Happy Christmas.

Just to wish all Charlie Tango members a very happy Christmas & a safe & happy New Year, & also to thank once again all the people that have helped me over the past year to get the best out of my new set-up. 
On another point, why do some European callers not use the NATO alphabet but seem to make up their own? Not a problem but just curious.
Cheers all, Bob.

some use other phonetic alphabets to emphasize, when having a problem.eg
bad conditions
or language barrier.
merry xmas
mark

Happy Christmas to you too there Bob and all the best for the New Year ahead.  



Ha! I wrote a piece some time back about the marvelous NATO phonetic alphabet and how useful it is but got some flack in return for it.

They teach new Foundation candidates the standard NATO phonetic alphabet, Ofcom recommend it's use on the license conditions but you'll hear all sorts used on air especially the Ham bands. From 'Freddy - Sugar' types thinking they're flying a Lancaster bomber to the 'Able' company lot storming the Normandy beaches plus everything else inbetween. Sometimes randomly so with 'Germany', 'Gibraltar', maybe even flipping 'Giraffe' changing at every over or even on the same transmission!

Usually heavily defended if you make mention of it too - I have a friend that insists on using 'Radio' in his callsign but I always respond with 'Romeo', however we don't argue about it......some will though.


There's a Dutch operator who flatly refuses to answer anyone using a 'made-up' phonetic call sign.  



All the best to you there Bob and enjoy the rest of the Christmas break,
Victor

All the best to you, Bob.

73s John.

On the phonetic alphabet front, sometimes it is just easier to use something different, or try something different if the std one isn't working on that day for that QSO.

If people struggle with the "Juliet Kilo" in my call, a switch to "Japan Kilo" is usually an instant fix.  If I give my name, it's faster and simpler (Especially in a comp, pileup or activation) to run with "Japan Echo Fox Fox" when they're struggling with it being said and not spelt out.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter, and there have been multiple standards anyway.  If someone doesn't want to answer because of phonetics, then that sounds like the sort of boringly pedantic old git I wouldn't want to talk to in the first place, so win-win.

........and a Happy New Year.