Section 7.3: Public Service and Emergency Operations #

Alright, radio heroes in training, let’s talk about one of the coolest parts of ham radio: using our skills to help our communities. Whether it’s assisting during disasters or keeping your local marathon running smoothly, ham radio operators play a crucial role in public service.

Key Information: In amateur radio, the term “traffic” refers to messages exchanged by net stations. Good traffic handling means passing messages exactly as received.

Emergency Communications #

When cell phones fail and the power’s out, guess who’s still chatting away? That’s right, ham radio operators! Here’s what you need to know:

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service):

ARES is a group of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service. Run by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), these volunteers provide emergency communication support when other systems fail.

Local ARES groups operate across the country, ready to assist during disasters or public events. Members train together, participate in drills, and remain on call to help their communities. You don’t need to be an ARRL member to join ARES.

The main purpose of ARES is providing reliable communication during emergencies, whether relaying messages for emergency services or helping coordinate response efforts.

RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service):

RACES is an FCC Part 97 amateur radio service for civil defense communications during national emergencies. Unlike the volunteer-focused ARES, RACES operates under the authority of government agencies during civil emergencies.

To participate in RACES, you need to be an FCC-licensed amateur radio operator who’s also certified and enrolled with a civil defense organization. During a declared emergency, RACES stations can only communicate with other RACES stations, government stations, or authorized amateur stations.

RACES provides a structured, government-coordinated approach to emergency communications, handling everything from public safety alerts to coordinating disaster relief efforts.

Key Information: The difference between ARES and RACES:

• ARES is a volunteer organization of amateur operators providing public service communications
• RACES is an FCC-regulated service specifically for civil defense communications during national emergencies

Emergency Nets:

Nets are organized groups of stations that meet on a specific frequency to exchange information. They can be routine (like weekly club check-ins) or activated for emergencies and special events.

The Net Control Station (NCS) is responsible for calling the net to order and directing communications between stations checking in. As a participant, when participating in a net, you should transmit only when directed by the net control station.

The NCS has several key duties:

• Starting the net with announcements and inviting check-ins
• Managing communications flow between participants
• Facilitating message exchange (traffic) between stations

Good traffic handling is essential – passing messages exactly as received without editing or deciding which messages are important enough to relay.

Key Information: FCC rules ALWAYS apply to the operation of amateur radio stations. However, amateur station control operators are permitted to operate outside their frequency privileges in situations involving the immediate safety of human life or protection of property.

Formal Traffic and Radiograms #

When you’re participating in emergency communications or public service events, you might hear the term “formal traffic.” This refers to official messages, often called radiograms, that are passed from one station to another in a structured format. These messages are crucial during emergencies when accurate and efficient communication is needed.

Radiograms are standardized message formats used in amateur radio to relay information accurately through networks like the National Traffic System (NTS). The key parts of a radiogram include:

• Preamble: Contains the information needed to track the message including message number, precedence (priority), origin date/time, and originating station’s call sign.

• Check: Refers to the number of words or word equivalents in the text portion of the message. Operators use this to verify that the message was received completely and correctly.

• Text: The actual message content, typically kept concise for accurate transmission.

• Address and Signature: Identifies the recipient and sender of the message.

Radiograms are used in both routine communications and in emergency situations. Handling formal traffic using radiograms is a key skill for any ham involved in public service or emergency communications. By mastering radiograms, you help ensure that critical messages get through, even when other communication systems are down.

Key Information: When handling message traffic, focus on accuracy. Messages should be passed exactly as received without deciding whether they’re worthy of relay or delivery.

Non-emergency Public Service & Operating Guidelines #

Ham radio operators also provide valuable communication support for non-emergency community events like marathons, parades, and weather spotting networks. When participating in any public service activity:

• Follow the Net Control Station’s instructions
• Keep transmissions brief and focused
• Use plain language and spell unusual words using a standard phonetic alphabet for clarity

Remember these key regulations:

• The FCC rules always apply to the operation of amateur stations, even though there are provisions for emergencies
• Amateur operators cannot accept compensation for providing communications (more in Section 8.6)

Participating in these activities builds skills that are valuable during actual emergencies while helping your community. Whether you’re supporting a local 5K or providing critical communication during a disaster, you’re part of a proud tradition of amateur radio public service.