WELCOME 2010 ARES/RACES CONFERENCE

It’s a requirement. Standard Operating Guideline 103 Wisconsin ARES/RACES says... says...

Send one NTS radiogram each year indicating that the member is interested in continuing his/her membership in WI ARES/RACES. The message may be sent over the air, conventional , WinLink 2000, or other means. The message must be in NTS message format.

What’s it all about? The National Traffic SystemThe National Traffic System NTS message formatNTS message format ICS messagesICS messages Traffic handling tipsTraffic handling tips By the end of this program you will meet the requirement.

A little background about NTS Traffic

In the National Traffic System...

traffic flows from localfrom local to section to section to regionto region to areato area to regionto region to sectionto section to local.to local.

WISCONSIN SECTION PHONE NETS WISCONSIN SECTION PHONE NETS 0500 BADGER WEATHER NET KHz 1200 BADGER EMERGENCY NET 1715 WIS. SIDE BAND NET 3985 kHz 0800 (SUN) WISCONSIN ARES/RACES NET 3967 kHz

WISCONSIN SECTION CW NETS WISCONSIN SECTION CW NETS 1800 WIS NOVICE NET 1830 WIS SLOW SPEED NET 1900 WIS INTRASTATE NET 2200 WIS INTRASTATE NET (CW frequency: 3555 KHz)

Quick Review

Why a formal message? It creates a record of what happened – perhaps for review, critique, or evaluation. It’s concise. It often takes less time than informal messages. It’s easier to copy. Receiving operators know the sequence of the information resulting in fewer errors and repeats.

An NTS message looks like this:

ARRL Format NR PRC HX STN CK ORIG TIME DATE ADDRESSEE ADDRESS PHONE TEXT SIGNATURE

Here are the parts. NUMBER The NUMBER of the message can start with the year or the event. It’s unique so we can trace a message.

Precedences emergency priority “P” welfare “W” routine “R” 1 of 4 Precedences emergency priority “P” welfare “W” routine “R”

Handling Instructions This optional part of a preamble may ask for a reply (HXE) or for time of delivery (HXC). See FSD-218 for the full list.

Station of Origin station Call of the station where the message is first written and introduced into the system

Check The number of words or number groups in the t tt text - This is a good way to see if you’ve received the text accurately.

Place of Origin started Where the message started – regardless of where the originating station is located.

Time and Date Use local time in 24-hour format Use Zulu time (GMT) if necessary Skip the time if it’s not important Use current date or Use Zulu time/date (labeled) but Don’t skip the date because it helps to tell how long the message has been in the system.

Hint: It’s going to your EC, DEC (if you’re an EC) or SEC (if you’re a DEC).

Addressee and Address Addressee and Address Accurate spelling is a must. Say all figures individually. (“1 – 2 – 3” not “one hundred twenty-three”)

Phone Number (three groups) When sending, pause betweengroups When sending, pause between groups. 920 (pause) 898 (pause) 5335

Break “Break” Say the word “break” just before you start the text and when the text ends – before the signature.

Your text? GREETINGS BY AMATEUR RADIO THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN THE ARES/RACES PROGRAM IN WOOD COUNTY AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN X THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION X 73

That’s a check of 34!

ARL FIFTY I WISH TO CONTINUE ACTIVE IN ARES/RACES X 73

The check is...

ARL 11 (It has an ARRL numbered radiogram in the text and the total count is 11.)

Then there’s another “Break” (WHEN YOU’RE SENDING IT)

And then the signature (Not counted in the check)

Please turn in your message before you leave.

Keep the pink card handy! ARRL op aid FSD-218 can be very helpful.

Practice procedures

HINTS FOR TRAFFIC HANDLING DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK. RESPECT THE NCS. DON’T USE “Q” SIGNALS ON VOICE IF YOU MOVE OFF NET FREQ., THE RECEIVING STATION CALLS FIRST

Are you ready? QRV? “ST” LISTEN CAREFULLY WRITE CLEARLY BE ACCURATE

ADVANTAGES OF QSK, VOX, OR PAUSES Clarifies quickly Saves explanations

little things youSpeak only as fast as you can write No need to identify the parts of the preamble – or the message Don’t forget the “breaks” ~ [address / text] & [text / signature] No “X-ray” after an ARL Number Don’t forget to “translate” on delivery

Hint: PAUSE BEFORE YOU RETURN TO NET FREQUENCY. ON RETURN, LET THE NCS KNOW.

Prosigns save time!

Some common prosigns - and their voice equivalent AAAll AfterAA - All After (Please send all of the text after...) ABAll BeforeAB - All Before (Send all of the text before...) ARL ARRL numbered radiogramARL - used in the check to show there's an ARRL numbered radiogram in the text

more common prosigns BmoreB - more (additional messages follow) BKBreakBK - Break (a pause for separation between address and text, text and signature) BNbetweenBN - What’s between __ and____

a few more common prosigns CFMConfirmCFM - Confirm (Did I get this right?) CKCheckCK - Check (the number of words in the text) IMIRepeatIMI - Repeat; I say again

Still more common prosigns NNono moreN - No -- or “no more” messages to follow RRogerR - Roger -- or a decimal point in CW WAWord AfterWA - Word After WBWord BeforeWB - Word Before

When to use the Prowords “I Spell” DO NOT automatically spell familiar words or acronyms like “EOC” or “RACES” unless operating conditions are poor enough that it is needed Necessary for proper names (There is no “common spelling” on emergency nets): “Jones, I spell JULIET OSCAR NOVEMBER ECHO SIERRA” To clarify homonyms words which sound alike, but have different meanings, such as :“To, I spell TANGO OSCAR”

ROGER MEANS ROGER. QSL MEANS QSL. NEVER CHANGE THE TEXT.

What Is An ICS Message? Record Communications on behalf of served agency officials must be written in ICS Form 213 format or on the originating agency’s approved form. But don’t fixate on the FORM! Be prepared to copy long messages. Learn to copy messages without relying on a FORM!

ICS 213 Message Form 1 - “To” line 2 - “From” line 3 - “Subject / Date / Time” line 4 - “Admin” line One Form 213 includes Message Number, Priority, and Group Count. 5 - “Message” field (ten 5-word lines) 6 - “Signature” line 7 - “Reply” field (ten 5-word lines) 8 – “Reply Date/Time/Signature” line

Formal Written Messages “Record” Communications Because incident reports are public documents, USE A FORMAL MESSAGE FOR: o Station activation & closure o Damage assessments o Shelter and EOC status o Situation updates o Declarations o Resource Requests o ICS facility relocations

Operational Traffic “Record” communications - SITREPS (situation reports), resource requests, etc. must be signed by the agency originator, to identify responsibility & authenticity Agency controller establishes priority. If used, precedence follows the Message Number before the Group Count, on “admin line” 4.

ICS Precedence: URGENT IMMEDIATE R (ROUTINE)

THE NTS offers DAILY TRAINING, DAILY TESTING.

It’s an important part of ARES/RACES

and an important part of how we serve the public.

During an emergency, how do our nets connect?

DECNTS WEM EOC TelPac Hosp Red Cross

ARES/RACES HF Net District Net Liaison Station Badger Emergency Net Liaison Station Liaison Station Local Net NTS

These nets may be merged.

You would be especially welcome on any section net.

It’s great practice.

One ham can’t do it all. It’s a network.

Thanks for all you do. It matters.

Time to Talk

QUESTIONS? or on any Wisconsin section net.