Some non-traffic handlers like to make fun of the radiogram preamble and its use of a “check” or group count. They just don’t realize that it’s something they do all the time. Modern data networks do the same thing only it’s automated in the form of a digital check-sum. This is a quality control function, which ensures that the entire content of the message was received with no critical words or groups missing. That’s why operators insert a check or group count even in an ICS-213 message.
Here’s a sample NTS message.
NR 656 R
K9LGU 24 FORT ATKINSON WI NOV 30
WISCONSIN ARES/RACES OPERATORS
THE CHECK IS A COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF WORDS OR GROUPS IN THE TEXT X IT DOES
NOT INCLUDE THE ADDRESS OR SIGNATURE
K9LGU/STM
Checking the check can sometimes best be shown by example.
Text: “ARL SIXTY ONE LOVE TO ALL” =
Check ARL 6
Text: “CALL ME AT 262 284 9346 X 73”
= Check 8 (phone number in three parts, X counts as one)
Text: “ARL SEVEN HOW MANY ELECTRIC
GENERATORS ARE AVAILABLE QUERY”
= Check ARL 9 (The word, “Query,”
counts as one.)
Text: “PLEASE ASSIGN THREE OPERATORS
TO ARC CENTER BY 1300Z” = Check 9 (Letter group, “ARC,”
and mixed group, “1300Z,” count as one each.)
Text: “SEND THIRTY ONE COPIES OF
OPERATING AID FSD218 WITH NEXT OPERATOR” = Check 11
(“Thirty one,” is counted as two; mixed group, “FSD218,”
counts as one.)
Text: “CONTACT RED CROSS AUTHORITY
AND OFFER ASSISTANCE OF TWELVE OPERATORS.” = Check 10
Text: “ARL EIGHT THREE HTS ARL SEVEN
ARL FOURTEEN FLOODING” Check = ARL 9 (Note that the “THREE
HTS” fills in the information for “ARL EIGHT.”)
Keep counting. It really helps to
confirm that the message is accurate, and that’s what we
do. 73 K9LGU/STM
—————————
Skip Sharpe W9REL
Wisconsin RACES Chief Radio Officer
WI ARES/RACES ASEC Training
