The NATO/ITU phonetics aren't perfect. The "DXer's" phonetics (mostly place names) are a reasonable alternative, but only the two sets should be used. When I'm working 'phone, when I've got it together, I try to repeat back using the other set. And I hate Kilowatt, too- I always hear that as "KW".
73, doug
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:21:47 -0600 From: Sean Cavanaugh seanc@unixgeeks.ca
Darin Cowan wrote:
W9VNE said:
Unfortunately the operation of AO 51 is a large embarrassment. I have never in 56 years of operating ever seen demonstrated such poor operating procedures.
I'd be happy if people would just use the proper phonetic alphabet. So many logs have been messed up by "kilowatt" which is KW to me, as opposed to the correct "kilo" and the other bizarre appellations of letters. And it's not just on satellites that this is a problem. When I hear something like "Kilowatt Capacitor Eight United Airlines" (made up example, if you are KC8UAL, I'm not picking on you or accusing you) I can pretty much guarantee it won't end up correct in the logs. That makes it a non-QSO and a waste of time for both ends.
Combine proper phonetic use with "listen before transmitting" and 90% or better of the issues we see would go away.
I am often guilty of not using the correct phonetics, but I do have a reason. 95% of the time, if the other station has marginal reception, they come back as VE5, not VA5. I think it's just the other ops' brain filling in the blanks with what they expect to hear, so I will correct as "Victor America 5" and it usually seems to solve that problem. I do try to stick with the ITU phonetics 99% of the time though.