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Introduction This page is a repository for several standardized RI strips. At the present, there are two groups. The first group is agency specific and the first entry is a SKYWARN observation strip for the western Maine and New Hampshire NWS (GYX). The second group will consist of three RIs that are being developed by Raduo Relay International. The first is a general weather observation strip, WXOBS. All RIs in this group are designed to be compatible with the Winlink Express Radiogram forms. GYX WEATHER Developemt has required a new, as yet unreleased, version of the "Request for Information Strip Reader and Response Creator." The accompanying download is the same as the released Version 1.4 with several changes. The RI Response Creator has a RI character limit of 800 versus the previous 600 and mixed upper and lower case are permitted.Responses to this strip are designed to load directly into the GYX Google Sheets SKYWARN database without any alterations. As a result it is necessary that the formatting rules are strictly followed. This is relatively simple with the Response Creator tool. Since this version is different from the released version it must be installed in the Global Templates folder in Winlink Express. It may also be used independently. Simply install both files (html and txt) is a folder on your computer. Complete instructions for completing the response are in the form's Help. Here is the RI strip followed by an example response. GYX WEATHER/DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)/TIME (HHMML OR HHMMZ)/CALL SIGN/SPOTTER ID (or NA) /SOURCE (Amateur Radio, Trained Spotter, Media, Public Service Radio, Other 3rd Party, Direct Messaging)/LOCATION (Road, Town) /STATE (ME, NH, OA)/CURRENT WEATHER (Relevant info, be brief)/SNOW, SLEET (Inches or NA, if storm total add * e.g. 2.6 or 3.5*) /ICE ACCRETION (Inches or NA)/RAINFALL (Inches or NA, if storm total add * e.g. 2.6 or 3.5*)/HAIL SIZE (Inches or NA)/WIND DIRECTION & SPEED (AAA@MPH)/STORM DAMAGE (Wind, flooding, ice jams, other details)/MODE(Personal Observation, FM Repeate. Winlink, DMR, Direct Messaging. For others leave blank)/NET (Name of radio net or other e.g. email, Slack)// GYX WEATHER/01-02-2026/2220Z/WO1J/CU330/Amateur Radio/314 POPE RD, WINDHAM/ME/CLEAR & COLD/1.4*/NA/0,01*/NA/WNW @ 2/NONE/Personal Observation/REPEATER 147.045// Download: GYX Response Creator v1.4R4 Radio Relay International Standard RI Strips These strips are designed to work with the existing "Request for Information Strip Reader and Response Creator" as supplied as a Standard Form within Winlink Express. This includes the current Version 1.4 as well as future versions. All of these strips are part of a process for the gathering of consistent and accurate sets of data that can be easily consolidated and then disseminated to agencies. The RIs are:
WXOBS Related Documents Brief Overview of Radio Relay International's Weather Data Reporting Process This provides an overview of how RI tools and message templates can be used stand-alone for manual modes or message origination/relay via the Digital Traffic Network, or they can be accessed from the Winlink template library for origination via the Winlink-RRI gateway process. WXOBS Messaging Process This is a detailed presentation that describes the RRI/NTS methodology for collecting weather data.The WXOBS RI Strip You may copy & paste this directly into the RI field of the Response Creator or save it as a text file. WXOBS/CALL SIGN/SKYWARN ID (or NA)/CITY/STATE (AA)/MGRS (N)/NWS CWA (AAA,NA)/ /OBSERVATION TIME Z (DDHHMMZ)/ /WIND DIR (AAA)/AVE SPEED MPH (###)/GUSTS MPH (###)/ /CLOUDS (CLR,FEW,SKT,CB,OVC,TCU)/ /TEMP DEG F (###, -##)/ /BAROMETER MB (####.#)/BAROMETER 3 HR TREND (R,S,F)/ /PRECIP TYPE (RA,SN,SL,PL,GR,NONE)/CURRENT PRECIP INS (###.##,NA)/STORM TOTAL PRECIP INS (###.##,NA)/LIQUID EQUIV PRECIP INS (###.##,NA)/ /COMMENTS,DAMAGE//WXOBS Example Response WXOBS/KB1TCE/KN83/OWLS HEAD/ME/19TDJ9172/GYX/ /301438Z/ /SSW/3/8/ /CLR/ /71/ /1020.20/R/ /NONE/ /NA/NA/NA/ /NiCE DAY// General Strip Formatting Upper case for consistency with all transmission modes. Information Fields NA is a Response option for some items. For example, if there is no precipitation (NONE entry for PRECIPITATION TYPE), the amounts are NA. If you have no information for an item, just leave the Answer cell blank. For example, if a barometer reading is not available, leave the Response entry blank. NWS CWA is the National Weather Service County Warning Area. For example, MLB is the Melbourne, FL office. In the example, GYX refers to Gray, Maine. CWA does not apply to Canada, Mexico, etc. MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) conversion from your latitude/longitude can be done using the GPS/Position Report in Winlink Express (found under Settings) or you may use an on line converter such as the one from MapScaping , a podcast for the geospatial community. The MGRS location, as shown in the example,is an alpha-numeric string. Enter the full MGRS as shown by your converter or GPS. The RI msy specify a certain number of characters in the response. For example, wind direction specifies 3 letters, e.g. NNW. However this should be taken as a maximum. Proper answers might include N, NW, etc. The same applies to temperature (###), etc.Cloud choices are CLR (Clear), FEW, SKT (Scattered), CB (Cumulonimbus), OVC (Overcast), TCU (Towering Cumulus). If the response strip is transmitted using a Winlink/RRI radiogram form (Standard or ICS-213), the form will change a minus sign (e.g. negative temperature) to a M. Decimal points will be changed to an R. This is standard radiogram formatting and is necessary for transmission/relay by cw. Precipitation choices are RA (Rain), SN (Snow), SL (Sleet), PL (Ice Pellets), GR (Hail), FZRA (Freezing Rain). Comments must be very brief. Any detailed damage reports should be submitted to the appropriate target station as a separate SITREP message. The SITREP and OPRED RIs are in preparation. This document was developed in cooperation with Radio Relay International .
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