The second
section of the message is used to specify the name, address, city, state, zip, and
telephone number of the addressee. For our test message:
|
(2) |
JOHN Q. PUBLIC
AA8ABC |
(ADDRESSEE) |
|
|
123 MAIN STREET |
(ADDRESS) |
|
|
ANYTOWN
OH 43000 |
(CITY/ST/ZIP) |
|
|
555 123 4567 |
(TEL) |
|
|
(plus
optional OP NOTE; see below) |
|
The
operator originating the message is responsible for obtaining as much addressee
information as possible. Stations relaying or delivering the message can not be
in a position to do this as well. An originating operator should try to
anticipate the problems the delivering operator might have, and try to help
assure success by getting a complete address including telephone number while
still in contact with the originator.
If part of
a message address is garbled in transmission, a complete address will help the
receiving operator recover by giving him more leads to track down.
No
guarantee of delivery can be made by amateurs handling messages for the public.
However, the reputation of Amateur Radio and the ARRL is enhanced if all
operators try to pay attention to details which help assure that the message
will get through.
Line 1
should contain the full name of the addressee and, if possible, it should be
the name as it is most likely to be found in the local telephone directory at
the point of delivery.
Messages
addressed to children should contain the parents listed name, for example:
JUDY AND BARBARA SMITH
C/O DONALD R SMITH
164 EAST SIXTH AVENUE (etc.);
or,
DONALD R SMITH AND JUDY AND BARBARA
164 EAST SIXTH AVENUE (etc.)
Amateur
call signs and/or titles are included at the end of the name of the addressee:
JOHN R SMITH W3XYZ
or,
JOHN R SMITH PRES PODUNK ARC
Line 2 is
the street address (or institution name which might require an extra line in
the address). Enter figures, street name (spell out east, west, north and south
for clarity), and apartment or unit number. Sections of a city, as in SE or NW,
are usually left abbreviated.
Apartment
or unit numbers for residences are usually included at the end of the street
address line. Note the EAST in the street address is spelled out. This is
preferred to the abbreviation “E”, etc.
JAMES R SMITH
23 EAST OAK DRIVE SW APT 34
Nursing
home or other institution names are usually entered as additional lines:
ROBERT A JOHNSON
PLEASANT VISTA NURSING HOME ROOM 26 (Extra line.)
101 HOWARD ST
NEW YORK NY 00787 212 555 6700
The CITY,
STATE (using standard two letter abbreviations), and ZIP code are entered
without punctuation. NINE DIGIT ZIPs are written with a spelled DASH, i.e.
OWINGS MILLS MD 21117 DASH 2345
FOREIGN
ZIP CODES may be one or several “mixed” letter/figure groups. They are written
as they would be for posting, without punctuation.
Telephone
numbers are written as three groups of digits with no punctuation; area code,
exchange, and number (only two groups if the area code is not required):
212 555 3245, or 555 1200 (note no hyphens used)
International
phone numbers may be grouped differently. They are written as grouped in a
directory, without punctuation.
* NOTE: Telephone numbers may be shown on
the city/state/zip line in some examples. The telephone figures are always sent
as a separate line of the address however.
An OP NOTE
may be inserted after the telephone figures, before the text, relating to
handling and/or delivery matters. The words “OP NOTE” are used to introduce
this information when transmitting the message. OP NOTES are optional, and are generally
not considered part of the message to be delivered to the addressee. They are
primarily for use by the handling operators. For example, the following address
with OP NOTE relates to when to attempt delivery by telephone.
DONALD R SMITH
164 EAST SIXTH AVENUE
RIVER CITY MD 00789
301 555 3470 OP NOTE WORKDAY ONLY
PUNCTUATION
IS NOT USED IN THE ADDRESS SECTION. The only exception in general use is the
symbol "/", sometimes used to separate parts of a street address,
group, or institution name. If a DASH or HYPHEN is required, it is spelled out
to avoid conflict with prosigns used in the transmission process:
SFC JOHN L JONES
357TH ORD/CMD 34 DASH 765 UNIT
FORT SMITH CO 99770
600 555 7899
Messages
which must be re-filed with other systems, such as MARS, may require additional
information such as rank, unit information, APO, etc. Find out what is required
by consulting an operator in that system before accepting the message so that
you are prepared to ask for what is needed.
Messages
addressed to persons in other countries are subject to regulation or
prohibition according to treaties between those countries and the United
States. Before accepting messages for international transmission, check the
ARRL list of countries with whom third party traffic is permitted, or consult
with the ARRL Section Traffic Manager in your Section.
Originating
stations should also get complete information from the originator to permit
re-contact if a problem arises in delivery, or if a reply message is received
(this information is entered in block 7 on the message form).