This document contains selected excerpts from the ARRL NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines (MPG, PSCM Appendix B). This summary of basic topics is intended to be a ready reference for the essentials of voice traffic handling taught in the local ARES^® and NTS operating environments. It is a useful handout or web review to use as a follow-up to class work or practice nets. Mentors are encouraged to use the higher level documentation to build lesson plans for more intensive training in the various methods of efficient traffic net operations and net control duties as well as the integration of the digital modes. Also included here are the Precedences, ARRL Handling Instructions and ARRL Numbered Radiograms often provided to the new amateur radio operator.

1. THE ARRL MESSAGE FORMAT

(Prepared for this document. Figures in parentheses are referred to in sections below.):

MESSAGE CHARACTERS

· Letters (caps), Figures and/or Slashes (“/”, slash, slant bar, or diagonal) are permitted when formatting the ARRL Radiogram.
“X”	Substituted for a period in the text (except to end the last sentence - the text may not end with an “X”).
“R”	Substituted for a decimal point in figure groups when the message is formatted, as in 146R67 for 146.67.
· Other punctuation is spelled out.
“DASH”	The hyphen is not permitted, hence the group “DASH” is used to separate the parts of a 9 digit zip code for example. Hyphen and dash, and all other punctuation, is spelled out in the text where needed.

PREAMBLE

(Formatting rules for Preamble parts follow. See also Preamble Voicing, Special Rules.)
(#)	PREAMBLE PART
1	Message Numbers may contain only figures with no leading zeros. Number may be preceded by SVC + space for service messages. See Service Messages.
2	Precedence: Emergency, P, W, or R. May be preceded by “TEST” for exercise messages. See Precedence table, Exercise Messages and Preamble Voicing special rules.
3	Handling Instructions: OPTIONAL. See table of Handling Instructions including the formatting rules at the bottom of the table.
4	Station of Origin: Call sign of the station originating the message - unchanged from origination through delivery.
5	Check: Number of groups in the text, preceded by ARL + space if ARRL Numbered Radiograms present in the text. No part of the radiogram may be altered except in the case of an error leading to a discrepancy between the check and the actual group count the check may be appended with the corrected value, as in: 12/13, 12/ARL 12.
6	Place of Origin: The location of the person for whom the message is originated, not necessarily the location of the station of origin. When different a “signature op note” may be used as needed to instruct handlers relative to servicing or replies.
7	Time Filed: OPTIONAL (Time message inserted into the amateur system -seldom used on Routine traffic, often used on Priority traffic to “time stamp” the content.) Unmarked times are assumed to be UTC and must agree with the month and date. If local time is to be used (often done for served agencies) a time zone designator must be added, as in: 1430L, or 1430EST, or 1430EDT, etc., and the month and date must agree. (The time filed is formatted as a single mixed group with no spaces.)
8, 9	Month, Date: The default month and date are UTC. If a local Time Filed is used the month and date must agree with the Time Filed. The Month group is entered as the three letter abbreviation. The Date group is entered as one or two figures with no leading zeros.

OP NOTES

10	Address Op Note: Used to include information relative to delivery, etc. Content is generally not delivered to the addressee.
11	Signature Op Note: Used to include information relative to replies or servicing, etc. Content is generally not delivered to the addressee.

SERVICE MESSAGES

A service message is sent between stations relative to message handling or delivery. The letters SVC (voiced as “SERVICE”) are placed ahead of the message number. The precedence should be the same as that of the message being serviced. Since they affect timely delivery service messages are generally handled before routine messages. SVC is not a message precedence. Example voicing for a preamble beginning SVC 16 R W1AW…: “number SERVICE ONE SIX ROUTINE WHISKEY ONE ALFA WHISKEY…”

PRECEDENCES

(See ARRL FSD-3)

EMERGENCY (Spelled out on form.*)
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 of stricken populace in emergency areas. During normal times, it will be very rare. On CW/RTTY, this designation will always be spelled out. When in doubt, do not use it.

PRIORITY (P)
Use abbreviation P on CW/RTTY. This classification is for a) important messages having a specific time limit, b) official messages not covered in the emergency category, c) press dispatches and emergency related traffic not of the utmost urgency, d) notice of death or injury in a disaster area, personal or official.

WELFARE (W)
This classification, abbreviated as W on CW/RTTY, 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 (R)
Most traffic in normal times will bear this designation. In disaster situations, traffic labeled Routine (R on CW/RTTY) should be handled last, or not at all when circuits are busy with higher precedence traffic.

Notes: These precedences are not meant to prohibit handling lower level traffic until all higher levels are passed. Common sense dictates handling higher precedence traffic before lower when possible and/or outlets are available.

* EMERGENCY: Emergency is always spelled out in the preamble. Means other than Amateur Radio should be included in the delivery options. EMERGENCY messages have immediate urgency. They should take priority over any other activity and should be passed by the best means available with the cooperation of all stations.

EXERCISE MESSAGES

Messages in the ARRL format passed for test and exercise purposes may be given a precedence preceded by the word “TEST”, as in “TEST R”, “TEST P”, “TEST W”, or “TEST EMERGENCY”. It is customary to indicate within the text of such messages the words “TEST MESSAGE” as the first two groups, or “EXERCISE” as the first and last groups of the text. This helps alert listeners to the nature of the content to avoid undue alarm. In some exercises, the life of the message may be terminated when the exercise period is terminated, i.e., any such messages are not handled after the exercise. Consult with the ARES/RACES/NTS group conducting the test to determine if such messages should be filed, handled and delivered afterwards to permit a full evaluation of the exercise.

HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS

ARRL RADIOGRAM HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS ("HX-CODES")
HXA__	(Followed by number.) Collect landline delivery authorized by addressee within ____ miles, (if no number in blank, authorization is unlimited). This means that the originating station has obtained authorization from the addressee, through the party originating the message, to call collect when delivering the message.
HXB__	(Followed by number.) Cancel message if not delivered within ____ hours of filing time; service message back to originating station. NOTE: filing time must be included in preamble.
HXC	Report date and time of delivery of the message back to the originating station by service message.
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 and time and method of delivery (this information is sent by service message to the originating station).
HXE	Delivering station get reply from addressee, originate message back. This reply is sent to the person from whom the original message was received, at the "place of origin", using a full address obtained from the addressee. If an address is not available, a reply can often be successfully routed back to the station of origin since a record is kept of originator's info.
HXF__	(Followed by a number.) Hold delivery until ____ (date). This blank contains the number of the day on which the message should be delivered (even if it is in the following month).
HXG	Delivery by mail or landline toll call not required. If toll call or other expense involved, cancel message and send service message back to originating station.
Compliance with these instructions is mandatory. (See ARRL FSD-218, the "Pink Card") MORE THAN ONE HX__ CODE MAY BE USED. If more than one code is used they may be combined provided no numbers are to be inserted; otherwise the HX should be repeated, thus: 207 R HXAC W1AW, or, 207 R HXA50 HXC W1AW... Ed. note: To be consistent with not introducing preamble groups, such multiple codes may be voiced as follows: HXAC: “HOTEL X-RAY ALFA CHARLIE”; HXA50 HXC: “HOTEL X-RAY ALFA FIFE ZERO... HOTEL X-RAY CHARLIE.” The numbers following eligible HX_ codes are expected. In this example the HXA in the first case has the range number intentionally omitted, thus the “C” may be appended. In the second case, where the optional 50 mile range is included, the figures force the separation of the full “HXC”.

EMAIL ADDRESSES AND URLS, FORMATTING

When so formatted these addresses may be voiced with the standard protocols. All characters are assumed to be contiguous unless noted otherwise. Groups are counted after formatting.
EMAIL:		john_doe@domain.net - JOHN UNDERSCORE DOE ATSIGN DOMAIN DOT NET
URL:		http://www.arrl.org/ - HTTP COLON SLASH SLASH WWW DOT ARRL DOT ORG SLASH
Also encountered may be:
(~)	TILDE		(%)	PERCENTSIGN	(<)	LESSTHANSIGN
(#)	NUMBERSIGN		(&)	AMPERSAND	(>)	GREATERTHANSIGN
(\)	BACKSLASH		*()**	ASTERISK		UPPERCASE [letter(s)]
(-)	DASH		($)	DOLLARSIGN		LOWERCASE [letter(s)]
The group SPACE may be used if a space is an integral part of the syntax sequence. Note that a combination such as “#somd” (1 group) becomes NUMBERSIGN SOMD (two groups), voiced “NUMBERSIGN… initials SIERRA OSCAR MIKE DELTA.” All sequences so rewritten as groups should return the original email address, packet address, or URL at the point of delivery.

TEXT, GROUP DEFINITION, GROUP COUNTING

The radiogram text is generally 25 words or less using the characters shown above. The occasional text with a few more groups is permissible to avoid splitting the message. Much longer messages may be broken into two or more radiograms (which may be transmitted booked) at a point where each separate part makes sense as a single message to the greatest extent possible. A group is defined as a series of concatenated letters, figures, and/or slashes, with no intermediate spaces, but with a space on the left and on the right. The group count for the check is the number of all such individual groups between the “breaks” that frame the text. The “breaks” are not counted in the check. Examples:
1 GROUP	2 GROUPS	3 GROUPS
THANKYOU	THANK YOU	I THANK YOU
X	555 1234	410 555 1234
JPOLE	J POLE	2M J POLE
146R67	146R67 MHZ	146 DECIMAL 67
11PM	11 PM	11 PM LOCAL
2345EST	2345 EST	1145 PM EST
BACOOEPEOC	BACOOEP EOC	BACO OEP EOC

ARL, THE ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAM PROWORD

ARL (in check)

Indicates the presence of one or more ARRL numbered radiogram(s) in the text. The letters ARL precede the Check figures separated by a single space, as in: ARL 12.

ARL (in text)

The separate initial group ARL precedes each ARRL Numbered Radiogram (numbers spelled out) in the text, as in:

ARL FIFTY ARL FIFTY SIX NEW LICENSE

BLANKS IN ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS

BLANKS

ARL Numbered Radiograms

Some ARRL Numbered Radiograms contain one or more blanks for information to be added by the originator. When formatting the single radiogram the information for the blank(s) follows the ARRL Radiogram number(s), as in ARL FIFTY THREE LETTER …, or

ARL FORTY SEVEN 305 W1AW MAR 15 2330 …

2. VOICING THE MESSAGE:

Voicing protocols are intended to help avoid errors inherent in speech perception, to help ensure the receiving operator knows what the sending operator is doing at all times and to help ensure the highest possible degree of accuracy and efficiency in radio message transfer. Except for the prowords, introducers and operational words presented herein the receiving operator copies everything else voiced by the sending operator between the framing prowords. Extraneous words, comments and explanations, etc., are counterproductive and are considered poor practice.

The resultant copy should always be a replica of the original radiogram in every respect.

“Every single word not absolutely needed may be dispensed with profitably.” - Operating An Amateur Radio Station (OARS pamphlet), CD-4(1/83), ARRL, Inc., Newington, CT, page17.

ITU PHONETIC ALPHABET

A	ALFA	J	JULIETT	S	SIERRA	2	TWO
B	BRAVO	K	KILO	T	TANGO	3	THREE (TREE)
C	CHARLIE	L	LIMA	U	UNIFORM	4	FOUR
D	DELTA	M	MIKE	V	VICTOR	5	FIVE (FIFE)
E	ECHO	N	NOVEMBER	W	WHISKEY	6	SIX
F	FOXTROT	O	OSCAR	X	X-RAY	7	SEVEN
G	GOLF	P	PAPA (PA-'PA)	Y	YANKEE	8	EIGHT
H	HOTEL	Q	QUEBEC (KAY-'BEK)	Z	ZULU	9	NINE (NINER)
I	INDIA	R	ROMEO	1	ONE	0	ZERO

FRAMES

A receiving operator needs to know where copy should begin and end. This is indicated by the sending operator using certain prowords to “frame” the individual message, the text, a message book, or individual parts of booked messages.

(See Single Message Voicing Example and Book Voicing Example.)

The “end no more” phrase is understood to indicate “OVER” which may be therefore dispensed with. The receiving operator copies all groups sent between the message, part, or text framing prowords except the prowords themselves.

INTRODUCERS

Words used to introduce non-plain-text groups in the address, text and signature. Each group eligible for introduction or spelling is dealt with one group at a time. When voicing an introduced group (or preamble group eligible for introduction) the characters are each voiced one character at a time, letters phonetically. There is only one introducer used per group. (An additional introducer would indicate the beginning of a new group.) See also the special rules for Preamble Voicing.
Introducer	Example	Voicing: One introducer per group. Voice one character at a time, letters phonetically. Introducers are shown here in lower case except for the letters “ARL.”
AMATEUR CALL	W1AW	“amateur call WHISKEY ONE ALFA WHISKEY” (No appended information - see MIXED GROUP for voicing call signs with appended information.)
AMATEUR CALLS (optional shortcut)	(special)	Used to introduce a series of amateur call sign groups in a message text, using the introducer only once for the first of the series, as in net reports, etc. Use with care. In such a series all the groups must be of the same type.
ARL (in check) (If numbered radiogram in the text.)	ARL 15	“A R L… ONE FIFE.” The “ARL” is voiced as three separate letters without introduction, and the check figures follow after a space pause without introduction, voiced one digit at a time.
ARL (in text) (Numbered Radiogram numbers are always written spelled out and voiced with phonetic spelling.)	ARL SIXTY	“A R L… SIXTY I spell SIERRA INDIA X-RAY TANGO YANKEE.” The “ARL” is voiced as three separate letters, although in difficult conditions it may be introduced as an initial group as in “initials ALFA ROMEO LIMA.”
FIGURE, FIGURES	6 16	“figure SIX” “figures ONE SIX” (Compound form sixteen, etc., not used.)
Telephone figures in text.	555 1234	“figures FIFE FIFE FIFE… figures ONE TWO TREE FOUR” (Two groups. Three groups, as in 410 555 1234, are handled in a similar fashion.)
Telephone figures following a zip code in an address or signature address - the typical message address.	(special)	Address telephone figure groups after a zip code are introduced with the figures introducer only once, as in 410 555 1234: “figures FOUR ONE ZERO… FIFE FIFE FIFE… ONE TWO TREE FOUR”, using separating pauses. (Such groups in the text are introduced individually.)
Telephone figures following an address or signature address with NO preceding zip code: “PHONE FIGURES”	(special)	Address telephone figure groups with NO preceding zip code are introduced with the “PHONE FIGURES” introducer used only once (this is a signal for the copying operator to skip the zip code in the copy). Given: BALTIMORE MD 410 555 1234, voice: “BALTIMORE MARYLAND phone figures FOUR ONE ZERO… FIFE FIFE FIFE… ONE TWO TREE FOUR.” (Elsewhere each group is introduced.)
Nine digit ZIP codes. (in an address only)	(special)	Format - 21200 DASH 2345, voiced with the “figures” introducer used only once as in “figures TWO ONE TWO ZERO ZERO DASH I spell D A S H… TWO TREE FOUR FIFE” (Elsewhere each group is introduced.)
Canadian or other mixed group ZIP codes. (in an address only)	(special)	Format - A4X 2L7, voiced as in "mixed groups ALFA FOUR X-RAY... TWO LIMA SEVEN", using a pause between groups. (Elsewhere each group is introduced.)
INITIAL	X	“initial X-Ray” (The older non-introducing method will result in copy of the word “X-Ray”, not “X”.)
	A	“initial ALFA”
INITIALS	CW	“initials CHARLIE WHISKEY”
INITIAL GROUPS (optional shortcut)	(special)	Used to introduce a series of initial groups in a message text, using the introducer only once for the first of the series as in net reports, etc., for voicing a series of suffixes. Use with care. In such a series all the groups must be of the same type.
MIXED GROUP (2 or more character types, beginning with letters or “/”)	B2 AM/3	“mixed group BRAVO TWO” “mixed group ALFA MIKE SLASH TREE” (Note there is no additional introducer for the figure 3.)
	W1AW/3	“mixed group WHISKEY ONE ALFA WHISKEY SLASH TREE” (This is not a simple call sign but a mixed group.)
MIXED GROUPS (optional shortcut)	(special)	Used to introduce a series of mixed groups in a message text, using the introducer only once for the first of the series as in net reports, etc., for voicing a series of call signs appended with added information. Use with care. In such a series all the groups must be of the same type.
MIXED GROUP FIGURE (2 or more character types, beginning with a figure)	2M 2/A 3PM 4/B3	“mixed group figure TWO MIKE” “mixed group figure TWO SLASH ALFA” “mixed group figure TREE PAPA MIKE” “mixed group figure FOUR SLASH BRAVO TREE” (Note there is no additional introducer for the figure 3.)
MIXED GROUP FIGURES (2 or more character types, beginning with 2 or more figures)	1430PM 146R67	“mixed group figures ONE FOUR TREE ZERO PAPA MIKE” (single group) “mixed group figures ONE FOUR SIX ROMEO SIX SEVEN” (single group)
OP NOTE	OP NOTE	Voiced as prowords to introduce address or signature op note information. The information within an op note is voiced as in text groups. The OP NOTE introduction follows the last of the address or signature information.

INTRODUCER SUMMARY

INTRODUCER*	GROUP	VOICING
AMATEUR CALL