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
• its 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
27
G
Handling Instructions Special instructions on how
to handle the message Optional Can be combined
10
The ARRL Radiogram
R
27
G
K5JTR
Station of Origin The call sign of the station
from which the Radiogram was first sent via
Amateur Radio
11
The ARRL Radiogram
R
27
G
K5JTR
11
Check The number of words and numerals in the
text of the radiogram.
12
The ARRL Radiogram
R
27
G
K5JTR
Denton, Tx
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
27
G
K5JTR
Denton, Tx
11
1530Z
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
27
G
K5JTR
Denton, Tx
11
8 Jan
1530Z
Date The month and day that the radiogram was
filed at the originating station.
15
The ARRL Radiogram - Address
R
27
G
K5JTR
Denton, Tx
11
8 Jan
1530Z
Henry Ham / K5HAM 123 Elm Street Anytown, TX 75000
[phone]
Address More is better!
16
The ARRL Radiogram - Text
R
27
G
K5JTR
Denton, Tx
11
8 Jan
1530Z
Henry Ham / K5HAM 123 Elm Street Anytown, TX 75000
[phone]
FOR
FUN
REAL
HELP
OUT
A
ON
NET
SLOW
SPEED
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
• dont make the last word an X

17
Sending a Message (Phone)

• dont 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
• operators 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
27
C
W1GMF
ARL13
8 Jan
ABINGTON, MA
1530Z
Henry Ham / K5HAM 123 Elm Street Anytown, TX 75000
[phone]
ARL
ARL
FIFTY
FIFTY
SIX
NEW
NINE
CALLSIGN
ARL
SIXTY
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
• dont say X-ray or Query
• expand ARL radiograms
• if you cant 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, 630 PM daily, 146.88
• DFW/Late, 1030 PM daily, 146.72
• Web Sites
• QMN http//www.qsl.net/w8ihx
• ARRL http//www.arrl.org/field/forms
• DFW http//www.dfwtrafficnet.com