¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 Groups.io
  1. Qrp-Tech
  2. Messages
Single Messages Topics Expanded

Re: 'Alfa-Bravo-Charlie' = Old? Obsolete?

 

Hi,

Not so long ago I copied a a U,S. ham in a DX contest trying to complete a QSO with a European ham. I could hear both sides of the QSO loud and clear. But the two stations weren't enjoying reception that good. The U.S. ham was trying to get his callsign across to the European ham using the phonetics. The Dx fellow would then come back with at least one letter wrong to try and confirm. The Yank then tried again but decided to make up some different phonetics for the next attempt. That only further confused the Dx ham. The U.S ham made several attempts and changed the alphabet each time. The DX finally gave up.

That U.S. ham sounded like the proverbial monkey and the football. I just shook my head in disbelieve while rolling on the floor laughing. By the way, it turns out there is no such thing as "common spelling". Our phonetic alphabet evolved over a number of decades out of necessity with high stakes and proved to be the most reliable. So it stands today. Anything else is just so much gibberish.

73,

Bill KU8H

On 7/18/19 9:08 PM, Rod, VA3ON wrote:
I have come to expect NATO standards amount my Military, Pilot and somewhat around our Ham radio friends (except the contesters that insist they know better) :-)
Where I am surprised from time to time is amount call centre millennials using proper NATO phonetics, and this is absolutely the case in anything adjacent to the Aviation industry, like those booking flights. Warms my heart to see consistency to a standard!
/r
On Jul 18, 2019, at 19:17, Eric KE6US <eric.csuf@...> wrote:
Interesting article. I haven't worked a voice mode in more than 30 years and barely before that so it doesn't come up on the air for me. But it's a common problem on the cell phone. If I use the ICAO alphabet, it's no better for most people than just spelling the letters. Unexpected words like Tango and Foxtrot cause more confusion than it solves.
I tend to use short common names when I can. Tom, Dick, Mary. I usually have better luck if I include the letter "T as in Tom" or they stop listening at Tom and I become Tom to them. I sometimes use common Hispanic names in this area (So Cal). Whatever it takes, but the ICAO versions are generally worthless for me on the phone. I only use it when I'm around other hams or they look at me like I'm an idiot.
Eric KE6US

On 7/18/2019 1:47 PM, Ronald McConnell wrote:
It Might Be Time to Update
the Old 'Alfa-Bravo-Charlie' Spelling Alphabet
But it's hard to break old habits.
BY DAN NOSOWITZ
JULY 12, 2019



"Voice call quality has come down in the last two decades.
... Most importantly, they have dropped the emphasis
on voice call quality..."

73,
Ron McConnell
w2iol




--
bark less - wag more
Join [email protected] to automatically receive all group messages.