TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 15.35 DATE: August 30, 2015
SUBJECT: WHAT IS A RADIOGRAM?
A RADIOGRAM is the official message form created by the American Radio Relay League or (ARRL), and is used by the Amateur Radio National Traffic System or (NTS). The RADIOGRAM is a uniform way to pass a message from one Amateur Radio operator to another without converting it from one type of message form to another, and taking the chance of losing information.
The RADIOGRAM starts with a message number followed by how the message should be handled. "EMERGENCY" traffic has the highest priority and should only be used when loss of life or property could be, or is involved. "PRIORITY" messages are used when the traffic is not of time value, but is still important enough to be sent as non-EMERGENCY. Notification of a death etc. would be classified as PRIORITY. The next lower form of message below priority is "WELFARE". It is used to locate or notify friends or relatives inside, or out of, a disaster area. Most messages handled during and after a natural event such as a Hurricane, Earthquake, or Tornado would be WELFARE messages. The lowest priority message would be a "ROUTINE" message which would be a Seasons Greeting, Happy Birthday, or Congratulations type message. These type messages should be handled on a daily basis to stay familiar with the National Traffic System, and to be prepared to handle higher priority type messages.
The RADIOGRAM has a place for the location and the call sign of the originator, and the date and time the message was created. It has a place to put the address and telephone number of the party it is going to. A RADIOGRAM should be filled out as complete as possible so the message can delivered in a timely manner. The message should be as short as possible, 25 words or less, but still be able to convey the information.
There's also a word number count, called a CHECK to make sure there are no mistakes in the amount of words in the message. Every message should have a signature or name of the person sending the message to make it official.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV