[amsat-bb] A reminder re: phonetic alphabet and digits...

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi!

I just heard from Beny XE2YBG, who made a quick trip north of his
city in Tamaulipas state in northeastern Mexico to be in a different
grid (EL04) last night for an AO-51 pass.  Beny told me he worked 9
different stations, mostly XE stations, during a pass at 0136 UTC
(about 87 degrees maximum elevation for his location).  He was hoping 
to work more stations in the US, but many of the stations calling him 
were not using the international phonetic alphabet and were not using 
individual digits for their grids.  He does not understand much 
English, but can deal with the standard (international) phonetic 
alphabet and the individual digits OK.  

For example, if I called Beny in English and wanted to give him my 
information, I would use the following (if operating in grid DM33)...

"Whiskey-Delta-Nine-Echo-Whiskey-Kilo, Delta-Mike-Three-Three"

Say each letter phonetically, and each digit in the grid locator -
not "Delta-Mike-Thirty-Three".  

Many of the Mexican satellite operators understand "QSO English",
and not much more.  They would enjoy making more contacts with 
stations throughout the USA and Canada, but their limited grasp
of the English language means we (at least those of us outside 
Mexico who do not speak Spanish) need to remember that when 
calling those stations.  Please be aware of this, and you may 
end up working some new and unusual grids via satellite from 
those XE stations (some of whom are starting to look at their
maps, and make trips to other grids).  

There are some of the XE satellite operators who are fluent in 
English.  Even with them, following these suggestions (phonetic 
alphabet, individual digits in grid locators) would be a good
thing, and a good habit to get into - for the times you work an
XE station with limited fluency in English. 

Thanks and 73!




Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK 
http://www.wd9ewk.net/