Prowords in Formal Messages

As a follow up to the net training topic December 19:

PROWORDS aka OPERATIONAL WORDS

These words are spoken to begin or end a formal message, indicate information for the receiving operator, or to separate parts of the message or books. They are not written in the message or counted in the check. Following are several common prowords with descriptions of their use:

Number

The proword “number” begins message copy. It tells the operator to copy everything after hearing the word “number”. To begin the message say "number ..." then transmit the preamble.

Figures

Used to indicate you are about to give a series of numbers. Variatons include Zip Figures - used immediately before giving a zip code, and Phone Figures - used immediately before giving a phone number.

Initials

Indicates you are about to give one or more initials phonetically.

Mixed Group

Indicates you are about to give is a mixture of numbers and letters.

Direction

Used for cardinal direction in an address.

I Spell

Indicates you are about to spell phonetically the word you just said.

Amateur Call

Used before saying an amateur call sign.

Say Again, (use #1)

To repeat for clarity: say the group(s), then "I say again", repeat the group(s), and then continue. 

Say Again, (use #2)

Used if you missed a portion of the message and need it repeated. Example: Say Again all before _ _ _ _ or, Say Again all after _ _ _ _ .

Break

The proword “break” marks the start of the text, and “break” at the end of the text marks the start of the signature. 

Go, Go Ahead

Used by the receiving station to indicate he or she is ready for the next section of the message

No More, One More, Two More

Indicates if you have additional traffic to follow - or not. These terms follow the “end” or “end book” termination of copy.

Over

Indicates the end of your transmission and signals the receiving station to go ahead

Roger

Indicates you received the transmission successfully. Example: I Roger your number # # #

End 

The proword “end” signals the end of groups to be copied, in other words, the end of the written message.

Book Of (#)

Used to begin transmission of a book of messages. To begin the book say “BOOK OF (#)” then begin the fixed parts of the message. 

End Book

Used to end copy of a book of messages. In other words book copy is begun with “book of (#)” and terminated with “end book”.

Transmitting Formal Messages

Since 1915, messages have been passed back and forth across the country by

amateur radio operators using the structure of the National Traffic System, or

NTS.

Messages are sent in the standard ARRL Radiogram format, and relayed fromAmateur Radio operator to another through a series of formal networks. Thereare four levels of nets, each covering broader territory -- local, section, regional,and area. These nets are held throughout the day in order to move messagesaround the country.

During normal times, these messages are routine greetings such as "Happybirthday Aunt Mary" and keep the system well oiled and the operators trainedso that everything works when needed. When there is an emergency or disaster,the NTS works closely with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service to provideemergency communications. If you want to learn more about the NTSvisit arrl.org/nts.

I hope everyone was able to review the Radiogram Preparation blog post fromNovember 29, the sections of the ARRL Radiogram.

Are there any questions related to the process of preparing a radiogram?

Now let’s discuss how to transmit a radiogram.

During a regularly scheduled radio net it is customary for net control to inviteany station having formal message traffic to come forward. Any station holdingformal message traffic responds to the request, stating the destination of themessage.

Net control will then make a call for any station who could handle the traffic forthe specified location. If there is no station who can handle the traffic for thelocation, net control informs the station with the message that no one can handlethe message at this time.

If there is a station who can handle the traffic, net control will suggest a simplexor repeater frequency the sender and receiver can use. This allows net operationsto continue while the formal message traffic is handled on that frequency. Later onin the net, net control can call for the station with traffic to verify the messagehad been passed successfully.

The Beehive Utah Net is a Section level net within the Utah Section of the American Radio Relay League. Ocassionally you can hear formal message traffic over the Mount Logan Repeater System when two operators from the Beehive Net move to this system to pass a message. 

During the weekly BARC net there is a call for any station with formal message traffic. Sometimes you may hear net control coordinate formal message traffic during that net.

Moving a radiogram occurs in 3 sections: the preamble and address; the text; and the signature, with a break after each section where the receiving station has an opportunity to request the sender repeat unclear parts of the message. Accuracy is more important than speed.

Messages can originate with either hams or non-hams, and quite often the finaldelivery will occur by another mode, such as a phone call. Therefore it is importantto transmit and copy the address and telephone information carefully.

When sending or receiving formal message traffic, you may encounter or need to use prowords - also called procedural words or operational words. Prowords are not written in the message or counted in the check count.

For those not familiar with the prowords used when passing message traffic I will post a reference on the net blog page at the close of the net.

When the sending and receiving station have arrived on the assigned frequency,and the receiving station signifies he or she is ready to copy, the sender beginstransmitting the message.

The sample radiogram from the November 29 blog post will be used todemonstrate the process of transmitting a message, and the transmission goeslike this:

Number 101, Routine, HX Echo, November Seven Golf Romeo Fox,

One Five, Newton Utah, Fifteen Hundred Mountain Standard Time,

November Two Nine.

Greg Fabricius I spell Fox Alpha Bravo Romeo India Charlie India Uniform

Sierra, Amateur Call November Seven Golf Romeo Fox, Address figures 147, Direction W, Main, Newton Utah, Zip Figures 84327, Phone Figures 435 757 3330.

Break

At this point the receiving station has an opportunity to ask the sender to repeata portion of the content, such as please repeat address figures. Or the receivingstation acknowledges the preceding was understood by saying “Go Ahead”.

The sending station continues:

December, nineteen, is, our, next, net, Initial X-ray, Will, you, be, able,

to, join, us, Query.

Break

Again, the receiving station has the opportunity to request a repeat of the Textportion of the message, or acknowledge the preceding was understood by saying“Go Ahead”.

The Sending station continues:

Greg, Amateur Call November Seven Golf Romeo Fox, End number 101, no more - how copy?

At this point the receiving station can request clarification for the Signaturesection of the message, or signify the message was received.

Even though message handling does not happen often, in the event of anemergency activation it would be a good idea to have radiogram forms andpencils close by your radio equipment in case you need to copy down a formalmessage at a moment’s notice.