guidelines since this has proven to lead to better accuracy and efficienty.
| MASS STM REPORT | Feb-16 | |||||||
| NET | SESSIONS | QTC | QNI | QTR | NM | |||
| EM2MN | 29 | 54 | 167 | 542 | N1SYC | 145.23 | 8 PM Daily | |
| MARIPN | 11 | 7 | 40 | 133 | N1LAH | 3978 Khz | 6PM Tu,Th,Sa | |
| WARPSN | 4 | 8 | 75 | NA | N1IQI | |||
| HHTN | 12 | 9 | 74 | 199 | W1HAI | MMRA Rptrs | 10PM M,W,F | |
| CITN | No Report | N2JWW | 147.375 | 7:30PM Daily | ||||
| MARI | 29 | 73 | 98 | 412 | KW1U | 3565 Khz | 7PM Daily | |
| CM2MN | 26 | 17 | 176 | 236 | KK1X | 146.97 | 9PM Daily | |
| WMTN C1 | 26 | 6 | 286 | 390 | N1QOV | 146.91 | 10AM Daily | |
| WMTN C2 | 16 | 4 | 121 | 129 | N1YCW | 146.91 | 1PM M-F | |
| WMEN | 4 | 124 | 1 | NA | W1JWN | 3944 Khz | 8:30AM Su | |
| NEPN | No Report | N2JWW | 3945 Khz | 8:45 Su | ||||
| SAR | ORG | REC | SENT | DEL | TOTAL | BPL | ||
| KW1U | 0 | 219 | 193 | 4 | 416 | |||
| N1IQI | 0 | 163 | 209 | 0 | 372 | |||
| N1TF | 2 | 82 | 98 | 14 | 196 | |||
| KB1WXC | 1 | 32 | 42 | 1 | 76 | |||
| N1LKJ | 1 | 27 | 36 | 0 | 64 | |||
| KC1CIC | 0 | 15 | 33 | 11 | 59 | |||
| W1PLK | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 | |||
| N1LAH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| AC7RB | Inactive | 0 | ||||||
| PSHR | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | TOTAL | |
| KW1U | 40 | 40 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 140 | |
| KC1CIC | 40 | 40 | 30 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 125 | |
| N1IQI | 40 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 110 | |
| N1TF | 40 | 40 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 105 | |
| KB1WXC | 40 | 40 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | |
| N1LKJ | 28 | 40 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 83 | |
| BPL = 500 POINTS EARNED | ||||||||
| N1XTB BBS: RECEIVED 250 FORWARDED 250 TOTAL 500 | ||||||||
| MARCIA FORDE STM MA | ||||||||