When originating a message from a member of the public, remind that
person that no guarantee of delivery is possible but that the amateur service
has a nation-wide network of stations meeting daily to perform this free public
service and that every effort will be made to get the message through.
Get all of the originating party's information for the station
origination block 7.
Get the complete name, address, city, zip, and telephone information
for the addressee for block 2.
Explain the normal 25 word limit on texts and assist the party in
constructing a clear text, using ARRL numbered radiograms if possible. Complete
block 3.
Ascertain how the party wishes the signature to read in block 4.
Count the text word groups for the check block, fill out the preamble
with your message number, call, etc., and the originating party's place of
origin.
Observe the cautions in the following sections regarding legality,
permission, and foreign third party traffic.
As originator you are the best filter for compliance. It is difficult
to examine a message and conclude with certainty what purpose or meaning is in
the content in all cases. If in doubt, it is not mandatory to accept the
message; refuse it. If you know by some means other than content that a message
is business related, or otherwise illegal, do not handle it.
Handling messages is a voluntary service.
You may explain regulations regarding message content and purpose to
the originating party with tact and diplomacy. Help them to construct a proper
message.
You are the licensee held responsible by the FCC.
Accept only messages in which content and purpose comply with the fcc
regulations in force regarding third party traffic, the prohibition of
"business" traffic, encryption, and other rules regarding prohibited
communications.
If you receive such a message, and determine it does not comply with
this requirement, you are not obligated to pass it on. Send a service message
to the station of origin indicating same.
Do not originate a message for a third party (someone other than
yourself) without permission. this a fraud and forgery.
Generating messages containing information about a third party without
their permission is also considered very poor practice. respect privacy.
Do not transmit by amateur radio any third party messages into foreign
countries that do not have treaty provisions with the united states permitting
such traffic.
Traffic to foreign countries may have tighter rules, or be prohibited.
Some countries may permit amateur-to-amateur messages transmitted
directly---others may not. You are the first party. The amateur receiving the
message is the second party. The amateur-to-amateur case, usually permitted, is
different than the case of the second party receiving a message for a third
party.
Check the US THIRD-PARTY TRAFFIC AGREEMENTS list published by the ARRL
in the NET DIRECTORY, periodically in QST, and elsewhere, or check with your
Section Traffic Manager. This list is also available on the ARRL web site.
(Regulations, International Operating.)
You are the licensee held responsible by the FCC.
Check into a local or section net of the NTS and submit your message
for handling, or put your message on a digital system which has the capability
of passing it to the NTS or destination.
Local and Section NTS nets are listed in the “ARRL NET DIRECTORY”.
These nets meet daily at fixed times and operate on HF for wide area coverage
or VHF/UHF for local users. You do not have to be a member of the NTS or hold
the Official Relay Station (ORS) ARRL appointment to check into these nets.
Generally, however, the Region and Area nets of the NTS are limited to assigned
liaison stations.
There is no need to get on the air and call CQ to raise a station in
the message destination area. Use the National Traffic System. The converse is
also true. The NTS relies on stations in local calling areas checking into NTS
nets to provide delivery outlets for messages.
Messages encountered anywhere in the system that can not be relayed or
delivered are not discarded. A service message back to the originating station
must be generated. In other words there are only three things an operator can
do with a message: 1) Relay it; 2) deliver it; or 3) service it back to the
originating station.
Undeliverable messages are serviced back to the station of origin, not
the place of origin.
If a service message is sent back to the station of origin per its
call book address, and it can not be contacted, stations often will send a
service message back to the place of origin in an attempt to locate it. It is
wise for stations not at their call book address to include an OP NOTE about
how to send service messages or replies.
Service messages should contain a reference to the message number,
addressee last name (or other identifier to cover errors in the message
number), and reason(s) for the inability to relay or deliver the original
message.
Generating service messages is the responsibility of the station
holding the message.
Service messages are originated with the letters “SVC” ahead of the message
number followed by a space, and the precedence of the service message is kept
the same as that of the message being serviced. (This practice is used less
frequently in recent years. Best practice of the day may be leaving off the SVC
ahead of the number for service messages. The precedence is still handled the
same way.)
The Numbered Radiogram, ARL SIXTY SEVEN, is generally used in service
messages including the information mentioned above to complete the blanks.
A service message is originated with your number (preceeded by “SVC”),
precedence the same as the original message, call sign as station of origin and
your city of origin, addressed to the original message’s station of origin to
report the undeliverable message. It is good practice to obtain the full
address and phone number of the station of origin for this service message, if
possible. On the other hand, some originators of mass mailings in the NTS are
well known and may often be addressed with their call signs and city/state.
Consult with your STM or other NTS operators who might be familiar with such
stations.
ARL SIXTY SEVEN reads:
“Your message number [......] undeliverable because of [.........]. Please
advise.”
Note the word “number” is included, thus only the figures of the original
message number need be included. (It is acceptable practice to add the
addressee’s last name or call sign after the number as additional
qualification. This protects against loss of the number in transmission.) The
cause for the message being undeliverable follows. An “X” may be used to
separate the explanation or parts thereof for clarity if needed. For example:
“ARL SIXTY SEVEN 34 SMYTHE PHONE 410 555 1234 INCORRECT X NO LISTING X 73”.
This gives the originator an indication of what you received and a specific
reason for your difficulty.
Do NOT service back changes of addresses, phone numbers, or other
personal information about the addressee without their permission. The original
message might be intended to pry into the private affairs of the recipient.