[CC-ARES-RACES] FW: Re: June Commex

[Paul Tackish]

To all ARES/RACES Members; This is very good information and
might answer some of your questions also. 

73,

Mike KA3GRW


>--- Original Message ---
>From: alyvq@abs.net
>To: kr3a@chesapeake.net, carwbal@shore.intercom.net, kd3jk@arrl.net,
r_lovegrove@email.msn.com, 74163.200@compuserve.com, n3seo@arrl.net,
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>Date: 6/10/02 4:50:27 PM
>

>   Gentlemen
>   The FRED RO, N2CSQ, raised a few question regarding the radiogram

>precedences, text exercise alert and use of "X" in ARES/RACES
traffic.
>   Re Roy's questions:
>
>> 1. Does a precedence of "TEST___" mean that it would be sent
>>as "TEST PRIORITY" or "TEST ROUTINE", &c?
>   Yes. The ARRL precedences apply to ARRL format messages and

>RACES messages, each introduced with the word "TEST" for exercise

>messages, and each is voiced as "TEST ROUTINE", "TEST PRIORITY",

>etc.
>   The MDC RACES Plan, Appendix B, section B.3.1, Precedence,
calls 
>for precedences parallel to those of the ARRL radiogram. Technically

>this implies the use of "TEST ROUTINE", etc., for RACES format

>exercise messages as well. Of late MEMA messages have not 
>contained the word "TEST" ahead of the precedence.
>   If your jurisdiction originates exercise traffic in RACES
format, plain 
>text, ADREP, or SITREP, the use of "TEST" ahead of the precedence

>is correct.
>   In the ARRL format the precedence "TEST (precedence)" also

>implies that the message is no longer "in play" at the termination

>of the exercise, i.e., when the exercise ends, all such traffic
is no 
>longer passed or delivered. This is subject to the discretion
of the 
>leadership conducting the exercise, and is often negated so
that 
>unprocessed traffic at the end of the exercise is still cleared
for 
>evaluation purposes. The same applies to our RACES traffic.
>
>>2. MEMA never answered my question about text containing the
>>"EXERCISE MESSAGE" and "END EXERCISE MESSAGE" disclaimers.
I
>>suggested that these be separated from other text by "X" for
>>clarity. What procedure do you want us to use in this regard?
>   The use of an initial "X" to separate either the first or
last exercise 
>warning from the adjacent text is wise if there might be any
ambiguity 
>in understanding the text otherwise. When you format the final
form of 
>the message to transmit determine if such ambiguity needs to
be 
>avoided and add the "X" accordingly. If the message is formatted
by 
>an official, request the "X" be added as needed. This should
be done 
>automatically by the originator and not have to be separately

>considered by the amateur handling the message at the insertion

>point. I generally find the "X" most often needed at the end
warning, 
>as in a text ending:
>"... ADVISE ON THIS X EXERCISE" or "... ADVISE ON THIS X END

>EXERCISE MESSAGE", which, in both cases, would be ambiguous

>without the "X".
>   A text beginning "EXERCISE INFORMATION ON MANNING IS 
>TO FOLLOW..." or "EXERCISE MESSAGE INFORMATION ON 
>MANNING IS TO FOLLOW..." would also be less ambiguous as 
>"EXERCISE X INFORMATION ON MANNING IS TO FOLLOW...".
>   The initial "X" is never used as the last group of the text
just ahead 
>of the proword "BREAK".
>   The "X" is usually omitted between ARRL Numbered Radiogram

>spelled-out numbers unless they include blank information to
be 
>supplied in following text, and the boundary between that blank

>information and subsequent groups requires an "X" for clarity.
>   If you wish to format all your traffic using the "X" after
the first 
>warning, and just before the end warning, I have no problem
with 
>that.
>   Originators should use "X" where it is needed for clarity,
dictated 
>by common sense.
>
>>3. "EXERCISE" at the beginning and end of text is a departure

>>from the procedure of using "EXERCISE MESSAGE" and "END EXERCISE
>>MESSAGE". Please confirm that this is what you wish us to do.
>>TNX ES 73
>   Use "EXERCISE MESSAGE" and "END EXERCISE MESSAGE" 
>has not been a procedure (documented protocol), but it has been
a 
>practice in originated MEMA traffic for several years. This
does 
>not mean you must mimic it. RACES traffic in RACES format or

>ARRL format is also sent between jurisdictions and is not subject

>to a MEMA practice. Amateur Radio determines our protocols,
but 
>we also handle submitted traffic from the served agency as 
>formatted unless it violates radiogram format requirements.
>   An exercise alert is considered mandatory in exercise traffic
due 
>to the lack of privacy on amateur radio frequencies, hence the

>stipulation in the RACES Plan. It is also customary in the ARRL

>format used in ARES and NTS traffic.
>   The MDC RACES Plan, Appendix B, section B.3.2, calls for
the 
>word "EXERCISE" to be included as the first and last groups
of an 
>exercise message to warn listeners that the message is an exercise

>message. That is the minimum warning felt sufficient to accomplish

>the purpose. MEMA of late has been using more than the minimum

>required in their outbound traffic, i.e., "EXERCISE MESSAGE"
as the 
>beginning warning, and 'END EXERCISE MESSAGE" as the closing

>warning. That is of course acceptable if that is how they wish
to format 
>their message. I guess they could say "BEGINNING OF PRACTICE

>EXERCISE MESSAGE" if they wanted to. Such a warning would meet

>the intent of the protocol.
>   I tried to establish some uniformity, brevity, and simplicity
with 
>the word "EXERCISE" both places.
>   If your director wishes to format messages either way it
is 
>acceptable, although the more verbose version is somewhat redundant.
>We all know the message is a message, and we know the end of

>the message is flagged by the proword "BREAK" at the end of
the 
>text. An ARRL alternative is the use of the words "TEST MESSAGE"

>as the first groups of the text---no warning at the end of the
message.
>ARRL has approved the use of "EXERCISE" at both the beginning
and 
>end of the text. This helps cover the case of late arriving
eavesdroppers.
>   Our SEC, for example, prefers using "EXERCISE MESSAGE" at

>both the beginning and end of the text. Nothing wrong with that
either, 
>using the "X" as needed.
>   Meet the minimum of B.3.2, using an "X" where needed to prevent

>ambiguity, and you will certainly accomplish the objective.
>
>   Thanks for the questions.
>   73, Al, W3YVQ/ASM RACES-ARES/NTS Coord.
>   MDC RACES Coord., BACO RO
>
>