LaPorte County ARES Traffic Net — Training Item for 02OCT2025

Tonight’s training item will be focusing on best practices for sending and receiving these messages on the air.

Sending

When transmitting a damage assessment radiogram:

Speak at a steady pace. Pause between groups so the receiver has time to write.

Use prowords clearly. “Break” to separate the address from the text, and “End, number __, how copy?” at the close.

Keep your tone calm. A clear, unhurried voice prevents repeats.

Receiving

When copying a radiogram:

Write each group as heard. Don’t translate into sentences.

Ask for fills immediately. Use “Say again all after…” or “Say again word before…” if anything is unclear.

Read back the message number and check. This confirms accuracy before moving on.

Why it matters

A damage assessment radiogram only helps if it’s copied accurately. A missing word or mis-heard severity term could change how resources are deployed. During the SET, the goal is accuracy first, speed second. A correctly relayed report is more valuable than a fast but flawed one.

That concludes tonight’s training item.