New Phonetics?

[M0WAO]

to be honest i'm not that impressed with this whole ham experience...

being a ham from only may this year i have seen many strange behaviours; using non nato phonetics (ok i know it's not a requirement) but it makes things not easier, making funny noises (sheep sounds etc), swearing playing music, being impatiences if some one doesn't response quickly, doing contests on warc bands, using very high power (way over their license) etc. some times there isn't that much difference between ham or the cb muppets...

[G6NHU]

Where are you listening to hear all that sort of thing? I've found that the HF bands can be a bit animalistic when there's rare DX about but I've never heard music, silly voices or warc band contesting. Some 2m repeaters get abuse but I forget the last time I used one of those anyway (that's not me being superior, I've just always preferred 70cms to 2m) so I don't notice it.

I also wonder about power levels occasionally, I've heard M6s who I know are in built up city locations claiming to have 10 watts into a 'long wire' put stronger signals out that my 400 watts into a beam but I'll leave my views on our licensing system to another time.

[M6PAP]

Have to agree with Keith on this one.
I know there was Muppet time on Brighton repeaters at one stage but think that's sorted now.
Never heard anything other than normal on West Sussex repeater, not sure what London repeaters are like these days but after being within range of all of them in the 70's I wouldn't even try them again!!
As for HF things get a bit busy contest times but numbers operating drop other times so go on then and enjoy.
As for non NATO that has always been like that I can remember from way way back - Uncle Bill Calling, Really Nice Uncle and as a SWL it was sort of inviting to hear that and they used to have nets to encourage SWL's to tune in.
Will say that those calls were only used once the QSO was established.
As an M6 I can get 12watts at this end on some bands, not sure what goes out the top once it's crawled up my wet string!!

[M0WAO]

moved to keep on topic
http://www.hamradioforum.net/threads...4526#post14526

[druid]

Me too. I was led to believe the phonetics were carefully chosen so 1. they were not normally used in conversation, and 2. were distinct. (Did he say "Mary", "Berry", or "Larry"?). Also, when I hear phonetics it's a pretty good bet they're sending their callsign, and I pay more attention. Cute phonetics are fun, but I thing the "real" ones should be used when you're trying to get your callsign through (and remember others may be listening who aren't getting you as clearly as your contact!)

druid
VA7LAS

[M0TTB]

doing contests on warc bands,

Care to elaborate?... I've been listening to 17 and 12 since these bands were first opened to amateur radio, I have never ever heard any contests on them. I dare say once in a while, someone will slip-up, maybe with a prerecorded call...but anyone trying to contest on warc bands will quickly find themselves a pariah.
Odd Phonetics? Been around since the dawn of amateur radio, and it will never change.

I think your experiences prove the worth of a year or two as an swl on the amateur bands before jumping in, and spending hard earned ££ on a pastime that you won't enjoy.

In the scheme of things, given the huge numbers of people on amateur radio all over the world, the bad is miniscule compared to the good. It's like a big city, some places are iffy, so you avoid them...14.195 is one of them.

[M6PAP]

I think your experiences prove the worth of a year or two as an swl on the amateur bands before jumping in, and spending hard earned ££ on a pastime that you won't enjoy.

Yea to that!!

As for 14.195 - it's a big band ignore it and go further up.

[M0TTB]

Yea to that!!

As for 14.195 - it's a big band ignore it and go further up.

Although maybe avoid 14.275 as well, especially when the band is open to N. America

[M0WAO]

moved to new thread

[M0TTB]

i'm playing with radios since the 70s, was even on the boats if you know what i mean...

I did say SWL'ing on the amateur bands... if you have been swl'ing on the amateur bands for any length of time, none of the above problems you have experienced will have come as a surprise.

[M0WAO]

moved to new thread

[M0TTB]

only the serial number is missing from his 59...

Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but that was simply a dx station working a pile-up...not a contest at all. Contests do not operate on the warc bands... there would be no point in anyone doing so, as their qso's would be void in the contest, nobody would work them and they would be chased off very quickly, their callsign would be publicised and they would suffer as a result.

In the above case, a rare Saudi Arabian Island island in the IOTA programme

[M6TMJ]

I have had that problem a few times. It's a pain at times but as long it's understandable I don't really see a problem with it, But the NATO one is better because it's easier to understand when someone says it.