HAM Radio International Phonetic Alphabet

HAM Radio International Phonetic Alphabet

Proper Phonetics!
I have a pet peeve. I wish that amateurs would always use the accepted ITU approved phonetic alphabet when phonetics are used. Hams in all countries generally understand the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic alphabet. It is used when signing your call or passing information that must be spelled out.

NATO/ITU Phonetic Alphabet

A - Alfa

B - Bravo

C - Charlie

D - Delta

E - Echo

F - Foxtrot

G - Golf

H - Hotel

I - India

J - Juliet

K - Kilo

L - Lima

M - Mike

N - November

O - Oscar

P - Papa

Q - Quebec

R - Romeo

S - Sierra

T - Tango

U - Uniform

V - Victor

W - Whiskey

X - X-Ray

Y - Yankee

Z - Zulu

International Phonetic Alphabet

Proper Phonetics!

View comments about this article!
I have a pet peeve. I wish that amateurs would always use the accepted ITU approved phonetic alphabet when phonetics are used. Hams in all countries generally understand the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic alphabet. It is used when signing your call or passing information that must be spelled out.

The ITU adopted the NATO phonetic alphabet developed in the 1950s to be intelligible and pronounceable, and is generally understood by all amateur radio operators around the world. It has a long history of working very well in harsh phone conditions.

My callsign phonetically is Kilo X-ray Five Juliet Tango. If conditions are rough, I'll repeat it phonetically several times. ALL amateurs should KNOW those phonetics, and in my experience they DO! It corrects any misunderstandings very rapidly. If using those phonetics do not clear up a misheard letter, then the conditions are just not favorable for a phone contact.

My callsign phonetically is NOT Kilowatt Xylophone Five Jupiter Toyota. It is NOT Killer Xerox Five Juicy Tangerines. It is Kilo X-ray Five Juliet Tango. Whether you are in Indiana or India, as an amateur radio operator (or any voice communications type person) you will understand the ITU phonetic alphabet.

It's a pet peeve of mine. You will all do what you will, but I know it is much more impressive and I consider it to be GOOD OPERATING PRATICE to use the ITU phonetic alphabet.
73 from KX5JT, John
from John D. Tate - KX5JT on May 14, 2009
https://www.eham.net/articles/21522