to

1
Welcome

• to
• ARECC Level I

2
Basic Communication Skills

• Isnt this just the same as any QSO?
• NO!
• Youre dealing with Life Death
• Any message may have consequences
• Messages must be quick, reliable, ACCURATE

3
Basic Communication Skills

• The single most important skill
• LISTENING

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Basic Communication Skills

• Talking into a Microphone
• Hold it close talk across it
• Use a normal, clear voice
• Keep a normal pace, slow if necessary
• Pronounce carefully
• Choose a good mike
• VOX not usually a good idea
• Be careful of repeater delays

5
Basic Communication Skills

• Brevity Clarity
• No extraneous information
• No extra words
• Crisp, clear messages
• No chit chat
• Say EXACTLY what you mean, be precise
• One subject at a time

6
Basic Communication Skills

• Plain Language
• No jargon or specialized terminology
• No codes or signals
• Q codes
• 10 codes
• Pro-words are OK
• Standardized ways of saying things
• Clarity is the objective, no matter WHO youre
  talking to

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Basic Communication Skills

• Phonetics
• Some words are just hard to understand
• You can ask for a repeat, but sometimes you just
  have to spell it
• Keep to STANDARD phonetics dont be cute
• Unusual or cute phonetics can be misunderstood

8
Phonetics

• A - alfa (AL - fa)
• B - bravo (BRAH - voh)
• C - charlie (CHAR - lee
• D - delta (DELL - tah)
• E - echo (ECK - oh)
• F - foxtrot (FOKS - trot)
• G - golf (GOLF)
• H - hotel (HOH - tell)
• I - india (IN - dee - ah)
• J - juliet (JU - lee - ett)
• K - kilo (KEY - loh)
• L - lima (LEE - mah)
• M - mike (MIKE)

• N - november (no - VEM - ber)
• O - oscar (OSS - cah)
• P - papa (PAH - PAH)
• Q - quebec (kay - BECK)
• R - romeo (ROW - me - oh)
• S - sierra (SEE - air - uh)
• T - tango (TANG - go)
• U - uniform (YOU - ni - form)
• V - victor (VIK - tor)
• W - whiskey (WISS - key)
• X - xray (ECKS - ray)
• Y - yankee (YANG - key)
• Z - zulu (ZOO - loo)

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Phonetics numbers

• One - (Wun)
• Two - (TOOO)
• Three - (THUH - ree)
• Four - (FOH - wer)
• Five - (FY - ive)
• Six - (Sicks)
• Seven - (SEV - vin)
• Eight - (Ate)
• Nine - (NINE - er)
• Zero - (ZEE - row)

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Basic Communication Skills

• Tactical Call Signs
• Can ID the stations purpose, location, etc.
• Should be used for all emergency nets of more
  than a few people
• Dont need your call sign to CALL a station
• Station Identification STILL REQUIRED per the
  rules!

11
Basic Communication Skills

• What to avoid
• Thinking aloud on the air
• On-air arguments or criticism
• Rambling
• Shouting
• Cute phonetics
• Identifying every time you key up
• Codes or special signals
• Speaking without planning
• Talking just to talk

12
Emergency Nets

• What is an Emergency Net?
• Formats
• Directed or Formal Nets
• Open or Informal Nets
• Modes

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Emergency Nets

• Types of Emergency Nets
• Traffic Nets
• Tactical Nets
• Resource Nets
• Information Nets

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Emergency Nets

• Checking into a Net
• LISTEN FIRST
• Understand the net
• Directed Nets will usually call for checkins
• Should you Break in?
• Passing Messages
• Checking Out
• Getting some practice NTS

15
Message Handling

• Formal vs. Informal Messages
• Why bother with FORMAL messages?
• Should we ever use INFORMAL messages?
• Message Formats
• ARRL Format
• Other Formats

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Message Handling

• Basic Message Components
• Preamble
• Address
• Text or Body
• Signature

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Message Handling

• The Message Preamble
• Message Number
• Precedence (Routine, Welfare, Priority,
  EMERGENCY)
• Handling Instructions
• Station of Origin
• Check (the number of words in the body)
• Place of Origin
• Time Filed
• Date

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Message Handling Pro-words

• BREAK - Separates address from text and text from
  signature.
• CORRECTION - I am going to correct an error.
• END - End of message
• MORE - Additional messages to follow.
• NO MORE - No additional messages.
• FIGURES - Used before a word group consisting of
  all numerals.
• INITIAL - Used to indicate a single letter will
  follow.
• I SAY AGAIN - Used to indicate a repeat of a word
  or phrase will follow.
• I SPELL - I am going to spell a word phonetically.

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More Pro-words

• LETTER GROUP - Several letters together in a
  group will follow.
• i.e., ARES,
  MARS
• MIXED GROUP - Letters and numbers combined in a
  group will follow.
• XRAY - Used to indicate end of sentence, as with
  a period.
• QUERY - Used to indicate the end of a question.
• CORRECT - Correct or yes
• AFFIRMATIVE - Yes
• NEGATIVE - No
• THIS IS - Used preceding identification of your
  station.
• GO AHEAD - Invitation for specific station to
  transmit.
• ROGER - Message understood transmission received
  correctly and in full.

20
Message Handling
21
ARRL HX--Handling Instructions

• HX - Handling instructions, single letter to
  follow - optional part of preamble.
• HXA - (Followed by a number) Collect telephone
  deliver authorized within miles.
• HXB - (Followed by a number) Cancel message if
  not delivered within hours of filing time
  notify originating station.
• HXC - Report date and time of delivery to
  originating station.
• HXD - Report the identity of the station who
  delivered the message, with date, time and
  method of delivery to originating state. Each
  station reports identity of relay station with
  data and time.
• HXE - Delivering station to get and send reply
  from addressee.
• HXF - (Followed by a date in numbers) Hold
  delivery until (specified date).
• HXG - Delivery by mail or telephone - toll call
  not required. If toll or other expense
  involved, cancel message, and notify originating
  station.

22
Pro-words used for fills

• WORD AFTER - Say again word after ...
• ALL AFTER - Say again all after ...
• BETWEEN - Say again between ... and ...

23
Message Handling

• Time Savers
• Dont add unnecessary words
• Speak evenly and clearly
• Write out the message before passing it
• Have paper ready to write with
• Basic Rules
• Dont speculate
• Pass as written

24
ARL
25
Message Handling

• Logging Record Keeping
• What should be in the log?
• Who should do the logging?
• Log formats
• Writing the Message
• 5 words per line works!
• Message forms

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Message Handling

• Who writes the message?
• Should you edit the message?
• Use your judgment!

27
Message Handling

• Security Privacy
• How secure is amateur radio?
• Who is allowed to see the message?
• Who MIGHT see the message?
• Minimizing change of casual listening
• Digital modes
• Uncommon frequencies

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Net Guidelines

• The Net Manager
• The NCS
• Net Scripts
• Backup NCS
• Liaison Stations
• Relay Stations
• Dealing with Interference

29
Questions?
30
There has been an earthquake along the Coast
Range. Many parts of the northern Willamette
Valley are without electrical power. Roads are
not safe to drive and several bridges have
collapsed. Injured residents are arriving at the
hospital. Cell phones are not working.
Telephones work intermittently and are not
dependable The best form of communications is
via radio. You are the communications person
assigned to the temporary medic unit located in
the parking lot outside Tuality Hospital. One
of the medics, Jay Van Dyke, stops by your post
and asks you to order supplies. He says they
need large bandages, extra bottled water, three
cots, and a dozen blankets. You are to send this
request to Bonnie Hanks in the store room at
Tuality. Her phone number is [phone].