[CVRC] Traffic and Training Net LESSON THREE

[Hal Moore, N7CCN]

LESSON THREE - SERVICE MESSAGE

WILL SEE YOU ON THE SECOND OF JANUARY 2002.

BT

OPNOTE: 2002 IS AS RECEIVED.

If you are the delivering station, however, and the addressee agrees with you
that this just doesn't make sense, then you are in a position to send a
SERVICE message, which is our next topic. The point here is that the first
station in the loop should take care that the message meets the criteria and
that it is accurate. All the rest of the system is depending upon that. Bare
in mind that only the original sending station can authorize a change in the
message.

We have now covered the THIRD PARTY MESSAGE and the MULTIPLE ADDRESSEE
MESSAGE. Once we begin using these formats, you will become more comfortable
with them. In this lesson we will cover the SERVICE MESSAGE.

Certain types of service messages will be discussed in later lesson plans and
you should become familiar with the messages. Service messages are from one
station to another, essentially from operator to operator. Q and Z signals
are used to shorten the messages. A copy of the Q and Z signals will be
forwarded under separate cover. I you are the one who is delivering the above
hypothetical message; you would call the addressee and discuss the matter
with them. If they agreed that 2002 did not make sense, here is the action
you might take:

R 123456Z APR 02

FM N7CCN NV

TO KJ7UK NV (The station that originated the message)

BT

UNCLAS SVC

INT ZDK YOUR 091234Z APR 02 NV WA (word after) JANUARY. SHOULD

THIS BE 2001?

BT

Probably the most common service message you will experience goes something
like this:

R 123456Z APR 02

FM N7CCN NV

TO KJ7UK NV

BT

ZDE YOUR 091234Z APR 02. PHONE NUMBER WAS NOT IN SERVICE AND

MAIL RETURNED WITH NO FORWARDING ADDRESS.

BT

Notice that you can talk plainly in a service message as well as use the Q
and Z signals. Do not be afraid to say what you want to say to the operator.

R 123456Z APR 02 ZFD

R 123456Z APR 02 ZEU

At least one Z signal is used with the addressees in the TO and FROM lines.
This is ZEN. It is used directly before any addressee who is to receive the
message by some other method. You cannot take an addressee off a message,
because it is important that all addressees know who all will be reading the
message. But, it is important to let relay stations know whom they are to
deliver to.

When I was serving as the Air Operations Officer for the First Cavalry
Division in Vietnam we had one communications officer which served not only
our command, but also served the rest of the 527th Combat Air Battalion which
was located on the flight line right outside our offices. So, if I sent a
message from the Air Operations Officer to the commander of the 527th CAB,
the address would have a ZEN/ in front of it. That message, meaning that
piece of paper, would not go by radio or teletype but would be picked up by a
runner from the 527th CAB at the same window of the communications office
that we submitted it through.

We will also find that the ZEN identifier plays a far more important role
when we get into digital communications, soon I hope. This identifier
automatically tells the mailbox that this message is not to be passed via
digital mode.

Example: Dick, KJ7UK is working as a radio operator at the command center. He
receives a message from the incident commander with several addresses on it.
Also, there is a note that it has been passed by telephone to the staging
officer and to Sheriff of Douglas County. Dick would place a ZEN in front of
these addresses and all operators would know that this message has been
passed via a different mode of communications.

RR DCARTOALL

DE N7CCN NV

R 123456Z APR 02

FM W6OLD NV

TO ZEN/KJ7UK NV

INFO N7GSU OR

KA7GTP  WA

N7USN  UT

BT

TEXT

BT

NNNN

The ZEN is what I want to illustrate here, but I want also to temp your
imagination by having added to lines at the top of the message and one at the
end. This is digital format. I cannot encourage you enough to move on to
getting up and going with AMTOR and later PACTOR. This is the chance to use
our system to greatly advance your communications skills. Your experience
will be greatly expanded when you have digital capability.

As you can see, the use of the ZEN/ in the mailbox usage achieves the same
function as the relay instructions in point to point communications on voice
or digital.

Refresher:

PROWARDS.

CORRECT

WRONG

ROGER

WILCO

AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

If you are still uncomfortable as to the usage of these words, feel free to
contact me by e-mail or in person at the DCART meeting and I will be more
than glad to review their meanings. They are important.

I also have some new information regarding the changing role of RACES/ARES in
the HOMELAND security scheme. I have been heavily involved in discussions
regarding this.  Those involved have varied from the Secretary of Defense,
the ARRL, FEMA, to most departments in the federal government.

The next lesson plan will cover the most difficult  message you will ever
write, the ECOM message and those associated with it

(Portions of this lesson plan are taken from the Navy-Marine Corps MARS,
Region Five Training Guide.)