Kilowatt as a phonetic for the letter "K" has been used since at least the 1930s, long before the ICAO phonetic. Again, there are those who insist on using only ICAO phonetics and there are those who use what it is needed to get the job done in the shortest amount of time.

If the hand held was manufactured by Motorola then it is a "handy talky". However, anything else is a hand held. The various spellings of "handy talky" are registered trademarks of Motorola and Motorola does defend its trademarks.

Back in the early 1970s, when the Japanese first started exporting hand held units into the United States, the various companies advertised them, in amateur radio magazines as variations on "handy talky". Within hours the Motorola lawyers contacted all of the magazines "reminding" them that the term was a registered trademark. The magazines were given several alternatives: Continue the advertisements and be sued by Motorola; drop the advertisements completely; or have the advertiser change the "copy" to eliminate the trademark before again printing the advertisement. The magazines decided to have the "copy" changed.

Of course, many amateur radio operators don't know that "handy talky" (etc.) are registered trademarks and use the term to mean any hand held radio. It is just like a copy of a document is called a "Xerox" by many no matter who made the copy machine. What the manufacturers are doing by challenging advertisements from other companies using their trademarks is to keep from losing the trademark by it becoming a generic term.

Glen, K9STH

Website: http://k9sth.com

--- On Sun, 4/10/11, Kevin Deane summit496@live.com wrote:

Boy did I open up a can of worms... I personaly think that even though we dont "Have" to use the standard I think is not only sounds the best but just seems everyone should use the same one in my opinion. Sure if you know you are talking with some guy in Mexico or whatever, maybe then use the geographical one. There is always going to be a language barrier, and I will agree with some of you to do what it takes to get the job done.

But on a general rule I will be using the STANDARD and I also agree that "Kilowatt" is the stupidest most insecure substitute ever. Might as well start talking like the cops, boy and george for chist's sake. Oh and by the way its HAND HELD not handy talky, you guys talkin on your baby moniter or somethin?

I dont like being told what to use any more than the other guy, BUT the STANDARD IS BEST why do you think us pilots use it?  (student pilot here...)