What is a Radiogram?

A "radiogram" is simply a "telegram" transmitted via radio.  As you probably
know, the ARRL was formerly called the "American Radio Relay League,"
because the organization was built around the process of setting up an
organization to facilitate the exchange of radiograms throughout North
America; therefore the word "relay" in the former name.

Like the telegram, the radiogram is a form of record message traffic, often
transmitted on behalf of a third party or delivered to a third party.  For
example, one can check into a NTS traffic net, originate a message to a
friend or family member elsewhere in the US or Canada.  It passes through a
network of layered radio nets until it arrives at its destination where it
is delivered by a NTS volunteer.

Message content can vary from a birthday greeting to a message regarding a
disaster operation.  Simply put, the skills and procedures needed to
exchange the run-of-the-mill birthday greeting or "thanks for the QSO"
radiogram are readily applied to the process of transmitting a message
requesting medical or relief supplies during a major disaster.

In time of emergency, record message traffic proves advantageous because the
standardized format of the message improves the likelihood that the message
itself will not be altered during the transmission process.  This is the
reason the military and many state and Federal agencies utilize a standard
message format, even when transmitting messages via e-mail.  Therefore,
let's take a tour of an imaginary radiogram:


12 P WB8SIW 20   BUCHANAN, MI 2313Z FEB 12
AMERICAN RED CROSS
KALAMAZOO, MI
BRUCE BARKER
517-555-3213

REQUEST ADDITIONAL ERV AND SEVEN VOLUNTEERS FOR TWELVE HOUR SHIFT
BEGINNING THURSDAY 7AM EST  X  REPORT TO BERRIEN COUNTY CHAPTER

MARILYN VINEYARD
JOB DIRECTOR

*Examining the components*:

1.  Message number:  Imagine one transmits a few hundred messages during the
course of a disaster operation.  If a problem arises at the delivery end,
the delivering station need only reference the message serial number when
seeking clarification.  This prevents digging through hundreds of messages
in an attempt to clarify the problem.  A service message might state
"reference message 221, unable to locate requested item" or "reference
message 310 addressee moved please give better address."


2.  Priority:  This indicates how important the message is to the originator
(the person signing the message, not the radio operator).  The process of
formalizing priority is a tool used to make the best use of limited
communications circuit capacity.  Emergency messages are handled before
Priority messages.  Welfare messages are handled before routine messages and
the like.

3. Station of Origin:  This is the call sign of the first person to place
the message into the system.  This permits replies and service messages to
be routed to an operator who is present on the net(s).  In other words, if
W8ABC calls W8XYZ on the phone and asks him to originate a radiogram via
NTS, the station of origin is W8XYZ, not W8ABC.

4. Check (group count):  When a radiogram is transferred, the receiving
operator must count the number or words/groups in the text to insure they
match the group count (check).  This insures the message is complete.  It is
not unlike the automated "checksum" in a digital packet.

5.  Place of Origin:  This is the location of the person signing the
message, not the location of the operator entering the message into the NTS
system.  If an operator in Detroit, Michigan originates a message for an
official in Toledo, Ohio during an emergency, the place of origin is
"Toledo, OH."

6.  Time of Origin:  The time is optional, and is normally not used for
routine messages.  The time is always in UTC (GMT), and it indicates the
time the message was drafted, not the time it was placed into the NTS
system.  In other words, if a person writes out a message in an Emergency
Operations Center at 1703Z, but the operator doesn't get around to
transmitting it on the net until 1714Z, the "time of origin" remains 1703Z.
This can be critical in a disaster because intervening information with a
later time of origin can alter the response requirements.

7.  Date of Origin:  Just the three letter month and two digit day.  No year
required.  If it takes longer than a year for the message to arrive, its
likely moot!  LOL.

8.  Text:  Self explanatory.  However, for routine messages, the text is
typically limited to 25-words.

9.  Signature:  Name of originator.  Often a good idea to include the
title and agency of an official in a disaster operation.


*Note*:  I did NOT include the optional "HX" handling instructions in the
example.  The beginning traffic handler will encounter them rarely, but
these are inserted after the precedence.  HXA through HXF provide specific
delivery instructions for the delivering operator.


*Historical Antecedent*:

The radiogram is essentially the Western Union Telegram format modified for
radio.  For example:

Sample WU Telegram:

13 DL GR JW 4 GRAND RAPIDS MI 1201 PM EST FEB 14
ROBERT WADE
949 PINE ST
OWOSSO MI 48867
517-555-4978

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE

JIM WADE


*Identical NTS radiogram*:

13 R WB8SIW 4 GRAND RAPIDS MI 1701Z FEB 14
ROBERT WADE
949 PINE ST
OWOSSO MI 48867
517-555-4978

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE

JIM WADE

As you can see, the WU message and radiogram contain similar components
including:

* Message Serial Number
* Class of service ("Day Letter" instead of a precedence")
* Station of origin (GR telegraph office and originating operators sine
(initials JW))
* Check (for billing, accuracy, etc.).
* Place of origin
* Date Time Groups


*Why use a standard format*?

Messages on behalf of third parties transmitted via standard format are
often handled faster using a standard format, because they limit the usual
"thinking aloud," multiple repeats, and other confusion that is common to
informal nets.  Furthermore, the contents tend to retain greater accuracy.
If a message moves between different modes of communications, such as from a
voice net, to a CW net, and then to e-mail or FAX, all the original service
components stay with the message.  This is particularly important in public
service communications when the addressee needs to know:

1.  Who is responsible for the message content (signature)?

2.  At what time did he originate the message (time/date or origin)?

3.  Where was the responsible party originating the message located?

....and so forth.

**
*When not to use radiogram/record message traffic:*

One need not use the radiogram for many tactical applications.  For example,
if one is transmitting directions or makes an inquiry directly to the
recipient, the additional data may not be required.  For example:  "WB8SIW,
this is W8ABC where are you located?" or "WB8SIW please instruct the ERV
operator to stop at Harding Middle School to pick up 20 cots before
returning to the Red Cross Chapter" both work fine if the recipient of the
message is riding in the vehicle with the Red Cross personnel.

Some applications use a modified message format.  For example, Skywarn
observations are best transmitted in a standardized format, but they do not
require all of the components of the radiogram.  One might use the "TEL"
system, which covers only "time, effect, location."  Ideally, however, all
stations in the Skywarn net transmit their observations in the same order to
make logging easier and to prevent confusion.  An example might be "WB8SIW
at 445 PM a Wall Cloud at 6th and Congress Streets in Austin"

**
*Why handle traffic*:

This is the big question.  In the era of e-mail and cell phones, many hams
ask "why should I send a radiogram when an e-mail or text message is more
convenient."  The answer is:  "practice."  The skills learned on a net are
easily adapted to any public service operation.  Furthermore, the network,
the methods, and the like are quickly and easily pressed into service during
those incidents when the cellular grid is down and the Internet is
unavailable.

If one monitors the typical voice nets on 20-meter phone during a major
disaster (Katrina, etc.), one hears all of the problems that arise when
standard procedures are not in place.  Confusion, repeats, "thinking aloud,"
and operators stumbling over each other all limit the utility of the net.
In reality, if NTS type procedures were used, the efficiency would improve
greatly.

In the words of United Press founder and famous AP telegrapher "Walter P.
Phillips; "it may seem paradoxical, but it is the time one looses on a
circuit, rather than the time made, which matters."  The inexperience
ham thinks things will move faster by disposing of the standard radiogram
format or by adopting his own, unique requirements, but the result is often
confusion, repetition, and the like, which just gums things up.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Jim Wades
WB8SIW

Thanks to Jim WB8SIW for this information.

(BT)