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SINALS AND TYPES


DIFFERENT TYPES OF SIGNALS

a. Distress Signal

It indicates that a ship, aircraft or any other vehicle is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance. The distress call in Morse Code consists of the letters SOS sent three times, the word DE and the callsign of the station in distress three times. In voice it is MAYDAY pronounced as the French expression ‘maider’, spoken three times, the words THIS IS and the callsign of the station three times. The distress message must consist of the callsign, exact location, type of distress, type of assistance required and any other information helpful for the rescue.

The distress call shall have priority over all other transmissions. All stations which hear it shall immediately stop any transmission capable of interfering with it and shall continue to listen on frequency and render any help if possible. The distress frequency in Morse Code (Radio Telegraphy) is 500 kHz while on voice (Radio Telephony) it is 2182 kHz.

b. Urgency Signal

It indicates that the calling station has a very urgent message regarding the safety of a ship, aircraft or any other vehicle, or the safety of a person. In Morse Code (Radio Telegraphy) it consists of three repetitions of the group XXX and in voice (Radio Telephony) the words PAN PAN pronounced as the French word “panne” followed by the urgency message. The urgency signal shall have priority over other communications except distress. Stations which hear it shall take care not to interfere with that transmission.

c. Safety Signal

It is sent for giving weather warnings. In Morse Code it consists of three repetitions of the letters T T T and in voice the words SECURTIE followed by the safety message. It has priority over other communications except distress and urgency signals.

d. Test Signal

Test signals are sent either for the adjustment of a transmitter or a receiver. It shall be sent not more than 30 seconds. In Morse Code it shall consist of three series of VVV and in voice the figures 1,2,3,4,5 followed by the callsign of the station.

so,the priority of sinals is: distress signals -> urgency signals -> safety signals -> test signals.




STANDARD TIME AND FREQUENCY STATIONS
There are some stations that broadcast only time on some standard frequencies. They are called Standard Time and Frequency stations. These stations send time pips and time announcements usually on standard frequencies like 5.000, 10.000 and 15.000 MHz. We can know the time, frequency and propagation conditions by monitoring these stations. The callsign of the Indian station is ATA located at New Delhi which is operated by National Physical Laboratory (N.P.L.).

IST/UTC
IST (Indian Standard Time) is 5.30 hrs ahead of UTC (Universal Coordinated Time). UTC is also known as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Thus when it is 5.30 am 1ST it is 0000 hrs UTC/GMT. When it is 1000 UTC, it is 3.30 pm 1ST

AMATEUR RADIO BEACON
Amateur Radio Beacon means a station in the Amateur Service having transmitter(s) emitting carrier wave along with identification signals at regular intervals. Such beacons can be directional or non-directional.



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