BasicB-002-008-002
You need to summon help while stranded in a remote location, but without immediate risk to life. What priority is your message?
B
Answer
Licensing, station identification, and operation
Type
A
Welfare
B
Urgent
C
Safety
D
Distress
Answer Notes
In radio communications, an "Urgent" priority message (often preceded by the proword PAN PAN) is used when there is a serious situation concerning the safety of a vehicle, vessel, or person, but there is no immediate, grave danger to life.
Being stranded in a remote location without an immediate life threat perfectly fits the "Urgent" category. You need help, but you are not in imminent danger of dying.
If the situation were life-threatening, it would be a "Distress" message (MAYDAY). "Safety" (SECURITE) is used for general navigation or weather warnings, and "Welfare" messages are used after a disaster to pass information about the health of individuals to concerned relatives.
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When may you use your amateur radio station to transmit an "SOS" or "MAYDAY"?
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What voice signal, transmitted three times, signifies distress?