Why don't all operators use Nato phonetic?

[tampabaynews]

ITU/ICAO/NATO all the same, and for a reason. The guys who use other words are usually trying to set themselves apart from the crowd, sort of like a peacock. Same as the guys on crystal clear FM or digital who insist on using Q codes, cop talk, or all of the CB slang phonetics. I hear them say "agh" and "um" a lot too. Oh well, it's a hobby.

They aren't usually very successful in pile ups, field day, contesting, or EMCOMM.

removes spoon from pot

Not everyone who uses phonetics other than NATO does so to draw attention to themselves. You should consider that different hams will have different backgrounds than yours.

I dispatched for a large police department in Florida that uses phonetics largely based from the LAPD. Lots of the older hams in my area are veterans and of course... use the phonetics they learned while serving.

Point being... old habits are hard to break. Not to say standardization isn't needed in amateur radio but these older phonetics will phase out with time. No need to make accusations due to ignorance.

 

[wx5uif]

I've never cared for the alpha bravo Charlie alphabet.

 

[WB4CS]

Here's a definitive answer...

ITU PHONETICS

...and particularly interesting is the statement...

"Emcomm.org"??? That's like quoting Fox News. Made up nonsense with no factual basis. :roll::lol:

W9BU nailed it. There's no one official phonetic alphabet that must be used, nor do we even HAVE to use phonetics. It's just encouraged.

For those that are new to the hobby, in time you'll figure out what works and what doesn't. We all had to start learning at the beginning.

 

[profiledescent]

You should consider that different hams will have different backgrounds than yours.

I dispatched for a large police department in Florida that uses phonetics largely based from the LAPD.

Point being... old habits are hard to break. Not to say standardization isn't needed in amateur radio but these older phonetics will phase out with time. No need to make accusations due to ignorance.

Ignorange? Right. I too first learned phonetics as a dispatcher in Florida. Of course we all have different backgrounds. Some hams never heard of phonetics until they became a ham. As for old habits, any ham could who can study the Morse code or pass the General and above tests, can change to ITU phonetics in a snap.

 

[JustLou]

As for old habits, any ham could who can study the Morse code or pass the General and above tests, can change to ITU phonetics in a snap.

You're right. They could change if they wanted to. But as pointed out, there is absolutely no requirement or reason to other than placating some anal amateur operators.

 

[k6cpo]

That might be true for new operators, but anyone that has spent any amount of time on the HF bands will recognize the "DX phonetics".

As for you not responding to someone using phonetics other than the ones that YOU feel are appropriate, while that's your prerogative, that is certainly an elitist attitude to have. I don't care if someone says "Willy Baba Four Cesar Smily" I'll still talk to them. Now, I may not like their "cute" phonetics, but that doesn't mean I'm going to ignore them.

You also have to realize that Amateur Radio is not a "US Only" club. There is no one phonetics alphabet that is "standard" to every country. NATO is certainly popular, but so are the "DX Phonetics" I posted. Also, APCO phonetics are widely used. There isn't one list that's "correct."

I have no clue how long you've been on the HF bands (Edit: Looks like you've been licensed since 1/18/2011), but I've been around for over 20 years and I've heard the "DX Phonetics" used by more DX than the NATO phonetics. But, that's just my opinion. I spend more time talking on the radio than I do ignoring people on the radio

Most of the time the other operator throws them out so fast, I can't catch them. With the NATO phonetics, I get them right away. I don't have to stop and think "What does he mean?"

 

[R8000]

" Why don't all operators use Nato phonetic?"

Because it is a hobby and not a career. Shocking news eh ?

That is just what this hobby needs is more requirements to drive folks away.

 

[WB4CS]

Most of the time the other operator throws them out so fast, I can't catch them. With the NATO phonetics, I get them right away. I don't have to stop and think "What does he mean?"

Well, again, in time you'll be able to pick them out quickly. It didn't take me long to figure out that "George" and "Germany" and "Golf" all meant "G", or that "Santiago" and "Sugar" and "Sierra" all mean "S".

I have got to agree with R8000 on his post above. It's just a hobby. Enjoy it and don't sweat the small stuff. There's a lot more out there to complain about than what phonetics someone uses. And if you're really not happy with what phonetics others use, try using CW instead. No need to worry about phonetics. Just dits and dahs.

DE Washington Brazil Four Charlie Sugar. Dit Dit Dit Dah Dit Dah

 

[SCPD]

Maybe some should learn to speak clearly and slowly instead of throwing out their call sign like the seat of their pants was on fire. Funny how when your conversing with someone you can understand what they are saying, then comes the scrambled egg ID.

 

[AK9R]

It didn't take me long to figure out that "George" and "Germany" and "Golf" all meant "G", or that "Santiago" and "Sugar" and "Sierra" all mean "S".

But, when I hear "kilowatt", I write "KW". Every time.

Oh, wait, I just opened another can o' worms.

 

[zz0468]

When you consider that the hobby really has something for everybody, it stands to reason that some people will take things like phonetic alphabets more seriously than others. Why not just play the game YOUR way, and let others play it their way? If someone uses "kilowatt" as a phonetic for 'K', and you think otherwise, read back for clarity and say "Kilo whiskey" if it makes you happy. The other guy will see his cutesy phonetic didn't work, and will probably try something else.

Consider yourselves all lucky. I once worked with a guy who used some sort of vulgarity for every letter in the alphabet. "HIJ" in his phonetic alphabet was Hell Idiot Jackass. You could probably figure out the rest. It was ITU phonetics with Tourettes.

 

[Pigshanks]

Use what works. Working Field Day and the RAC Canada Day contest with not the best band conditions made for some challenges. Numerous times my suffix "Tango Echo Quebec" would come back Echo, Echo, Quebec or Tango, Alpha, Quebec. Coming back with "Tokyo England Queen" would get the correct call in their logbook.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

The problem with using country names is that the operator on the other end might think that's where the person is calling from...

I won't usually respond to someone using other than the "traditional" phonetics because I don't want to take the time to figure out what he is saying. I've been using the NATO phonetics for so long now, they are second nature.

And this right here folks is why some people will have nothing to do with amateur radio.

 

[k6cpo]

And this right here folks is why some people will have nothing to do with amateur radio.

I don't decline to respond out of a sense of superiority because they used other than the NATO phonetics, but because by the time I'm able to figure out just exactly what they meant, their either gone or talking to someone else. It's just easier for me to respond to phonetics I don't have to spend time thinking about.

That's my particular choice and if you have trouble with that, well...

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

I don't decline to respond out of a sense of superiority because they used other than the NATO phonetics, but because by the time I'm able to figure out just exactly what they meant, their either gone or talking to someone else. It's just easier for me to respond to phonetics I don't have to spend time thinking about.

That's my particular choice and if you have trouble with that, well...

Spin it any way you want. My statement still stands.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Express via "Tap-A-Talk"

 

[R8000]

And this right here folks is why some people will have nothing to do with amateur radio.

+ 1

 

[JustLou]

Spin it any way you want. My statement still stands.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Express via "Tap-A-Talk"

Don't let him bother you. If he deems anyone not worthy to acknowledge just because they don't use his personal choice for phonetics, then I doubt anyone is missing anything by talking to someone else instead.

 

[AC2OY]

At field day last weekend my club's call is W2GLQ. I said CQ,CQ,CQ, Wiskey Two Gulf Lima Quebec. That's what every other operator said and the pile ups were using that system as well. I had fun again ham radio is cool!!.,

 

[com501]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
William Tom Frank?

What kind of arrogant Adam Sierra doesn't answer people because of phonetics?

Jesus Holistic Christo


And you are right - This IS why amatuer radio gets a bad rap.

 

[N1EN]

Use what works. Working Field Day and the RAC Canada Day contest with not the best band conditions made for some challenges. Numerous times my suffix "Tango Echo Quebec" would come back Echo, Echo, Quebec or Tango, Alpha, Quebec. Coming back with "Tokyo England Queen" would get the correct call in their logbook.

Amen.

When I call, I default to ITU phonetics. If that doesn't work, I'll switch to standard DX phonetics.

ITU phonetics work when everyone is familiar with them and when conditions are decent. However, when making a contact that right at the noise floor, sometimes you need more distinctive phonetics...but still familiar enough so that the other station can get it even if they aren't hearing it clearly. In my case "Ecuador", distinctly enunciated, has a better shot at being heard than "Echo" for nearly-psychic contacts. In the mud "echo" can sound a lot like "kilo" or "tango".