1.1.5 CHECK, CK


NR	PREC	[HX]	STN-ORIG	CK	PLACE-OF-ORIG	[TIME-FILED]	MON	DAY
				5

The check is the number of word "groups" in the text of the message and must be used on all messages. This number is used by operators to verify that the text has been copied with the correct number of groups. See the TEXT section 1.3.4 for information about how to count word groups for computing the check. There are two ways to enter the check in the preamble:

1) 1 R HXE W1AW 12 NEWINGTON CT 1830Z JUL 1. (check is 12)

The check is entered as the number of word groups in the text if there are NO ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS in the text.

2) 1 R HXE W1AW ARL 12 NEWINGTON CT 1830Z JUL 1. (check is ARL 12)

The check is preceded by the letters "ARL" if the text includes one or more ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAMS (See attached list.). Note the space between "ARL" and "12". No other punctuation, symbol or otherwise, is permitted except the “/” as noted in Check Errors below.

The use of "ARL" in the check alerts the receiving operator to expect ARRL NUMBERED RADIOGRAM(s) in the text.

1.1.5.1 CHECK ERRORS

This subject is covered in the "Receiving Messages" sections of chapters 2 and 3. The original check is never changed. A correction may be appended with “/”. No other punctuation, symbol or otherwise, is permitted.

As mentioned earlier, the preamble of a message is created by the originator and is not to be changed by other stations. If a discrepancy is found by relaying stations between the check and the word count of a message, every attempt should be made to verify that the correct text and check has been transmitted and received. This is your responsibility as an operator.

If an error cannot be resolved, it is customary to modify the check in the preamble by preserving the original check, and noting the corrected value by appending it with a "/", as in 13/12. This is read as "one three corrected to one two" when transmitting on VOICE, or “13/12” on CW. Thus it is possible to see checks such as ARL 13/13 (where no ARRL Numbered Radiograms were present; or 13/ARL 13 (where the ARL was not entered correctly by the originator). Note that there is no space after the figures ahead of, or immediately after, a slash added to amend the Check.

THE TEXT OR CHECK IS NOT ALTERED TO FORCE AGREEMENT!