PARTS OF A MESSAGE

A SAMPLE MESSAGE PACIFIC AREA TRAFFIC NETS

PRECEDENCES ORIGINATING RADIOGRAMS

HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS COUNTING WORDS IN RADIOGRAMS

HANDLING TRAFFIC BY VOICE ARL Check

ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS ARRL RECOMMENDED PRECEDENCES

BOOK MESSAGES SERVICING A MESSAGE

A SAMPLE MESSAGE:

I R HXG W7ABC 18 Spokane WA OCT I

JANE DOE 1234 ICICLE LN

FAIRBANKS AK 99015 - Tel 509 - 261 - 1234

JANE IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU ON YOUR SUMMER VACATION X PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH X LOVE JOHN

(I.) IR signifies the message is number I and it is a routine message. The originating station is W7ABC. Messages can be numbered consecutively starting at 1. Most people choose to start with I at the beginning of each month and then start over the next month at nr 1.

(2.) The check, (word and character count) is 18. This encompasses the text, which is counted from the word Jane to the word Love.

(3.) The preamble I r hxg w7abc 18 podunk wa oct 1, is not part of the text and neither is the address or the signature and should not be counted. Characters, like X (meaning the end of a sentence or period, are counted as one "word". See below for significance of HXG.

PRECEDENCES

The message precedence is one of 4 kinds and follows the message number.

ROUTINE traffic is the most common. In disaster situations traffic labeled Routine will be handled last. On cw, inserted into preamble as R.

EMERGENCY traffic will have life and death implications and used only when regular commercial facilities are unavailable. On cw, "Emergency" is always written out.

PRIORITY precedence is used when there is a specific time limit. Notification of death or injury in a disaster area, personal or official. Traffic listed Priority is handled first after Emergency. Inserted into preamble as P.

WELFARE precedence is used when the health or Welfare of persons during a disaster is requested. Used after Emergency and Priority, but before Routine. On cw inserted as W.

HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS

Handling instructions always start with an H-

HXG, the most common. Delivery by mail or landline toll call not required. If toll or other expense involved, cancel message and service originating station.

HXF, followed by a number means hold delivery until _____ date. Used for birthday greetings etc., in the preamble it follows the HXF.

HXA, (followed by number.) Collect landline delivery authorized by addressee within

Miles. (If no number, authorization is unlimited.)

HXB. (Followed by number.) Cancel message if not delivered within____hours of filing time: service-originating station.

HXC. Report date and time of delivery to originating station.

HXD. Report to originating station the identity of station from which received, plus date and time. Or if delivered report date, time and method of delivery.

HXE. Delivering station get reply from addressee, originate message back.

HANDLING TRAFFIC BY VOICE

Using the message on page one as the example. When relaying a message to another station you would say.

Please copy number 1 Routine, a group of letters HXG, I spell, Hotel Xray Golf (phonetics), from W7ABC ck 18 St) Spokane Washington Oct 1

Going to Jane Doe, I spell Jane Juliet Alpha November Echo. Doe, I spell Delta Oscar Echo, Address One two three four Icicle I spell Icicle, India Charlie India Charlie Lima Echo. Lane. Fairbanks Alaska, niner niner zero one five, (I say niner for nine, because it sounds much like 5 especially in qrm.) You can use your own discretion with this Telephone, five zero niner two six one one two three four. (Say numbers distinctly and in groups.)

Break for the text (to see if receiving station has copied you so far or needs fills, and to alert that text is next) if receiving station copied ok, he will say, "go with text".

Continuing on, Jane it was nice to see you on your summer vacation xray (X) Please keep in touch xray (X) Love BREAK (to let him know the text is finished), and the signature is John, I spell Juliet Oscar Hotel November.

ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS

Quite frequently you will find in the preamble a check with ARL in front of it. This signifies that there is an ARRL Numbered Radiogram within the message. The number after ARL is still the text count. The numbered Radiograms are a way of compacting what you want to say.

IR W7ABC ARL 23 Spokane WA OCT I

Jane Doe

1234 Icicle Ln

Fairbanks AK 99015 Tel - 509 261 - 1234

ARL fifty X It was nice to see you on your summer vacation X Please keep in touch X ARL seven X Love John

RELAY if you were relaying the message to another station it would be relayed as above.

DELIVERY Upon delivery the message text would read:

(ARL fifty) Greetings by Amateur Radio. It was nice to see you on your summer vacation x please keep in touch. (ARL seven) Please reply by amateur radio through the amateur delivering this message. This is a free public service Love John

BOOK MESSAGES

Book messages have one thing in common, the preamble and the text. Book messages are sent like this example:

Here is a book of two Routine from W7ABC 22 Spokane Wa. Oct I

(The common text), Good to see you all on our summer vacation x I hope you can come and see us next year x Love John and Pamela

Nr. 2 Pat and Henry Miller- 1234 Afghan Way-Port Orchard WA 98367

Tel 360-876-1223

Nr 3 Jack and Harriet Watson- 3351 Carriage Ln.- Tacoma WA 98323

Tel 206-332-6875

If you were relaying both messages to one station only, you would send as above. If you were relaying to delivering stations, you would break the messages up like this:

2R W7ABC 22 Spokane WA Oct I

Pat and Henry Miller- 1234 Afghan Way- Port Orchard WA 98367 tel 360-876-1223

(break)

Good to see you all on our summer vacation x I hope you can come and see us next year x love (break)

John and Pamela

3R W7ABC 22 Spokane WA Oct I

Jack and Harriet Watson-3351 Carriage Ln-Tacoma WA 98323 Tel 206 332-6875

(break)

Good to see you all on our summer vacation x I hope you can come and see us next year x

Love (break)

John and Pamela

SERVICING A MESSAGE

You service a message for various reasons. The usual being that the receiving party cannot be located by telephone. They either have had their number disconnected or have moved or have a new but unlisted number.

ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS

The letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check and in the text before spelled out numbers, which represent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts include insertion of numerals.

Example: NR 1 R WLAW ARL 5 NEWINGTON CONN DEC 25 DONALD R. SMITH AA

164 EAST SIXTH AVE AA NORTH RIVER CITY MO AA PHONE 73-3968 BT ARL FIFTY

ARL SIXTY ONE BT DIANA AR.

For additional information about traffic handling, consult The ARRL Operating Manual, published by ARRL.

Group One -- For Possible "Relief Emergency " Use

ONE Everyone safe here. Please don't worry.

TWO Coming home as soon as possible.

THREE Am in _______________ hospital. Receiving excellent care a d recovering fine.

FOUR Only slight property damage here. Do not be concerned about disaster reports.

FIVE Am moving to new location. Send no further mail or communication. Will inform you of new address when relocated.

Six Will contact you as soon as possible.

SEVEN Please reply by Amateur Radio through the amateur delivering this message. This is a free public service.

EIGHT Need additional _____________ mobile or portable equipment for immediate emergency use.

NINE Additional _____________ radio operators needed to assist with emergency at this location.

TEN Please contact_________. Advise to standby and provide further emergency information, instructions or assistance.

ELEVEN Establish Amateur Radio emergency

Communications with__________ on ______________ MHz.

TWELVE Anxious to hear from you. No word in some time. Please contact me as soon as possible.

THIRTEEN Medical emergency situation exits here.

FOURTEEN Situation here becoming critical. Losses

and damage from ___________________ increasing.

FIFTEEN Please advise your condition and what help is needed.

SIXTEEN Property damage very severe in this area.

SEVENTEEN REACT communications services also available. Establish REACT communication

with ___________________ on channel ___________________.

EIGHTEEN Please contact me as soon as possible at

NINETEEN Request health and welfare report on_____________________________. (State name, address and telephone number.)

TWENTY Temporarily stranded. Will need some assistance. Please contact me at _______________________

TWENTY ONE Search and Rescue assistance is needed by local authorities here. Advise availability.

TWENTY TWO Need accurate information on the extent and type of conditions now existing at your location. Please furnish this information and reply without delay.

TWENTY THREE Report at once the accessibility and best way to reach your location.

TWENTY FOUR Evacuation of residents from this area urgently needed. Advise plans for help.

TWENTY FIVE Furnish as soon as possible the weather conditions at your location.

TWENTY SIX Help and care for evacuation of sick and injured from this location needed at once.

Emergency/priority messages originating from official sources must carry the signature of the originating official.

Group Two -- Routine messages

FORTY SIX Greetings on your birthday and best wishes for many more to come.

FIFTY Greetings by Amateur Radio.

FIFTY ONE Greetings by Amateur Radio. This message is sent as a free public service by ham radio

Operators at _______________ am having a wonderful time.

FIFTY TWO Really enjoyed being with you. Looking forward to getting together again.

FIFTY THREE Received your ___________ it's appreciated many thanks.

FIFTY FOUR Many thanks for your good wishes.

FIFTY FIVE Good news is always welcome. Very delighted to hear about yours.

FIFTY SIX Congratulations on your __________________ a most worthy and deserved achievement.

FIFTY SEVEN Wish we could be together

FIFTY EIGHT Have a wonderful time. Let us know when you return.

FIFTY NINE Congratulations on the new arrival. Hope mother and child are well.

*SIXTY Wishing you the best of everything on _________________-

SIXTY ONE Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

*SIXTY TWO Greetings and best wishes to you for a pleasant ______________ holiday season.

SIXTY THREE Victory or defeat, our best wishes are with hope you win

SIXTY FOUR Arrived safely at _______________

SIXTY FIVE Arriving __________________ on _________________ please arrange to meet me there.

SIXTY SIX DX QSLs are on hand for you at the _____________ QSL Bureau. Send ____________

Self addressed envelopes.

SIXTY SEVEN Your message number __________ undeliverable because of ________ . Please advise.

SIXTY EIGHT Sorry to hear you are ill. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

SIXTY NINE Welcome to the________ we are glad to have you with us and hope you will enjoy the fun and

Fellowship of the organization.

ARL NUMBERS SHOULD BE SPELLED OUT AT ALL TIMES.

*Can be used for all holidays.

Pacific Area Traffic Nets

(Sorted by Winter Time)

Name	Mode	Frequency (KHz)	Summer Time (UTC)	Winter Time (UTC)	Manager
Twelfth Region Net (DTWN)	SSB	3923 or 7233	1300	1400	WB6OTS
Idaho CD Net	SSB	3990	1400 (M-F)	1500 (M-F)	K7UBC
Washington State Net (WSN)	CW	3658 or 7038 or 1818	1430	1530	W7ZIW
Northwest Boaters Net	SSB	3865	1530	1630	WO7O
Seventh Region Net (DRN7)	SSB	7238 or 3885	1645	1745	K7BDU
Pacific Area Net (DPAN)	SSB	14345 or 7295	1730	1830	N7DRP
Alaska Pacific Net	SSB	14292	1800	1900	K6IXA
Wyoming Jackalope Net	SSB	7260	1815	1915	W7ILL
Oregon Section Net	SSB	7228 or 3885	1830	1930	K7NLM
Beehive Utah Net	SSB	7272	1830	1930	NA7G
Noontime Net	SSB	3970 and 7268.5	1900	2000	W7TVA
Pacific Area Net (DPAN)	SSB	14345 or 7295	2130	2230	N7DRP
Seventh Region Net (DRN7)	SSB	7238 or 3885	2215	2315	K7BDU
Twelfth Region Net (DTWN)	SSB	3923 or 7233	2215	2315	WB6OTS
Sixth Region Net (DRN6)	SSB	7275 or 3916	2230	2330	N6GIW
Montana Traffic Net	SSB	3880	0030	0030	N7AIK
Wyoming Cowboy Net	SSB	3923	2345	0045	WB7K
Alberta Traffic Net (ATN)	CW	3685	2400	0100	VE6CPP
New Mexico Roadrunner Traffic Net	SSB	3939	2400	0100	WA5UNO
British Columbia Boater's Net	FM	147.32+ MHz	2400	summer only	VE7KLU
Alberta Public Service Net	SSB	3740	0030	0130	VE6AKY
British Columbia Public Service Corp Net	SSB	3729	0030	0130	VE7EFZ
Puget Sound Traffic System (Seattle area)	FM	146.82- MHz	0030	0130	KA7TTY
Beaver State Net	SSB	3908	0045	0145	W7IZ
FARM Net	SSB	3937	0200	0200	W7WJH
British Columbia Boater's Net	SSB	3855	0100	summer only	VE7KLU
Washington Amateur Radio Traffic System (WARTS)	SSB	3970	0100	0200	W7GB
Arizona Traffic and Emergency Net	SSB	3992	0200	0200	AB7NK
Northwest Oregon Traffic & Training Net (NW OR, SW WA)	FM	147.32+ MHz	0105	0205	N7YSS
Oregon Section Net (OSN)	CW	3587	0130	0230	W7IZ
Colorado-Wyoming Net	CW	3715	0130	0230
Utah Code Net	CW	3708	0130	0230	NA7G
Northwest SSB Net	SSB	3945	0130	0230	WA7WKX
Northwest Traffic Net (Spokane, Coeur d'Alene)	FM	147.08+ MHz	0130	0230	KC7RNT
Washington State Net (WSN)	CW	3658 or 7038 or 1818	0145	0245	W7ZIW
Mountain States Net (MSN)	CW	3715 or 7115	0145	0245	W0HXB
Idaho Montana Net (IMN)	CW	3647 or 7043	0300	0300	W6ZOH
West Coast Slow Speed Net (WCN)	CW (slow)	3702	0200	0300	WB7OEX
British Columbia Emergency Net (BCEN)	CW	3652	0200	0300	VE7XLH
Columbia Basin Net (CBN)	SSB	3960	0200	0300	KB7HUF
Alaska Sniper's Net	SSB	3920	0200	0300	KL7GG
Northern California Net (NCN)	CW	3630	0200	0300	K9JM
Wyoming Regional Net (WYR)	CW	3560	0200	0300 Sat (Fri MST)
Southern California Net (SCN)	CW	3598	0215 (M-F Pacific)	0315 (M-F Pacific)	AD6HR
Seventh Region Net (RN7)	CW	3560 or 7042 or 1860	0230	0330	W7GHT
Twelfth Region Net (TWN)	CW	3570 or 7063 or 1970	0230	0330	AD0A
Northern California Net (NCN)	FM	145.21	0230	0330	KM6OW
Sixth Region Net (RN6)	CW	3655	0245	0345	W6QZ
Pacific Area Net (PAN)	CW	3652 or 7052 or 1835	0330	0430	K6YR
Alaska Bush Net	SSB	7093	0400	0500	AL7LX
Southern California Net Santa Barbara Section	FM	147.00+ (PL 131.8)	0400	0500	KF6OIF
Northern California Net (NCN)	CW (slow)	3705	0400	0500	WB6UZX
Twelfth Region Net (TWN)	CW	3570 or 7063 or 1970	0400	0500	AD0A
Alaska, Pacific Emergency Preparedness Net	SSB	14292	0430	0530	K6IXA
Seventh Region Net (RN7)	CW	3560 or 7042 or 1860	0430	0530	W7GHT
Sixth Region Net (RN6)	CW	3655	0430	0530	W6QZ
Washington State Net (WSN)	CW	3658 or 7038 or 1818	0445	0545	W7ZIW
Oregon Section Net (OSN)	CW	3587	0500	0600	W7IZ
Alaska Motley Net	SSB	3933	0500	0600	KL7GID
Traffic Handlers Net	SSB	3995	0520	0620	KB7WDP

ARRL RADIOGRAMS

The handling of radiogram traffic was the basis for the formation of ARRL, and a sizable segment of amateurs still make this its principal Amateur Radio operating activity. Amateur radiogram service does not compete with other services, since there are no charges and can be no guarantee. Provided FCC and international regulations are complied with, messages may be accepted from anyone for sending by Amateur Radio.

What constitutes "legal" messages, or any other kind of third party communication, has been a matter of considerable discussion and various interpretations throughout the years. The pertinent regulations sections are 97.3b, which defines an amateur operator as being a person "without pecuniary interest"; 97.112, which forbids any remuneration or other kind of compensation for use of an amateur station; and 97.114, which details certain prohibitions on third-party traffic.

Generally speaking, unimportant, personal, non-business messages may be exchanged between different countries only after a special agreement has been reached between the countries. A list of countries, which have signed such agreements with Canada and with the U.S., appears frequently in QST. In addition, most countries do not object to actual emergency radiograms being handled in the amateur bands if government or commercial facilities are not available at the time.

Individual amateurs handle radiograms in a number of different ways. Some are "free lancers" who handle their traffic on individual schedules without recourse to regular nets. Most traffic operators, however, participate in nets of various kinds. The largest organized system of nets is the ARRL National Traffic System. Others include networks organized by individuals for traffic-handling purposes in which individual amateurs participate out of preference.

ORIGINATING RADIOGRAMS

Any amateur can originate a radiogram on behalf of another individual, whether such individual be a licensed amateur or not. It is the responsibility of the originating amateur, however, to see that the message is in proper form before its first transmission, because under most circumstances it is improper for a relaying or delivering station to make changes.

Each radiogram originated and handled should contain the following component parts in the order given:

(a) Number (d) Station of (g) Time Filed*

(b) Precedence Origin (h) Date

(f) Place of Origin (j) Text

(k) Signature

*Optional with originator

a) Every radiogram transmitted should bear a number. Keep a sheet with a consecutive list of numbers (beginning at 1) at your operating position. When a radiogram is filed at your station for transmission, complete all parts of the preamble except the number, leaving this blank. When you send the radiogram, assign a number to it from the number sheet, crossing out numbers on the sheet as they are used and making a notation, after the number, of the station to whom the radiogram was sent and the date. Such a system is convenient for quick reference purposes. Most traffic handlers start with number 1 at the beginning of each year.

(b) Every radiogram has precedence in amateur procedure. This will normally be "Routine' (R). It is a separate part of the preamble and is transmitted as such, not as part of the number. Other

Precedence’s are "Emergency" (never abbreviated), "Priority" (P), and "Welfare" (W) -

(c) Handling Instructions (HX) are available prosigns for use when or if desired by the originator or the originating station, whenever special instructions are required in the handling of the radiogram.

(d) The "station of origin" is the call of the station from which the radiogram was first sent by Amateur Radio and is included so that handling stations will be able to communicate with the originator if something interferes with the prompt handling or delivery of the message.

(e) The "check" is the number of words and numerals in the text of the radiogram. Handling stations should agree on the check before the message is considered handled. Full information on checking radiograms is given later.

(f) The "Place of origin" is the name of the place (city or town) from which the radiogram was started, not necessarily the location of the station of origin. The preamble of a radiogram filed at League headquarters in Newington Conn., might read as follows: NR 457 R WLINF 21 NEWINGTON CONN 2057Z JUNE 11.

If a message is sent to your station by mail or otherwise not filed in person, the preamble should show the place the radiogram originally came from. If the radiogram came to League Headquarters by mail from Wiscasset, Maine, the preamble would read: NR 457 R WLINF 21 WISCASSET MAINE 2057Z JUNE 11. Any radiogram received at an amateur station by any means other than Amateur Radio is an origination when put on an amateur circuit by that station.

(g) The time filed is the time at which the radiogram is received at the station from which it is to be sent. Standard practice is to use UTC. This part of the preamble is optional with the originating station.

(h) The month and the day of the month that the radiogram was filed at the originating station. The year is not included. If the filing time is UTC, be sure the date agrees.

(i) The address is the name, street and number, city and state of the party to whom the radiogram is being sent. The telephone number should be part of the address. A complete address should always be given to ensure delivery. When accepting a radiogram for origination this point should be stressed. In transmitting the message by CW, the signal AA is used to separate parts of the address. And BT or “break” follow the address before the text is started.

In street addresses where the words east, west, north, south are part of the address, spell out the works in full. Suffixes "th," "nd," "st," etc., are not recommended. Example: 1119 W 19th St" should be 1119 West 19 St." It is not good practice for the relaying station to change address format, but the originating station should observe the above practices to insure clarity in retransmission.

(j) The text consists of words in the body of the radiogram. No abbreviations should be substituted for the words in the text of the radiogram. The text follows the address and is set off from the signature by another BT.

(k) The signature is usually the name of the person originating the message. The signature follows the BT or "break" at the end of the text. The abbreviation "sig" is not transmitted.

After the signature, say, "end" or transmit AR. If more to follow, say "more." On CW, use the prosign B. If no more, say "no more." On Cw use the prosign IN."

COUNTING WORDS IN RADIOGRAMS

The amateur radiogram "check" is the count of the number of words in the text only. It is essentially an "as sent" count. While it is assumed that the rules of grammar and spelling will be followed, the check count is determined principally by the spacing used by the transmitting operator in sending the text. Since the first operator to transmit the radiogram is the operator of the originating station who enters the check in the preamble, this check should carry through to destination. The relaying operator has no authority to change the check unless it is definitely determined that the check as he received it is incorrect, then he should confirm with the transmitting operator before making the change. When such a change is made, the original check should remain in the preamble. Example: an original check of 10 corrected to 9 would be sent "10/9" on CW.

The check is a means for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of your copy. It also indicates to the receiving operator how many words the radiogram he is about to copy will contain. Inclusion of "check" in a message preamble is not optional.

Numbers, ciphers, mixed groups and punctuation each count as one in the check, regardless of length. It is recommended amateur practice not to use punctuation, fractions or other unorthodox or seldom-us6d code symbols in messages as such, but rather to spell these out when used in the text of a message to avoid complications in checking. The letter X or "X-ray" is used in place of a period or semicolon and is counted in the check.

Special note: The ARRL-recommended procedure for counting the telephone number in the text of a radiogram is to separate the telephone number into groups, with the area code (if any) counting as one word, the three-digit exchange one word, and the last four digits one word. For example, 203 666 1541 counts as three words in the text of a message; 666 1541 counts as two words. Separating the phone number into separate groups also minimizes garbling.

The principle of counting words as sent can be illustrated by a few examples, as follows:

New York City......... 3 words 527B........................... 1 word

NYC........................ 1 word H 0 Townsend............. 3 words

Fifty six..................... 2 words WlYL/4....................... 1 word

A few rules have to be observed in sending words so this principle of "counting as sent" will not be abused:

1) Make your spacing methodical and accurate on both phone and CW.

2) Follow the dictionary wherever possible.

3) Do not waste time in traffic nets arguing about "how to

Count." The purpose of the "check" in amateur work is to confirm the number of words or groups in the text. QTB is a useful signal in confirming check. Once you are sure that you have copied it correctly, QSL (on CW) or "roger" (on phone) the radiogram and get on with the next one, correcting the check when you relay the radiogram.

In copying traffic, whether by pencil or typewriter it is quite easy, with a little practice, to count the words in the text as you copy. When using pencil, copy five words to a line. At the end of the radiogram, you can readily figure the number of words by the number of lines (plus how many words over) you copied. By typewriter, it is more convenient to copy ten words to a line, and this can easily be done by copying five words, hitting the space bar twice (instead of once), copying five more words, then line spacing to begin a new ten-word line. At the end of the Radiogram a glance at the number of lines will show you how many words you copied. You can then query the sending operator if your figure does not agree with his.

When traffic is heavy and time is precious, it is not considered advisable practice to query a check unless you have reason to believe that a mistake was made, either in sending or copying.

ARL Check

Messages containing ARRL numbered radiogram texts (see form FSD3) have the same form as any other radiogram, except that the symbol ARL (NOT ARRL) is used before the check. This symbol indicates that a spelled out number in the text of the radiogram refers to a complete text bearing that number on the ARL list.

In delivering a message with an ARL text, one of course delivers the complete text. It is therefore very necessary that the symbol ARL be included with the check to avoid the possibility of delivery of a meaningless number to the addressee.

Use of ARL text is a special tool for special occasions. When used, it should be used properly to avoid delays and confusion.

ARRL RECOMMENDED PRECEDENCES

Please observe the following ARRL provisions for PRECEDENCES in connection with written message traffic. These provisions are designed to increase the efficiency of our service both in normal times and in emergency.

Precedence’s

EMERGENCY 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 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 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 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.

Note -- the precedence always follows the message number. For example, a message number may be 207 R on CW and "Two Zero Seven Routine" on phone.