Traffic Handling

1. Traffic Handling Original by Bruce Webber N8SLN Updated by Thom Rigsby, K5JTR

2. Overview • Traffic handling • Composing messages • Sending and receiving messages • Delivering messages to the final recipient • National Traffic System (NTS) • Local Traffic Nets • Resources

3. What is Traffic Handling? • short messages (often less than 25 words) called radiograms • often relayed (handled) by several operators • sent by amateur radio operators via the National Traffic System (NTS) • sent accurately and efficiently

4. Benefits of Traffic Handling • important during disasters • develops good operating skills • public service • community outreach • it’s fun!

5. The ARRL Radiogram

6. Parts of a Message • preamble • address (includes phone number) • text • signature

7. The ARRL Radiogram 27 Number Every Radiogram should have a number. Stations should keep their own log of numbers, starting at 1.

8. The ARRL Radiogram R 27 Precedence Normally Routing (“R”). Other precedences are: Priority (“P”) Emergency (never abbrv.) Welfare (“W”)

9. The ARRL Radiogram R G 27 Handling Instructions Special instructions on how to handle the message Optional Can be combined

10. The ARRL Radiogram R G K5JTR 27 Station of Origin The call sign of the station from which the Radiogram was first sent via Amateur Radio

11. The ARRL Radiogram R G K5JTR 27 11 Check The number of words and numerals in the text of the radiogram.

12. The ARRL Radiogram R G K5JTR Denton, Tx 27 11 Place of Origin Name of the town from which the radiogram started, not necessarily the location of the radio station of origin.

13. The ARRL Radiogram R G K5JTR Denton, Tx 27 11 15:30Z Time Filed Optional The time the radiogram is received at the station that sent it. Standard practice is to use UTC or “Zulu” time.

14. The ARRL Radiogram R G K5JTR Denton, Tx 27 11 8 Jan 15:30Z Date The month and day that the radiogram was filed at the originating station.

15. The ARRL Radiogram - Address R G K5JTR Denton, Tx 27 11 8 Jan 15:30Z Henry Ham / K5HAM 123 Elm Street Anytown, TX 75000 (999)123-4567 Address More is better!

16. The ARRL Radiogram - Text R G K5JTR Denton, Tx 27 11 8 Jan 15:30Z Henry Ham / K5HAM 123 Elm Street Anytown, TX 75000 (999)123-4567 FOR FUN OUT REAL HELP A ON NET SPEED SLOW 73 • use “X” instead of a period, “Query” instead of a question mark • each “X” counts as one word • a phone number in the text would count as three words • example: 248 555 1234 • closing (such as “Love” or “73”) is part of the text, not the signature • don’t make the last word an “X”

17. Sending a Message (Phone) • don’t say labels such as “priority” and “station of origin” • read at about half of normal reading speed • say “Break” and unkey immediately before and after the text • if the text is long, unkey during the text to allow recipient to ask for fills

18. Sending a Message (Phone) • Use prowords: • “I spell” • “figures” • “initial” • “direction” • “operator’s note” (usually after the message)

19. Sending a Message (Phone) • Other prowords: • “over” • “out” • “clear” • “roger” • “affirmative” • “negative” • “say again”

20. Sending a Message (Phone) • when spelling, use ITU phonetics • say “niner” for the number nine • at the end of the message: • say “End, no more”, or “End, one more”, etc. • say your call sign

21. Receiving a Message (Phone) • to ask for “fills”, say: • “please say again, word after …” • “please say again, word before …” • “please say again, all between …” • “please confirm …” • compare the check to the number of words you copied • once you have copied the message successfully, say “I roger number …”

22. Numbered Radiograms R C W1GMF 27 ARL13 8 Jan ABINGTON, MA 15:30Z Henry Ham / K5HAM 123 Elm Street Anytown, TX 75000 (999)123-4567 ARL ARL SIX FIFTY FIFTY NEW NINE CALLSIGN SIXTY ARL WORLD RADIO AMATEUR • condensed way of sending text • include “ARL” in check • in text, include “ARL” and the radiogram number, spelled out • example: “ARL Forty Six”, which counts as 3 words

23. Delivering a Message • by telephone, e-mail, US mail • if delivering by phone, identify yourself and say that you have a “greeting message” or “friendly message” • don’t say “X-ray” or “Query” • expand ARL radiograms • if you can’t deliver the message, service it back

24. Servicing Back • unable to forward or deliver in 48 hours • handling instructions request service back • HXB • HXC • HXD • HXE • HXG • Use ARL 67 with at least 2 fills

25. National Traffic System (NTS) Transcontinental Corps (TCC) Area Nets Region Nets Section Nets Local Nets

26. DFW Metroplex Early (Late) Traffic Nets • Local affiliates of the NTS • Is a directed net • Net control first calls for stations with traffic only, then stations with or without traffic • Net Control directs stations receiving the traffic to call the station sending it • The early net is for message handling and training, late is for message handling only

27. DFW Metroplex Early (Late) Traffic Nets • when checking in • give your call sign phonetically • wait to be acknowledged by Net Control • list your traffic (or say “no traffic”) • say if you can handle any of the traffic listed • remain on-frequency unless excused by net control

28. Resources • Traffic Nets • DFW/Early, 6:30 PM daily, 146.88 • DFW/Late, 10:30 PM daily, 146.72 • Web Sites • QMN http://www.qsl.net/w8ihx • ARRL http://www.arrl.org/field/forms • DFW http://www.dfwtrafficnet.com