Traffic HandlingOriginal by Bruce Webber N8SLN

Updated by Thom Rigsby, K5JTR

Overview Traffic handling Composing messages Sending and receiving messages Delivering messages to the final

recipient National Traffic System (NTS) Local Traffic Nets Resources

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

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

The ARRL Radiogram

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

The ARRL Radiogram

NumberEvery Radiogram should have a number. Stations should keep their own log of numbers, starting at 1.

The ARRL Radiogram

PrecedenceNormally Routing (“R”).Other precedences are:Priority (“P”)Emergency (never abbrv.)Welfare (“W”)

The ARRL Radiogram

Handling InstructionsSpecial instructions on how to handle the messageOptionalCan be combined

The ARRL Radiogram

Station of OriginThe call sign of the station from which the Radiogram was first sent via Amateur Radio

The ARRL Radiogram

CheckThe number of words and numerals in the text of the radiogram.

The ARRL Radiogram

Place of OriginName of the town from which the radiogram started, not necessarily the location of the radio station of origin.

The ARRL Radiogram

Time FiledOptionalThe time the radiogram is received at the station that sent it. Standard practice is to use UTC or “Zulu” time.

The ARRL Radiogram

DateThe month and day that the radiogram was filed at the originating station.

The ARRL Radiogram - Address

AddressMore is better!

The ARRL Radiogram - Text

• 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”

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

Sending a Message (Phone) Use prowords:

— “I spell”— “figures”— “initial”— “direction”— “operator’s note” (usually after the

message)

Sending a Message (Phone) Other prowords:

— “over”— “out”— “clear”— “roger”— “affirmative”— “negative”— “say again”

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

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 …”

Numbered Radiograms

• 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

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

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

National Traffic System (NTS)

Transcontinental Corps (TCC)

Area Nets

Region Nets

Section Nets

Local Nets

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

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

DFW Metroplex Early (Late) Traffic Nets

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