Not according to these references, https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/pronunciation/american/papa even this Brit, who agrees with Bonnie's point on Q too (fast forward to 1:25) but this source leaves it open to both ways and nationality, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/papa and I'm from the USA SO I use them interchangeably; both have about equal error rate, and sometimes individuals will get stuck on both, causing me to radically shift to Peter, Pacific or Portugal.
A NATO phonetic has an error rate? Heresy! They are perfect in every situation with every radio operator!
Could be quite understandable if the station making the error once operated under the former WARSAW PACT ? Russian phonetic alphabet Russian military voice communications spell words and encrypted messages using the following phonetic alphabet. For most part, it uses given names, with "tsaplya", "chelovek", "shchuka", "znak", "yery", and "ekho" being exceptions. Letter Phonetic Transliteration А [A] Анна Anna Б Борис Boris В [V] Василий Vasily Г [G] Григорий Grigory Д [D] Дмитрий Dmitry Е [Ye] or [E] Елена Yelena Ж [Zh] Женя Zhenya З [Z] Зинаида Zinaida И Иван Ivan Й [Y] or Иван краткий Ivan kratky К [K] Константин Konstatin Л [L] Леонид Leonid М [M] Михаил Mikhail Н [N] Николай Nikolai О [O] Ольга Olga П [P] Павел Pavel Р [R] Роман Roman С Семён Semyon Т [T] Татьяна Tatiana У Ульяна Ulyana Ф [F] Фёдор Fyodor Х [Kh] Харитон Khariton Ц [Ts] Цапля Tsaplya Ч [Ch] Человек Chelovek Ш [Sh] Шура Shura Щ [Shch] Щука Shchuka Ъ ["] or [#] Знак (твёрдый знак) Znak (tverdyi znak) Ы [Y] Еры Yery Ь ['] Знак (мягкий знак) Znak (myagky znak) Э [E] Эхо Ekho Ю [Yu] Юрий Yuri Я [Ya] Яков Yakov
The argument that one alphabet is not perfect is completely beside the point. It really does not matter. It only matters that it is recommended for use all arround the world for amateur use and it taught as such. If I hear ...&%$#...America Portugal..)/&#%.. i can't tell if a guy from portugal wants to reach America or a guy from Pakistan is giving his call sign. If I hear .../&$#%... Sugar Baker...&#%$... I can't tell if someone is reading their grandma's recipe or it's a guy (or a girl) from Sweden. But the Americans think it's hilarious and play the rest of the world. But all this has already been said.
Surely every contester from back in the days must remember W6 Always Kissing Females.....W5 Home Grown Tomatoes..... and the best ever, Willie Billy 5 Willy Billy Willie portable Willie Billie 5 !! Don, Koshihik Zero Pterodactyl Vladivostok
Congratulations John! You have somehow managed to use "FCC"," common sense" and "rules" in the same sentence. The very definition of an oxymoron Rules, Regulations, Law etc of any sort are only as viable as the enforcement of violation. Enforcement is generally dependent upon flagrant violations, ability and willingness to levy monetary and even punitive consequences. I do not believe that many, including the FCC are concerned with phonetics. I have taken many FCC proctored examinations both amateur and commercial, and I am not able to recall any questions referring to phonetics. I don't know why this thread is so long, but I do enjoy the frequent levity and sarcasm. However, I am only on page 23 of 36 and my finals are starting to turn blue. So.....as us old timers USED to say, "It's time to pull the big switch and go modulate the pillow." 73, and 33 to Bonnie Don, K0PV
Nor that amateurs are professionals. Experimenters that take pride in their craft, but professionals?
As a new HAM I'm just curious as to what is going on in the bigger world outside my immediate and direct contacts. I've seen some rather pointed arguments as to how important it is to be consistent when operating. I've been berated for using phonetics on a local repeater, in spite of the fact that doing so sometimes has made the QSO better under poor conditions. It seems there are some grumpy purists out there holding the attitude that one must abide by their operating standards or else. As I've heard lots of operators using non-NATO phonetics I just wondered if, perhaps in other countries something had changed in operating protocols. I admit that I've been timid about straying away from the standard phonetics I leaned in my course. However I also get the point that in some places, especially with non-English speaking operators, certain non-standard words may be easier to say or understand. I'm cool with being flexible, I just didn't want to sound like a boob on the air. Thanks for the constructive feedback.
