ONLINE TRAINING COURSES FROM ARRL:                  
 
Level 1/ Basic -- Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communications  
EC-001  
Description: A basic course to raise awareness and provide additional knowledge and tools for any emergency communications  
volunteer.  This course has 23 lesson units, is expected to take approximately 25 hours to complete over an 8-week period.  
Check the arrl.org link below for availability.  
 
Each online course has been developed in segments --  
learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and  
quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications  
with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session  
that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may  
access the course at any time of day during the course period,  
completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal  
schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing  
assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback.  
Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no  
appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete  
flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To  
learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page http://www.arrl.org/cep/calendar/  
or contact the Continuing Education Course Administrator at: cce@arrl.org  
       
Information on the new Advanced EmComm course will be available soon.  
   
   
Link to ARRL's FSD-218 (message format info) http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/fsd218.html     
   
Link to ARRL's Numbered Radiograms http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/fsd3.html    
   
Link to Wisconsin Traffic Handling info http://www.arrl.org/sections/WI.html (scroll down a little)    
   
       
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THROUGH THE FOLLOWING, SOME REPETITION, BUT GOOD STUFF TO DIGEST!    
       
BREAK TAGS (information provided by Dennis Rybicke  K9LGU  -Section Traffic Manager)  Thank you Denny!
    
     
There are currently seven one-word Break Tags.     
They are: "answer," "question," "info," "priority," "medical," "emergency" and your call sign.       
Most of these tags have been used with great success in large public/emergency services nets. Here is how they   
work: Instead of saying "break" between transmissions during a directed net, the operator uses the word     
specified as a Break Tag without a call sign. They are to be used only when the operator's traffic will be     
appreciated by net control and results in more efficient communication. They are to be used wisely, as net     
control is directed to stop and turn over the net to the breaker. The message that follows a break should be      
as short as possible.    
Definitions and Use:        
"Answer": To be used when you have the definitive answer to a question currently being discussed on the air.    
     
"Question": To be used when the answer of a question can't wait; for example, when the mayor is standing  
 is standing next to you and requesting you to get information using your radio.      
     
"Info": To be used when information needs to be transmitted rapidly but is not related to what is being said  
 on the air; for example, if an event that net control needs to know about is going to happen in the next     
 few seconds or if waiting for the end of an exchange will negate the value of the information.    
     
"Priority": To be used to report an important but non-life threatening situation such as a fender-bender that    
 just happened.        
     
"Medical": To be used to report a minor medical incident that affects the operator in some way; for example,   
 having to leave his/her post for a few minutes to walk someone with a minor cut over to a med tent.    
     
"Emergency": Only to be used to report an ongoing life or property threatening or damaging incident.    
     
Your Call Sign: An indication that the operator has traffic that can wait and does not require the cessation of  
 the ongoing exchange. This tag is an expectation to be put on hold and in queue for transmission.  
       
 
some of the material below is copied from the Scott County, Minnesota ARES web site and used with permission  
www.scottares.org   I recommend viewing their site and wish I could make this look half as good!  
   
ITU Phonetic Alphabet  
 
A ALFA   N NOVEMBER  
B BRAVO   O OSCAR  
C CHARLIE P PAPA  
D DELTA   Q QUEBEC  
E ECHO   R ROMEO  
F FOXTROT S SIERRA  
G GOLF   T TANGO  
H HOTEL   U UNIFORM  
I INDIA   V VICTOR  
J JULIETT   W WHISKEY  
K KILO   X X-RAY  
L LIMA   Y YANKEE  
M MIKE   Z ZULU  
 
Prowords  
OVER Used to let a specific station know to respond during an exchange of information.  
 
OUT Used to indicate you have concluded your communications and no response is needed.  
 
ROGER Indicates that a transmission has been received correctly and in full. DOES NOT replace the word “yes”.  
 
GO AHEAD Used to indicate the station being called should proceed with their communications.  
Often used by the Net Control after telling a station to STAND BY.  
 
STAND BY Generally used by the Net Control to acknowledge a station and put them "on hold" until a more urgent  
matter is attended to.  
 
AFFIRMATIVE Positive reply to a question. Means “Yes”.  
 
NEGATIVE Negative reply to a question. Means “No”.  
 
CLEAR This station is leaving the frequency / net.  
 
READY TO COPY Indicates the receiving station is prepared to transcribe the message being transcribed.  
 
WAIT Acknowledge a station and let them know there will be a delay.  
 
SAY AGAIN Repeat the specified communications  
 
I SPELL Indicates to the receiving station that the following word will be transmitted phonetically one character  
at a time.  
 
FIGURES Indicates to the receiving station that a group of numerals follows.  
 
THAT IS CORRECT Used in verifying the accuracy of message text or other message components.  
 
WRONG Used to indicate the quoted portion of the message text or other message component is not correct.  
 
Habits to Avoid - hard to do sometimes!  
• Thinking aloud on the air: “Ahhh, let me see. Hmm. Well, you know, if…”  
• On-air arguments or criticism  
• Rambling commentaries  
• Shouting into your microphone  
• “Cute” phonetics  
• Identifying every time you key or un-key the mic  
• Using “10” codes, Q-signals on phone, or anything other than “plain language”  
• Speaking without planning your message in advance  
• Talking just to pass the time.  
 
Good Habits to Develop  
• Listening is at least 50% of communication. Listening also means avoiding unnecessary  
transmissions.  
• Speak in a normal, clear, calm voice.  
• “Voice operated transmission” (VOX) is NOT used.  
• Make your transmissions sound crisp and professional.  
• Do not editorialize, or engage in chitchat.  
• Be sure to say exactly what you mean.  
• Communicate one complete subject at a time.  
• All messages and communications during an emergency should be in plain language.  
• Use the ITU Phonetic Alphabet.  
• Use prowords and break tags correctly.  
• Avoid needless station identification.  
 
If it is a formal net - we should try to sound our best!  
What We Probably Too Often Say:   What the Trained Communicator Says:  
 
“Well, that’s all I have for now. Back to net”   OUT  
 
"K9AAA, W9AAA (information to be communicated) "(information to be communicated)  
and K9AAA, W9AAA back to you"   W9AAA OUT"  
 
King Nine Apples Are Acidic   Kilo Nine Alfa Alfa Alfa  
 
 
Directed Net Procedure -   
1) Emergency Communications  
a) Objective – Accuracy and Speed – Accuracy is ALWAYS the priority.  
b) We provide communications assistance for an agency participating in emergency   
activity, the Served Agency.  
c) Plan for the worst and hope conditions are that good!  
Remember Emergencies:  
Are unplanned and inconvenient. Prepare your Go-Kit.  
They Do NOT come with A/C power, good weather, powerful repeaters, courtesy beeps,  
comfortable chairs . . .  
They Do Challenge our ingenuity and test our teamwork.  
 
 
2) ARES Role in Emergency Communications  
a) Image – We are working alongside Pros! We are trained, professional communications  
volunteers. You represent ALL amateurs – Don’t screw it up!  
b) Not all amateurs have the ability to become emergency communicators.  
c) Our goal is to provide ACCURATE and RAPID communications for our Served Agencies  
d) We use Directed Nets, and the appropriate modes, to get the job done  
 
3) Directed Nets  
Why do we rely on Directed Net for our emergency communications? Because  
they WORK! The net is strictly controlled and operates according to battle tested procedures.  
a) Our goal is to Accurately and Rapidly communicate information for our served agency.  
b) Emergency communications differ significantly from everyday amateur communications. It  
takes special skills to communicate under difficult circumstances.  
c) Regular practice, in a DIRECTED NET, is required to maintain and improve your skills.  
 
4) Getting started with some definitions.   
Let’s take a look at the words and phrases we will be using.  
a) Served Agency - An agency participating in emergency recovery activity such as; Sheriff, Red  
Cross, Salvation Army, Emergency Management, Public Health Department, City Public Works, etc.  
Your job as a communicator is to meet the needs of the served agency.  
b) Directed Net – Communications network STRICTLY controlled by the net control station  
following established procedures to accurately and rapidly move information for our served  
agency.  
c) NECOS - NEt COntrol Station (often referred to as the NCS) The absolute authority in  
control of all activity on a directed net.  
d) Back-up NECOS – Station ready to step in immediately if there is a problem with the NECOS  
to ensure uninterrupted communications. The Back-up frequently handles the logging of net  
activity.  
e) Pro-words – Verbal signals used in a directed net to promote accurate, rapid communications.  
The most common, and most often misused are; OVER, OUT.  
f) Formal Net – Strictly controlled by a NECOS.  
g) Informal Net – most like normal amateur communications i.e. rag chewing.  
h) Tactical Callsigns - Callsigns that identify the station's location or its purpose during an event,  
regardless of who is operating the station.  
i) Frequency Designators – Emergency operating frequencies are assigned tactical designators  
to limit interference in communication activity.  
 
5) Directed Net Procedures  
have been developed and battle tested to produce accurate communications under all conditions.  
a) NECOS uses scripts for accuracy and speed and to limit confusion on the net. Each NECOS  
should have a written copy of the net scripts being used. Each NECOS should adhere strictly  
to the script. No ad-libbing or juicing up the script. When the emergency activity speeds up  
the stations don’t need the additional strain from trying to determine the meaning of a cutesy  
NECOS. Everyone should have some NECOS experience. Listen, Learn, and then  
Volunteer.  
* Opening Script does several things. It takes control of the frequency then announces that  
a directed net is in progress, names the net, identifies the NECOS, and provides  
instructions for the participating stations. Here is an example of a generic opening script.  
“This is ( callsign – tactical or FCC ) net control station for the (name of  
the net ). This is a directed net. Stations when checking in call net control, state your  
callsign, location, and precedence and destination of any traffic. (callsign – tactical or  
FCC) OVER”  
* Net Identification Script provides the necessary identification to satisfy FCC  
requirements and more importantly alerts listeners to the purpose and type of net in  
progress. Here is an example of a Net Identification Script.  
“This is (callsign – tactical or FCC) net control station of the (name of  
net ). This is a directed net. (FCC callsign) OUT  
Notice the Net ID script ends with the proword OUT. This is NOT a call for additional  
check-ins.  
If the NECOS wanted to solicit additional stations they could add the last line from the  
Opening Script, “Stations when checking in call net control, state your callsign, location,  
and precedence and destination of any traffic. (callsign – tactical or FCC) OVER”.  
* Roll Call Script may be used during a net when there has been no activity on the net for a  
period of time. Some served agencies may request an hourly roll call. Some agencies  
may term this a “Personal Accountability Report”, just another name for a roll call. A Roll  
Call script reads like this.  
“All stations this net. This is (callsign – Tactical or FCC ) net control station for the ( name  
of net ). At this time I will make a roll call of net participants. I will call your tactical callsign  
and you will respond with your FCC callsign and the proword OUT. (First tactical call )  
OVER.  
* Closing Script is used obviously to end the net. A last call for business may be included  
in the script as well. A closing script reads like this.  
“All stations this net. This is (callsign – tactical or FCC ) net control station for the ( name  
of net ). Is there any additional business for this net? OVER”  
Assuming nothing is heard “No stations heard. This is (callsign – FCC) net control station  
for the (net name ).”  
If this is a weekly net the NECOS may add an announcement indicating the net will meet  
same time same frequency next week, tomorrow, etc. “This net is secured and the  
frequency returned to normal use. OUT”  
 
b) Logging is a very important activity in an emergency communications net. The logs will be  
used in the after action review process to reconstruct emergency response and develop  
strategies for improvement. The served agency may have a specific format for the information  
they want to record. The basic information will include the following items for each message  
passed on the net, either formal or informal traffic; Date, Time, Addressee, Sender, and a very  
brief description of the message indicating if the message was a formal (NTS format)  
message. A log entry might look like this;  
10 June 1342 CDT Shelter 1 Red Cross Supply request  
10 June 1400 CDT Radio All Stations Exercise update – hourly report  
10 June 1650 CDT EOC Red Cross Formal – Request additional shelters  
(Messages indicated as being formal traffic will have a hardcopy at both the sending and  
receiving station file for review.)  
 
c) Pro-words are used to promote accuracy and speed on our directed nets. Proper consistent  
use of prowords is the identification of a true emergency communications expert. – NO jargon  
or slang – BE PROFESSIONAL - Be Consistent.  
i) OVER - Used to let a specific station know to respond during an exchange of information.  
ii) OUT - Used to indicate you have concluded this portion of your communications and no  
response is needed.  
iii) ROGER - Indicates that a transmission has been received correctly and in full. DOES  
NOT replace the word “yes”.  
iv) GO AHEAD - Used to indicate the station being called should proceed with their  
communications. Often used by the NECOS after telling a station to STAND BY.  
v) STAND BY - Generally used by the NECOS to acknowledge a station and put them “on  
hold” until a more urgent matter is attended to.  
vi) AFFIRMATIVE - Positive reply to a question. Means “Yes”.  
vii) NEGATIVE - Negative reply to a question. Means “No”.  
viii) CLEAR - This station is leaving the frequency / net.  
 
d) ITU Phonetics - Phonetic alphabet used in ALL emergency communications. NO exceptions.  
Practice using the proper phonetics. Keep a copy of the ITU phonetics in your Jump Kit.  
 
e) Tactical Callsign Procedures - Tactical call signs can identify the station's location or its  
purpose during an event, regardless of who is operating the station. The tactical call sign  
allows you to contact a station without knowing the FCC call sign of the operator. It virtually  
eliminates confusion at shift changes or at stations with multiple operators. Tactical call signs  
are used for all emergency nets if there are more than just a few participants.  
The NECOS may assign the tactical call sign as each location is "opened." Tactical call signs  
will usually provide some information about the location or its purpose. It is often helpful if the  
tactical call signs have a meaning that matches the way in which the served agency identifies  
the location or function. Some examples are: "Net" - for net control, "Springfield EOC" - for the  
city's Emergency Operations Center, "Firebase 1" - for the first fire base established, or a  
primary fire base , "Checkpoint 1" - for the first check point in a public service event, "Repair 1"  
for the roving repair vehicle at a bike-a-thon.  
All station participating in the network should make a list of tactical callsigns and locations of  
all stations in the network.  
 
f) Station Identification Procedure - Station identification and tactical callsign operation are two  
procedures that target increased net efficiency.  
Consider the following exchange on a directed emergency net;  
N0ZGW this is KA0FDX, I have one priority for W0DCK at the Red Cross, OVER.  
KA0FDX this is N0ZGW, ROGER. Call W0DCK and pass your traffic, N0ZGW OUT  
W0DCK this is KA0FDX I have one priority for you, OVER  
KA0FDX this is W0DCK, ready to copy OVER.  
Getting dizzy just sorting out the callsigns? How much of this call soup is actually necessary?  
Let’s take a look at what the FCC says in Part 97 about station identification.  
§97.119 Station identification.  
"Each amateur station, except a space station or telecommand station, must  
transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each  
communication, and at least every ten minutes during a communication, for the  
purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to  
those receiving the transmissions. No station may transmit unidentified  
communications or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not  
authorized to the station".  
 
There are two important points in this excerpt from the rules. First, each station is required to  
identify at the END of each communications NOT each transmission. Second, you are only  
required to identify YOUR station.  
Let's see how this would affect the exchange we suffered through above using tactical calls  
and proper station ID.  
 
NET, One priority for Red Cross, Shelter One OVER.  
Shelter One call Red Cross and send your traffic, N0ZGW OUT.  
Red Cross, ready to copy OVER.  
Using good directed net procedure we have significantly reduced the unnecessary blabber on  
the net and increased accuracy of communications.  
 
g) Station to Station Contact - The most important function of a directed emergency net is to  
facilitate the movement of information from one location to another in support of the served  
agency.  
The station-to-station contact procedure has evolved over time to support accurate,  
rapid communication. Let’s take a look at the process step by step. We’ll use tactical  
callsigns in this example.  
A station calls the NECOS (net control station) and announces, “Shelter One with one priority  
for Red Com, OVER.”  
The NECOS acknowledges the traffic and directs the stations involved to pass the traffic by  
saying, “Shelter One ROGER, call Red Com and pass one priority, OUT.”  
The station receiving the traffic answers first. Red Com would respond to the NECOS  
direction by saying, “Red Com ready to copy, OVER.” The sending station would then send  
the message starting with, “Message follows, . . .”  
This procedure may seem confusing at first but keep in mind our objectives of accuracy  
and speed. When the receiving station answers first, the NECOS immediately knows  
several important facts. First, the receiving station received the NECOS direction.  
Second, the receiving station, Red Com, can copy the sending station, Shelter One.  
Third, the receiving station is ready to copy the message. All this information is  
transmitted with four words, “Ready to copy, OVER.”  
 
h) Break-in – Normal procedure in a directed net to alert the NECOS to something is to simply  
transmit your callsign, Tactical or FCC, and the proword OVER during a break in the action.  
The NECOS will acknowledge your station and you may proceed with your communications. If  
the NECOS for some reason does not respond to your call, perhaps your call doubled with  
another station, wait for a break and transmit your callsign and the proword OVER. If the  
NECOS does not acknowledge your call after a second attempt, wait for a break in the action  
and transmit “All stations relay (your callsign) and the proword OVER. The other stations will  
relay your alert to the NECOS and your concerns will be addressed.  
(Use the Break Tags from K9LGU above)  
 
i) Leaving a directed net – Participation in a directed net requires everyone to be monitoring  
the net at all times. If you must leave your station for any reason, you must call NECOS and  
request permission to secure your station. Do not simply flip off the switch and walk away.  
 
some of the material above is copied from the Scott County, Minnesota ARES web site and used with permission  
www.scottares.org