Licking County Ohio
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

 

 

 

 

 

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Radiograms 

The ARRL message form, or "Radiogram," is a standard format used for passing messages on various nets, and is required for all messages sent through the National Traffic System. While this format may not be perfect for all applications, it serves as a baseline that can be readily adapted for use within a specific served agency. 

Formal Radiogram Traffic Format 

Here is a sample of the radiogram form and all the information that you may need to process a formal written messages via the National Traffic System.  Since the majority of radiograms involve American Red Cross Health and Welfare traffic, this form is available.

Instructions for preamble:  

ARRL MESSAGE PRECEDENCES


EMERGENCY--
Any message having life and death urgency to any person or group of persons, which is transmitted by Amateur Radio in the absence of regular commercial facilities. This includes official messages of welfare agencies during emergencies requesting supplies, materials or instructions vital to relief to stricken populace in emergency areas. On CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet this designation will always be spelled out. When in doubt, do not use this designation.


PRIORITY--
Use abbreviation P on CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet. This classification is for important messages having a specific time limit, official messages not covered in the emergency category, press dispatches and emergency-related traffic not of the utmost urgency.


WELFARE--
This classification, abbreviated as W on CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet, refers to either an inquiry as to the health and welfare of an individual in the disaster area or an advisory from the disaster area that indicates all is well. Welfare traffic is handled only after all emergency and priority traffic is cleared. The Red Cross equivalent to an incoming Welfare message is DWI (Disaster Welfare Inquiry).


ROUTINE--
Most traffic in normal times will bear this designation. In disaster situations, traffic labeled Routine (R on CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet) should be handled last, or not at all when circuits are busy with higher-precedence traffic.

ARRL MESSAGE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS

Handling instructions (HX) convey special instructions to message handling and delivering operators.

The instruction is inserted in the message preamble between the precedence and the station of origin.

Its use is optional with the originating stations, but once inserted is mandatory with all relaying

stations.PROSIGN Instruction

HXA (Followed by number) Collect landline delivery authorized by addressee

within...miles. (If no number, authorization is unlimited.)

HXB (Followed by number) Cancel message if not delivered within...hours of

filing time; service originating station.

HXC Report date and time of delivery (TOD) to originating station.

HXD Report to originating station the identity of station from which received,

plus date and time. Report identity of station to which relayed, plus date

and time, or if delivered report date, time and method of delivery.

HXE Delivering station get reply from addressee, originate message back.

HXF (Followed by number.) Hold delivery until...(date).

HXG Delivery by mail or landline toll call not required. If toll or other expense

involved, cancel message and service originating station.

ARRL EMERGENCY RELIEF NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS


The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts
from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of information. Example: 


NR 1 W  W1AW ARL 4 NEWINGTON
CONN DEC 25 DONALD R. SMITH 164 EAST SIXTH AVE NORTH RIVER CITY MO PHONE 733-3968 BT ARL
ONE ARL TWO BT DIANA AR.

ONE Everyone safe here. Please don't worry. SEVENTEEN REACT communications services also available.Establish REACT communication with ______ on
channel _____.
TWO Coming home as soon as possible. EIGHTEEN Please contact me as soon as possible at _______.
THREE Am in ____ hospital. Receiving excellent care and recovering fin NINETEEN Request health and welfare report on (fill blank) (name, address, phone).
FOUR Only slight property damage here. Do not be concerned about disaster report TWENTY Temporarily stranded. Will need some assistance. Pleasecontact me at _____.
FIVE Am moving to new location. Send no further mail. Will inform you of new address
when relocated.
TWENTY ONE Search and Rescue assistance is needed by local authoritieshere. Advise availability.
SIX Will contact you ASAP TWENTY TWO Need accurate information on the extent and type of conditions now existing at your location. Please furnish this information and reply without delay.
SEVEN Please reply by Amateur Radio through the amateur delivering this message. This is a free public service. TWENTY THREE Report at once the accessibility and best way to reach your location.
EIGHT Need additional _____ mobile or portable equipment for immediate emergency use. TWENTY FOUR Evacuation of residents from this area urgently needed. Advise plans for help.
NINE Additional _____ radio operators needed to assist with
emergency at this location.
TWENTY FIVE Furnish as soon as possible the weather conditions at yourlocation.
TEN Please contact ______. Advise to standby and provide further emergency information, instructions or assistance. TWENTY SIX Help and care for evacuation of sick and injured from this location needed at once.
SIXTEEN Property damage very severe in this area.