A.       B.     C.         D.        E.         F.       G.          H.

 NUMBER - This indicates the serial number of the message. It is assigned by the Station of Origin and never changed. Numbering is necessary because hams may handle dozens of messages daily, and without a numbering system it would be difficult to identify any given message.   PRECEDENCE - Determines the order in which traffic is passed.  Assign each message a Precedence of R (Routine), W (Welfare), P (Priority) or EMERGENCY. HX (Handling Instructions) -  Optional, used only if a specific need is present.  Handling instructions are detailed below. STATION OF ORIGIN - The call sign of the station originating (creating) the message. CHECK - The number of words or word groups contained in the Body of the message.  (A word group is defined as any group of 1 or more consecutive characters with no interrupting spaces). PLACE OF ORIGIN - The location (city and state) of the party for whom the message was created and not necessarily the location of the Station of Origin. TIME FILED - Optional, used only when the filing time has some importance relative to the Precedence, Handling Instructions or Message Body. DATE - The date the message was filed.

Precedence

EMERGENCY PRIORITY WELFARE ROUTINE

Any message having life and death urgency to any person or group of persons, that 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 efforts for the stricken populance in emergency areas.  On CW and digital modes, this designation will always be spelled out.  When in doubt, do not use this designation. Abbreviated as P on CW and digital modes.  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. Abbreviated as W on CW and digital modes.  This classification refers to an inquiry about the health and welfare of an individual in the disaster area, or to 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 American Red Cross equivalent to an incoming Welfare message is DWI (Disaster Welfare Inquiry). Abbreviated as R on CW and digital modes.  Most traffic in normal times will bear this designation.  In disaster situations, traffic labeled routine should be handled last or not at all, when circuits are busy with higher-precedence traffic.

Handling Instructions


Handling Instructions (HX) convey special instructions to operators handling and delivering the message.  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 it is mandatory with all relaying stations.

PROSIGN HXA HXB HXC HXD HXE HXF HXG

INSTRUCTION (Followed by number). Collect landline delivery authorized by adressee within _______ miles.  (If no number, authorization is unlimited). (Followed by number). Cancel message if not delivered within ________ hours of filing time; service originating station.  Report date and time of delivery.  (TOD) to originating station.  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. Delivering station get reply from addressee, originate message back. (Followed by number).  Hold delivery until __________ (date). Delivery by mail or landline toll call not required.  If toll or other expense involved, cancel message and service originating station.

Address




Received At


This Radio Message was Received at: Your station identification. 


Message Body



   

Received From Sent To

Call sign or individual from whom you received the message and date and time of receipt.  Time may be either your local time or UTC time.  Make sure the date agrees with the time. (Remember UTC time is ahead of EST and can cause the date to roll forward). Call sign you sent to or passed the message to, or to whom you delivered it, with date and time.  Also good to note delivery method for your own reference.  (i.e., via phone or left on voice mail). Always leave your call back number if message was left on voice mail!

How to Deliver a Radiogram

When operating phone, it is customary to use introductory words such as "figures" prior to sending numbers, "mixed figures" or "mixed group figure" before sending a combination of letters and numbers, and "initial" prior to sending a single letter, such as I or A.  This helps the receiving station to copy the message more clearly and with less error.

In the example below, you'll learn how these are used in an actual message.  

NTS Training & ARRL Radiogram Info An Instructor's Guide to Training Traffic Handlers ARRL National Traffic System National Traffic System Terms of Reference

Telegram / Radiogram History Retrogram The Telegraph Office How to Write Telegrams Properly

Wireless Society of Southern Maine  25 Graham Road, Westbrook, ME 04092