PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -1 MPG-6 SUPPORT GUIDANCE, W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT-3/14 BATCH FILE & PLAIN TEXT GUIDANCE for RADIO-EMAIL MESSAGING TYPES Table of Contents: The WL2K Radio-email system is an email transport system, not a BBS or MBO (mailbox) type system. WL2K is used very much the same way the internet is used for sending and receiving email, providing the means to do so over amateur radio. This document provides guidance on how to create and format Radio-email to handle the various types of traffic defined in the MPG Chapter 6, Section 6.2.7. Select the Quick Link below or the Index topic for the type of messaging desired to go to the specific section for detailed guidance on creating the Radio-email and its contents including entry format, addressing, subject line and confirmation details. A summary of examples is presented at the end of the document for easy reference. Quick Links: 1. Type 1 (6.2.7.1) Standard ARRL Text Radiograms - (MPG1) Plain Text Radiogram content Plain Text Booked Radiogram content NTSD Batch File Radiogram content 2. Type 2 (6.2.7.2) Radio-Email With WL2K And Internet Addresses 3. Type 3 (6.2.7.3) Radio-Email - No WL2K Or Internet Address (New) 4. Type 4 (6.2.7.4) Radio-Email For Re-Filing (New) 5. Example Summary: Type 1 NTS, Type 1 Books, Type 1 NTSD, Type 2 Radio-email, Type 3 No Net Address, Type 4 Re-file of Type 2, Type 4 Re-file of Type 3 Index: 6A8.1 TYPE 1 - STANDARD ARRL RADIOGRAMS (MPG-1) ................................................................. 3 6A8.1.1 TYPE 1 - PLAIN TEXT RADIOGRAMS (SUBJECT: NTS) .................................................. 3 PLAIN TEXT ENTRY .................................................................................................................... 3 ADDRESSING THE RADIO-EMAIL ............................................................................................ 4 SUBJECT LINE - PLAIN TEXT - NTS - CONFIRMATION REQUEST ..................................... 4 FILENAMES FOR ATTACHED TEXT FILES ............................................................................. 4 CONFIRMING THE NTS RADIO-EMAIL .................................................................................... 5 EXAMPLE 1 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - 2 MESSAGES - BODY TEXT ....................................... 6 EXAMPLE 2 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - 2 MESSAGES - ATTACHED FILE .............................. 7 6A8.1.2 TYPE 1 - BOOKING - PLAIN TEXT NTS ONLY ................................................................. 8 EXAMPLE 3 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - BOOK - BODY TEXT ................................................... 8 EXAMPLE 4 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - BOOK - ATTACHED FILE ........................................... 9 6A8.1.3 TYPE 1 - BATCH FILES FOR NTSD (SUBJECT: NTSD) .................................................. 10 BATCH FILE ENTRY ...................................................................................................................10 ADDRESSING THE BATCH FILE RADIO-EMAIL ...................................................................11 SUBJECT LINE - BATCH FILE - NTSD - CONFIRMATION REQUEST .................................12 BOOKING IS NOT PERMITTED IN BATCH FILES FOR NTSD ..............................................12 FILENAMES FOR ATTACHED BATCH FILES - 8X3 ...............................................................12 CONFIRMING THE NTSD RADIO-EMAIL ................................................................................13 PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -2 EXAMPLE 1 - BATCH FILE ENTRY - ATTACHED 2 MESSAGE FILE ..................................13 ST LINE ..........................................................................................................................................15 TOWN LINE AND FLAGS ...........................................................................................................15 END OF MESSAGE MARKER - /EX ...........................................................................................16 6A8.2 TYPE 2 - RADIO-EMAIL - WL2K AND INTERNET ADDRESSES ............................................. 17 6A8.2.1 EXAMPLE RADIO-EMAIL MESSAGE ............................................................................... 17 6A8.2.2 RADIO-EMAIL DELIVERY CONFIRMATION .................................................................. 18 6A8.3 TYPE 3 - RADIO-EMAIL - NO WL2K OR INTERNET ADDRESS (NEW) .................................. 19 6A8.3.1 TYPE 3 ENTRY - BODY TEXT ADDRESS - RADIO-EMAIL ........................................... 19 6A8.3.1.1 MULTIPLE MESSAGES IN TYPE 3 RADIO-EMAIL ................................................20 6A8.3.2 EXAMPLE TYPE 3 - BODY TEXT ADDRESS ................................................................... 21 6A8.3.3 TYPE 3 DELIVERY CONFIRMATION ............................................................................... 21 6A8.4 TYPE 4 - RADIO-EMAIL FOR RE-FILING (NEW) ........................................................................ 22 6A8.4.1 TYPE 4 ENTRY - DESTINATION RE-FILING ................................................................... 22 6A8.4.2 EXAMPLE TYPE 4 - RE-FILING TYPE 2 RADIO-EMAIL ................................................ 23 6A8.4.3 EXAMPLE TYPE 4 - RE-FILING TYPE 3 RADIO-EMAL ................................................. 24 6A8.4.4 TYPE 4 DELIVERY CONFIRMATION ............................................................................... 25 6A8.5 EXAMPLE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 26 TYPE 1 - PLAIN TEXT RADIOGRAM(S) ......................................................................................... 26 TYPE 1 - PLAIN TEXT - BOOKS - RADIOGRAMS ........................................................................ 27 TYPE 1 - NTSD BATCH FILE - RADIOGRAM(S) ........................................................................... 28 TYPE 2 - RADIO-EMAIL .................................................................................................................... 29 TYPE 3 - BODY TEXT ADDRESSED RADIO-EMAIL .................................................................... 29 TYPE 4 - DIRECT TRANSFER FOR TYPE 2 RE-FILING ............................................................... 30 TYPE 4 - DIRECT TRANSFER FOR TYPE 3 RE-FILING ............................................................... 31 PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -3 6A8.1 TYPE 1 - STANDARD ARRL RADIOGRAMS (MPG-1) The standard ARRL text Radiogram (MPG-1) may be handled via NTS manual voice/CW nets and the NTSD as well as via Radio-email. Radiograms may be entered into the body text of a Radio-email, or attached in text files in the plain text format (Subject: NTS), or attached in Batch File format (Subject: NTSD, required when sending Radiograms to NTSD MBO stations). A Radio-email carrying active Radiograms is considered Type 1, and must be sent to only one addressee to prevent duplicate handling of the Radiograms. Receipt of such Radio-email must be confirmed by reply Radio-email. The received Radiograms may be delivered; may be sent on to another Target Station via WL2K, the internet, or via station-to-station transfer; or may be serviced back to the station-of-origin for each Radiogram. Radiograms carried by Radio-email may be in plain text format (NTS) or may be formatted in Batch Files (NTSD) for submission to NTSD MBO Target Stations as shown in the next two sections. 6A8.1.1 TYPE 1 - PLAIN TEXT RADIOGRAMS (SUBJECT: NTS) Target Stations may be sent Radiograms in plain text format in the Radio-email body text, or in attached text files, using the WL2K system or station-to-station transfers. The means of entry, addressing and subject line contents also apply to transferring Radiograms in regular email on the public internet. PLAIN TEXT ENTRY  The Radiograms entered must each meet the requirements for ARRL formal text Radiograms as shown in the MPG, Chapter 1.  Radiograms are typed into the body text or an attached file (created with Notepad™ or a similar text editor) using only capital letters, figures and slant bars (/). The preamble, address lines, telephone numbers, address op notes, the text in 5 or 10 groups per line framed by breaks (BT), signature, and signature op notes, are all entered as new lines beginning on the left margin. NR is not required ahead of a message number. The group SVC, followed by a space, should be entered ahead of the message number in service messages.  Use only single spaces between the groups of the parts of the Radiogram. Note also that there is a space required between the ARL and the check figures, as in: ARL 10; and between the filing time (if used), the month abbreviation and date figures. Tabs are not permitted.  State 2-letter abbreviations in the Preamble Place-of-origin and in the Address, or Signature Address, must be the standard US postal 2-letter abbreviation. (NTS/NTSD automated routing provisions will not recognize non-standard abbreviations.)  Punctuation, as symbols or otherwise, is not permitted in parts of the Preamble, except for the slant bar (/) used after a call sign or for an amended check.  Punctuation symbols are not permitted in the Address, or Signature Address, except for the slant bar (/). No punctuation, symbols or otherwise, are permitted in phone number groups, or in the city state zip line, except the group DASH is used to separate the parts of a nine digit US postal extended zip code (12345 DASH 6789). The separate group HYPHEN (as a substitute for “-“) may be used within the addressees’ name or street address if absolutely necessary.  Punctuation symbols in Op Notes, Text, and Signature are not permitted, except for the slant bar (/), and other punctuation is handled as in standard Radiograms - spelled out.  A blank line is inserted between the end of one Radiogram and the beginning of the next. PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -4  A blank line is inserted after the last message’s signature, and may be followed on the next line by the characters “/EX” or “<AR>” (without the quotes). The <enter> key must be pressed after either one, thus creating one more blank line below.  Booking is permitted in plain text Radiogram entry except when messages are to ultimately be sent to NTSD MBO Target Stations.  It is customary to put only a few Radiograms in the body text of a Radio-email (which requires copying and pasting to process). Larger quantities should be entered in an attached text file which can be saved to disk from the Radio-email.  Messages entered in plain text format may be of any service status (such as Routine, Welfare, Priority, HXD, or Service messages) mixed as desired. It is often a better choice to group them by status in separate submissions, however, to assist the recipient with the special handling required.  Messages entered in Batch File format may also be mixed in with plain text Radiograms, although booking Batch File formatted message is not practical unless the Batch File headers are removed. Since some Batch File information may be lost in so doing, it is better to include Batch File formatted messages as individual Radiograms.  Operators receiving plain text Radiograms in Radio-email may easily present such traffic on manual nets, reading from the body text of the email or opening the attached text file in a suitable editor, or copy the Radio-grams to be sent via other means. ADDRESSING THE RADIO-EMAIL Radio-email carrying Radiograms should be sent to clients who have agreed to accept the message traffic. The Radio-email may be addressed to any such WL2K client Target Station call sign, a WL2K client Tactical Address, or a client public internet address. Radio-email carrying NTS plain text Radiograms should be sent to only one addressee (to avoid duplicate handling), with confirmation of receipt requested. The NTS group in the Subject line denotes that the plain text format is used. When sending Radiograms via Radio-email to a station which is likely to post them on NTSD MBOs, use the Batch File format method to save the operator the trouble of reformatting. SUBJECT LINE - PLAIN TEXT - NTS - CONFIRMATION REQUEST To indicate that a Radio-email is carrying active Radiograms, and to request confirmation of receipt (the equivalent of the Roger on voice or QSL on CW), the Radio-email Subject Line should be entered as follows: NTS [destination] [quantity]; pse QSL this email  The NTS indicates any plain text Radiogram content (even if most messages are included in Batch File format). This warns NTSD MBOs that direct import is not possible.  The [destination] [quantity] is entered as desired to denote the general area to which the Radiograms are addressed. This may be a Section or county abbreviation, the abbreviation for a Region or Area NTS net, a zip code, etc., as in: MDC 3, EAN 4, 1RN 2, etc.  Multiple [destination] [quantity] entries may be entered when sending a number of Radiograms for different areas, as in: EPA 2 WPA 3, or 1RN 3 2RN 4, etc.  The “; pse QSL this email” requests that the recipient originate a Radio-email back to the sender confirming receipt of the Radio-email carrying active Radiograms. (This request in no way affects any handling instructions on the individual Radiograms.) FILENAMES FOR ATTACHED TEXT FILES Attached Radiogram plain text files may be assigned filenames of choice, limited only by the requirements of the user’s computer operating systems at each end of the connection, and using the “.TXT” extender. The originator’s imbedded call sign or PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -5 suffix, and a destination and/or quantity, are helpful. (NTSD MBOs require the short 8 by 3 filename for attached Batch Files. See the NTSD Batch File topic, 6A8.1.2.) CONFIRMING THE NTS RADIO-EMAIL Radiograms sent by Radio-email will not be considered “handled” until confirmation of receipt is received by the sending station.  Recipients of Radio-email carrying active Radiograms may use the “reply-to” function of their email or WL2K application to create a confirming reply message. The originator’s WL2K client message number may be used following the QSL in the Subject line.  This confirmation message is related to the Radio-email, not handling instructions for the individual messages carried therein. Radiograms have their own Handling Instructions (HX codes) to be honored by stations handling the individual Radiograms.  The Subject Line will be automatically copied into the reply message when using the reply button on the email application. Add the letters “QSL” plus a space (without the quotes) at the beginning of the Subject Line, as in: QSL Re: NTS MDC 3; pse QSL this email  Multiple Radio-emails may be confirmed with one reply message if desired. Modify the Subject Line contents to reference all the Radiograms being confirmed. This may be done using the [destination] [quantity] information from the multiple Radio-emails, or submission date-times from the originals, etc., as in: QSL Re: NTS EPA 3 WPA 4 OCT 2, EAN 2 OCT 3; pse QSL this email. If the list is too long, enter full details in the body text.  The reply Radio-email body text should contain a repeat of the contents of the Subject Line (except for the “pse QSL…” part), as a minimum, or may contain additional information regarding the confirmation of multiple Radio-emails. The filenames of attachments in the original transmission are useful for this confirmation. The typical NTS confirmation Radio-email reply: To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: QSL Re: NTS MDC 3; pse QSL this email (QSL...Re:...) QSL MDC 3, SEP 20 (File: filename.txt if attached to original) TNX, 73, W3YVQ Table of Contents PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -6 EXAMPLE 1 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - 2 MESSAGES - BODY TEXT To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: NTS MDC 2; pse QSL this email (NTS dest #) 1 R W1AW 15 NEWINGTON CT SEP 20 MSG 1 BACI EOC BALTIMORE MD 21201 410 555 1212 BT TEXT BREAK TWELVE SUPPORT TEAMS IN ROUTE 5 groups/line, each TO YOUR EOC X DO followed by a space. YOU HAVE EMERGENCY POWER QUERY BT TEXT BREAK STEVE AT W1AW BLANK LINE 2 R W1AW 18 NEWINGTON CT SEP 20 MSG 2 JIM CROSS WI3N 25 MAIN ST LAUREL MD 20707 410 555 0123 OP NOTE DELIVER WORKDAY BT TEXT BREAK PLEASE ADVISE STATUS OF WL2K 5 groups/line, each ARESMAT TEAM FOR WELFARE TRAFFIC followed by a space. HANDLING IN THE LAST MILE OVER IN MDC BT TEXT BREAK STEVE AT W1AW BLANK LINE /EX (or <AR>) END OF TRAFFIC BLANK LINE  The /EX or <AR> at the last line is a cosmetic aid only, and performs no automatic function as the /EX does in a Batch File. CONFIRMATION REPLY: To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: QSL Re: NTS MDC 2; pse QSL this email (QSL...Re:...) QSL MDC 2 NRS 1 AND 2, SEP 20 TNX, 73, W3YVQ Table of Contents PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -7 EXAMPLE 2 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - 2 MESSAGES - ATTACHED FILE To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: NTS MDC 2; pse QSL this email (NTS dest #) NTS MDC 2 FILE ATTACHED: W1AWMD2.TXT TNX 73, STEVE [TEXT ICON] ATTACHED FILE W1AWMD2.TXT 1KB Attached text file W1AWMD2.TXT: 1 R W1AW 15 NEWINGTON CT SEP 20 MSG 1 BACI EOC BALTIMORE MD 21201 410 555 1212 BT TEXT BREAK TWELVE SUPPORT TEAMS IN ROUTE 5 groups/line, each TO YOUR EOC X DO followed by a space. YOU HAVE EMERGENCY POWER QUERY BT TEXT BREAK STEVE AT W1AW BLANK LINE 2 R W1AW 18 NEWINGTON CT SEP 20 MSG 2 JIM CROSS WI3N 25 MAIN ST LAUREL MD 20707 410 555 0123 OP NOTE DELIVER WORKDAY BT TEXT BREAK PLEASE ADVISE STATUS OF WL2K 5 groups/line, each ARESMAT TEAM FOR WELFARE TRAFFIC followed by a space. HANDLING IN THE LAST MILE OVER IN MDC BT TEXT BREAK STEVE AT W1AW BLANK LINE /EX (or <AR>) END OF TRAFFIC BLANK LINE  The attached file info in the body text area is shown presented in a manner similar to the AirMail client application. Other email applications used with Paclink may show attachments differently.  The 2 messages for MDC are attached as the text filename shown, the Radiograms entered as shown for the body text in the previous example. CONFIRMATION REPLY: To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: QSL Re: NTS MDC 2; pse QSL this email (QSL...Re:...) QSL MDC 2 NRS 1 AND 2, SEP 20 File: W1AWMD2.TXT TNX, 73, W3YVQ Table of Contents PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -8 6A8.1.2 TYPE 1 - BOOKING - PLAIN TEXT NTS ONLY Radiograms may be sent typed in as Books so long as the recipient Target Station is not an NTSD MBO station. NTSD MBOs require that Radiograms be sent in an attached text file using the Batch File format containing only complete individual Radiograms. See the Batch File topic, 6A8.1.2. EXAMPLE 3 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - BOOK - BODY TEXT To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: NTS MDC BOOK 3; pse QSL this email (NTS dest BOOK #) BOOK OF THREE BOOK FRAME R W1AW 17 NEWINGTON CT SEP 20 BT TEXT BREAK WELCOME TO THE ARESMAT TEAM 5 groups/line, each X YOUR READINESS TO SERVE followed by a space. THE PUBLIC IS MUCH APPRECIATED X 73 BT TEXT BREAK STEVE W1AW BT COMMON BREAK 20 JOHN DOE W3ABC MSG 1 10 OAK PLACE BALTIMORE MD 21200 410 555 1231 BT BOOK BREAK 21 WILLIAM DOE W3ABD MSG 2 102 OAK PLACE BALTIMORE MD 21200 410 555 1232 BT BOOK BREAK 22 CHARLES SMITH W3ABE MSG 3 110 OAK PLACE TOWSON MD 21200 410 555 1233 END BOOK END OF BOOK /EX (or <AR>) END OF TRAFFIC BLANK LINE  In this manner a large number of Radiograms with common parts may be entered, as in the case of multiple welfare inquiries or replies, special event messages, etc.  The /EX or <AR> at the last line is a cosmetic aid only, indicating the end of the traffic. CONFIRMATION REPLY: To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: QSL Re: NTS MDC 3; pse QSL this email (QSL...Re:...) QSL MDC 3 NRS 20, 21, 22, SEP 20 TNX, 73, W3YVQ Table of Contents PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -9 EXAMPLE 4 - PLAIN TEXT ENTRY - BOOK - ATTACHED FILE To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: NTS MDC BOOK 3; pse QSL this email (NTS dest BOOK #) NTS MDC BOOK OF THREE FILE ATTACHED: W1AWMD3.TXT TNX 73, STEVE [TEXT ICON] ATTACHED FILE W1AWMD3.TXT 1KB  The attached file is shown presented in a manner similar to the AirMail client application. Other email applications used with Paclink may show attachments differently.  The 3 booked messages for MDC are attached as the text filename shown, the Radiograms entered as shown for the body text in the previous example. CONFIRMATION REPLY: To: [email protected] TARGET STATION Cc: Subj: QSL Re: NTS MDC 3; pse QSL this email (QSL...Re:...) QSL MDC 3 NRS 20, 21, 22, SEP 20 File: W1AWMD3.TXT TNX, 73, W3YVQ Table of Contents PSCM APP. B MPG 6 - W3YVQ MPG6A8V14ABFPT, Batch Files-Plain Text 6A8 -10 6A8.1.3 TYPE 1 - BATCH FILES FOR NTSD (SUBJECT: NTSD) NTSD MBO Target Stations may be sent Radiograms in the Batch File text format using the WL2K system or station-to-station transfers. The means of entry, addressing and subject line contents also apply to transferring Radiogram Batch Files in regular email on the public internet. Sending Radiograms via Radio-email or regular email ultimately intended for NTSD MBO recipients should also be done using the Batch File format shown in this section. The Batch File format permits saving the Radio- email’s attached text file to disk and then importing the file into the NTSD Winlink Classic MBO Message Manager. (This minimizes the risk of error in copying and pasting.) CAUTION: Use only “pure” text editors to create plain text (.TXT) Batch Files for NTSD submission and importing. Other editors may use non-standard carriage-return line-feed ASCII character combinations, or other formatting characters and/or font symbols, including some editors with so-called “Save As Text File” options, which can foul the NTSD text file functions. MS Notepad™ is suitable for this purpose. For information on the NTSD MBO import and export function, see the MPG Chapter 6 MPG6A2, NTSD MBO Batch File Import/Export Guidance, and MPG6A3 with images. BATCH FILE ENTRY  The Radiograms entered must each meet the requirements for ARRL formal text Radiograms as shown in the MPG, Chapter 1.  Batch File Radiograms are typed into body text or an attached text file (created with Notepad™ or a similar text editor) using only capital letters, figures and slant bars (/). The preamble, address lines, telephone numbers, address op notes, the text in 5 or 10 groups per line framed by breaks (BT), signature, and signature op notes, are all entered as new lines beginning on the left margin. NR is not required ahead of a message number. The group SVC, followed by a space, should be entered ahead of the message number in service messages. Thus, the Radiograms themselves within the Batch File are entered the same way as in plain text files (except booking is not permitted).  Use only single spaces between the groups of the parts of the Radiogram. Note also that there is a space required between the ARL and the check figures, as in: ARL 10; and between the filing time (if used) and the month abbreviation, and between the month and date figure group. Tabs are not permitted.  State 2-letter abbreviations in the Preamble Place-of-origin and in the Address, or Signature Address, must be the standard US postal 2-letter abbreviation. (NTS/NTSD automated routing provisions will not recognize non-standard abbreviations.)  Punctuation, as symbols or otherwise, is not permitted in parts of the Preamble, except for the slant bar (/) used after a call sign or for an amended check.  Punctuation symbols are not permitted in the Address, or Signature Address, except for the slant bar (/). No punctuation, symbols or otherwise, are permitted in phone number groups, or in the city state zip line, except the group DASH is used to separate the parts of a nine digit US postal extended zip code (12345 DASH 6789). The separate group HYPHEN (as a substitute for “-“) may be used within the addressees’ name or street address if absolutely necessary.  Punctuation symbols in Op Notes, Text, and Signature are not permitted, except for the slant bar (/), and other punctuation is handled as in standard Radiograms - spelled out.  Radiograms in the Batch File format are entered with an ST line, Town line, and a blank line ahead of each Radiogram preamble; a blank line following the signature; and the characters /EX on a new line followed by a blank line or the next ST line. Notes: 1) When entering multiple Radiograms in the file, the ST line of the next message must follow on the very next line after the /EX ending the previous message (mandatory, else the import