TO: ALL ARES OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 3 (OFFICIAL)
ALL AMATEURS IN WEST VIRGINIA (INFORMATION)
FROM: WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED AND WOOD
COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)
ARES DISTRICT 3 BULLETIN NR 07.41 DATE: October 14, 2007
SUBJECT: WORKING WITH A RADIOGRAM
During the Simulated Emergency Test last weekend, I realized that we haven't had any training lately on the use of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) RADIOGRAM. If someone was to come to one of our nets, or if you checked into another net, and there was an ARRL RADIOGRAM message going in your direction, would you know what to do with it. The ARRL RADIOGRAM is the standard that all Amateur Radio operators use to pass traffic throughout the nation and around the world. The message form contains three main parts, a heading, a text, and a signature. The heading of the message gives a message number so you can keep track of the messages you originate. It has a precedence which is used to tell how important the message is. It has handling instructions to tell stations who relay the message what to do with the message. The heading has a check sum. The check sum is the amount of words in the message. If the check sum and the amount of words in the message don't match, there is something wrong and it needs to be corrected before you accept the message. The heading tells where the message is coming from, who originated it, and gives a date and time of the message. The text of the message is just what it says; it's the message being sent. The text of the message should be kept as short as possible, 25 words or less. It doesn't contain any punctuation. An X is inserted between thoughts, or sentences, but there is none at the end of the text. The X between thoughts or sentences counts as a word. The signature is just what it says, who the message is coming from, and it may, or may not be the same person who originates it. An Amateur Radio operator may be originating the message for an Amateur, or non-Amateur official at a disaster site or an EOC. They may be originating it for an Amateur, or non-Amateur friend or relative. In any case the signature is the person who is waiting on the message sent. If you need copies of the ARRL RADIOGRAM, let me know and I'll be sure to get them to you. Practice writing up messages just to keep refreshed, you may need to send or receive one someday.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV;
ARES Assistant Section Coordinator WV
ARES District Emergency Coordinator WV DISTRICT