Learn & Use Proper Phonetics for Critical Comms

[@bwillan]

The NATO phonetic alphabet has been stable since 1956. No need to reinvent the wheel. Why did the Public Safety world adopt a different phonetic alphabet?

[@Two_Bravo]

I would have to research that. I work law enforcement in the aviation sector. We have to know, use, and swap up our alphabet depending whether we are talking on law side or air side. A lot of people struggle with it. Thankfully, I've also been an amateur radio operator for about 20 years and that helps. In Florida, my agency and most around just used the NATO alphabet and it was nice only having to keep up with one standard alphabet.

[@DDGVET4]

Because they hate you.

[@lawdog516]

Absolutely, 40 years retired law enforcement the biggest adjustment to ham was transforming to the ham phonetics, I still sometimes mess up but It’s a journey, 73’s

[@granitebuilt5836]

Agree with keeping to a standard although in the hf world I've heard stations trying to make a contact halfway around the world and because of band conditions the standard phonetics did not make it through. They had to improvise and use alternate words in order to effectively get their callsign understood.

[@toast803]

The NATO alphabet was created to avoid confusion, especially with non-native English speakers. The phonetics were intentionally used to allow recognition without full copy. That's why its FOX-TROT and not just FOX. Other than GOLF, each is multiple syllables. As much as its important to use them, emphasizing the right syllable is important as well. When in commo, I could copy letters from the rhythm as much as hearing the actual words. I haven't been able to complete QSOs in the past because the other ham kept using different words and dialect emphasizing the wrong syllable.

[@vk3xemontheweb]

I learnt the phonetic alphabet many years ago by reading car number plates.

[@Littrell1966]

I don't use my radio as much as I should, but I still try to keep a copy of a phonetic chart handy. My brain just freezes!!

[@alee2969]

For me Public safety alphabet makes more sense. But I stay with NATO per protocol

[@winstonsmith478]

Absolutely! "Papa" and NOT "Psychology"! "XRay" and NOT "Xylophone"!

[@DDGVET4]

GMRS world doesn't use phonetics because sad hams are always giving them grief over nit picky details just like some veterans do to civilians. (I'm a vet by the way and I've had other vets do it to me and I just tell them I shyte canned my military bearing when I got out after 10 years) I still use phonetics in some cases but not around the GMRS' ers unless they do it first. It's just not that big a deal.

[@djsoundzentertainment42]

The International Phonetic Alphabet is written, not spoken. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet . The NATO Phonetic Alphabet is spoken over the radio. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet .