Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!tgr!price%marlin@nosc.ARPA
From: price%marlin@nosc.ARPA (James N. Price)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: Traffic Format Req.
Message-ID: <1058@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 11:59:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1058
Posted: Wed Aug 28 11:59:36 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 01:23:52 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 38

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Ron--

While I'm not exactly an "iron man" of traffic, I have done a fair
amount of traffic handling in my days.  Format-wise, the ARRL message
blanks, available at most ham stores and from the ARRL, are almost
self-explanatory.  The message # is a serial number from your station,
the precedence is routine or higher, handling instructions (HX something)
are listed in the back of ARRL log books, the check is the number
of words in the text, and so on.

The only thing funny about the word count is that numbers are
spelled out unless they are a group like a frequency on 20
meters.  Thus, a text line might be "have not heard from you in
twenty one days Xray Meet me on 14.250 at usual time" or some
such.  The check of the words in quotes is 17.  Xray and query
are used instead of period and question mark.

Also there are the ARL numbered messages which again are listed at
the back of the ARRL logbooks.  Their purpose is to save time by using
canned text for things like county fairs, happy birthday, etc.

If you'd like an on-the-air sample, meet me on 3928 kHz, the Mission
Trail Net, at 8 p.m. Pacific Time--be glad to talk to you.

Also, I'm sure the ARRL puts out a small publication that explains
all this more precisely, probably for the cost of an SASE.

Happy traffic handling--73

Jim Price, K6ZH, San Diego, CA (PRICE@NOSC.ARPA)





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