Sample Voice Reports

SulCom Summer/Convective Weather Program

Effective May 2, 2024

Before Moving Forward, Please Read and Understand the Following:

All information below is required for a report to be considered valid!!

Speak at “reading speed” (not too slow, not too fast) and clearly.

Use standard phonetics (from the International Phonetic Alphabet) only where needed.  Not all words and phrases require use of phonetics. 

Use of plain language is required.  Do not use “Q” signals, jargon or codes.

The end-to end exchanges as shown below should take between 30 and 40 seconds of time.

Faster than 30 seconds produces potential errors.  Slower than 40 seconds disrupts flow.

This format is intended to be clear and concise.  Do not add any extra words/information beyond what is shown below.

Please take a look at the examples below.

Relay Station to Sullivan Weather

Here is an example of a proper exchange on the backbone for a single report.  This would normally be heard/used when relay stations are providing reports to Sullivan Weather.

!! IMPORTANT !!

Initiation of communications with Sullivan Weather MUST have the field team relay station’s tac call (who is calling) AND the pro-word that identifies the event (what the call is about) as specified on the criteria page.  This allows Sullivan Weather to prioritize multiple incoming messages and prevents excessive air time.

See the lines marked with the * below.

*Relay Station: "67 (said as, “six seven”) Relay, Severe Hail"
Sullivan Weather: "67 Relay, go ahead"
Relay Station: "WB9AAA, 1-and- 3/4 inch measured hail, 4:35pm, 0.8 (said as “zero point eight”) Northeast Oconomowoc - Waukesha County."
Sullivan Weather:  “Roger 67 Relay"
Relay Station: "(RS callsign)"
Sullivan Weather: "WX9MKX"

That’s it!  If it looks simple, it is meant to be that way.  Here is an example of the same report with the location as lat/long coordinates of 43.151N 88.494W near Oconomowoc:

*Relay Station: "67 Relay, Severe Hail"
Sullivan Weather: "67 Relay, go ahead"
Relay Station: "WB9AAA, 1-and- 3/4 inch measured hail, 4:35pm, four three point one five one, eight eight point four nine four, near Oconomowoc, Waukesha County."
Sullivan Weather: “Roger 67 Relay"
Relay Station: "(RS callsign)"
Sullivan Weather: "WX9MKX"

Field Spotter to Field Team Environment

Okay – now you are thinking “the above covers how the team’s relay station communicates with Sullivan Weather, but how can I coach my team to properly communicate within my field team environment?

The answer really depends on the team but when no other guidance is available, the same format used for carrying information from the Relay Station to Sullivan Weather can be used by a field spotter to interact with their net/team.  This promotes consistency between the spotter’s interaction with the net/team and the net/team’s interaction with Sullivan Weather through their relay station.

!! IMPORTANT !!

Make sure that ALL necessary elements of the report are included in all exchanges with the net/team environment.

Here is an example of a proper exchange between a field spotter and the net/team for a single report in a field team net that uses Amateur Radio:

Spotter: "N9ONE, Severe Hail"
NCS: "N9ONE, go ahead"
Spotter: "1 –and- 3/4 inch measured hail, 4:35pm, 0.8 Northeast Oconomowoc - Waukesha County."

NCS: “Roger, WD9XXX” (or better yet, just “WD9XXX” if the report is received complete)

Spotter: "N9ONE"

That’s it!  Again, if it looks simple, it is meant to be that way.  Here is an example of the same report with the location as lat/long location coordinates of 43.151N 88.494W:

Spotter: "N9ONE, Severe Hail"
NCS: "N9ONE, go ahead"
Spotter: "1 –and- 3/4 inch measured hail, 4:35pm, four three point one five one, eight eight point four nine four, near Oconomowoc, Waukesha County"

NCS: “Roger, (NCS callsign)” (or better yet, just “(NCS callsign)” if the report is received complete)

Spotter: "N9ONE"

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