Military words, zulu, papa, etc. what do they mean?

[safetyobc]

I heard my first military transmission on HF today on 11175 at 17:30 UTC.

I heard quite a bit of traffic on there today. But the one I don't understand its,

"Legislate, Legislate, stand by for copy" then something like Zulu, Papa, 7, Golf, India, Uniform, 5 etc. etc. What does all that mean. Is it the phonetic alphabet:

A: Alpha
B: Bravo
C: Charlie
D: Delta
E: Echo
F: Foxtrot
G: Golf
H: Hotel
I: India
J: Juliet
K: Kilo
L: Lima
M: Mike
N: November
O: Oscar
P: Papa
Q: Quebec
R: Romeo
S: Sierra
T: Tango
U: Uniform
V: Victor
W: Whiskey
X: X-ray
Y: Yankee
Z: Zulu

What are they calling out? Position? Just curious and very new to all of this.

Matt

 

[brandon]

That is an EAM (Emergency Action Messages) broadcast. They are quite common on the HF-GCS frequencies. You can read about EAM's here:

http://www.wunclub.com/files/eam.html

 

[KB8UYC]

That is an EAM (Emergency Action Messages) broadcast. They are quite common on the HF-GCS frequencies. You can read about EAM's here:

http://www.wunclub.com/files/eam.html

Yes it is the Military Alphabet, and Yes it is a EAM. However, you will probably never be able to decode what each of the letters mean. I hear they change everyday(the meaning) and unless you are active military your not going to know what it is. So all we can do is listen to them and enjoy.

BTW, at night they switch to 6.739

Eric

 

[scansomd]

The EAM's you are hearing are encrypted by a very closely held, sophisticated encryption system. The odds of breaking the code are so astronomical it isn't worth the time to even consider it.

Yes it is the Military Alphabet, and Yes it is a EAM. However, you will probably never be able to decode what each of the letters mean. I hear they change everyday(the meaning) and unless you are active military your not going to know what it is. So all we can do is listen to them and enjoy.

BTW, at night they switch to 6.739

Eric

 

[Randall]

its called phonics and they use words to represent letters because its easier to understand in poor reception conditions just as amateur radio operators use phonics to give their call signs. an example useing my call KB9KXH would be kilo bravo nine kilo xray hotel. it actually helps when trying to copy a weak signal.

 

[safetyobc]

I realize they stand for letters. We use them here at the FD and the PD uses the civilian version of that. I thought maybe they were calling out coordinates or something. I was just curious if a civilian could find out what they were talking about. No big deal that I can't, I was just curious.

Thanks guys for the replies.

Matt

 

[Randall]

i use the amateur radio version, but know nothing about the military.

 

[hotdjdave]

Phonetic Alphabet

i use the amateur radio version, but know nothing about the military.

Actually, amateur radio uses the military phonetic alphabet.

Civilian agencies use a modified phonetic alphabet with slight variations among angencies and regions.

Police Phonetic Alphabet:
Adam (hence, "1 Adam 12" - 1A12 - from the Adam 12 TV show)
Boy
Charles
David
Edward
Frank
George
Henry
Ida
John
King
Lincoln
Mary (hence, "15 Mary 3" and "15 Mary 4" from the TV show CHiPS)
Nora
Ocean
Paul
Queen
Robert (hence, "240 Robert" for those of you who remember that TV show)
Sam
Tom
Union
Victor
William
X-Ray
Young (sometimes, Yellow)
Zebra

 

[car2back]

I always like hearing the newbie police officers asking for a 10-28 on "Apple-Orange-Tomato....." :lol:

 

[knoxville]

Hi, would I be able to pick up HF with a Yaesu VR 120D?

Thanks!

knoxville

 

[Randall]

and still i know nothing about the military : )

 

[wa8vzq]

Hi, would I be able to pick up HF with a Yaesu VR 120D?

You will only be able to receive full carrier AM mode on HF with the VR-120D.
These messages are all transmitted using upper sideband USB mode. You need a
receiver with a beat frequency oscillator that can receive single sideband
aka LSB or USB to hear the message traffic being discussed. In the Yaesu
line, the VR-500 is the next closest model that receives these modes. Its
performance is marginal on HF but it does receive single sideband and you
can easily hear these types of signals using one.

Dan
Apple Valley, MN

 

[CLB]

I've read on several occasions that this code is, like stated before, nearly impossible to break. The way I understand it works is only the sender and the receiver have the code book, and the books are destroyed everyday, a new one takes it's place. So pretty much you're going to have to use your imagination on this one.

Security is the main concern with all military radio systems. Even in the Civil Air Patrol we have classified info transmitted in code, and I change the times of my nets and repeater tests every week to help cut down on people like us (haha) from listening in. I have a good story on how this nearly burned my @ss one day, but that's for another time.

 

[jclomi]

Hey
I see your in Goose Creek what type of Radio do you listen too and Im new and in the Myrtle Beach area any ideas for me
Thanks

 

[radio10-8]

Safetyobc and all, Regarding E.A.M's This info came from active duty personnel I met at a homeland security meeting right beofre Christmas so I think it is fairly accurate. A HAM radio operator asked teh speaker about civilians sending and receiving EAM's in case of major incident. HE said NO WAY! Here's what I remember he said about the logistics of EAM'S. "The codebooks are not destroyed daily as seen in movies, but they can be updated as needed when needed by the powers that need to change them. The codebook is a standard 3 ring office binder of different colors. The 1st code broadcasted is found and selected from a list that corresponds to the check digit in the broadcast. Example he gave was "Message similar to "21DVQ34-CC" will have a check digit to use. He used the "V & Q" the he said you would open the book and look for a messgae that starts with "V & Q" once you find that message you will write it down as shown in the book to see if it is formatted correctly. (He would not explain how to do this) The 2nd code is a validation or password that some how is used to validate the message as an accurate mesage. (Again he would not get into detail) He said the EAM's list has between 50-100 types of different messages. As a humorous note he said that sometimes the EAM is telling them to get ready for a new EAM list. I hope this helps.