[CQ-Contest] Phonetics

[Eric Hilding]

It is obvious that Phonetics are a pain-in-the-butt for a lot of 
contesters.  Whoever came up with the "official" list must have been a 
golfer.  "Golf" simply sucks...I found this out during Field Day with our 
local club (W6GGF).  After wayyyy too many people NOT getting the callsign 
correctly, I reverted to the time-proven use of "GERMANY" from my old DXing 
days, and had no further problems.

Here's a concept...

Why don't WE as contesters come up with a UCP (list of "Universal CONTESTER 
Phonetics") that can solve most of the problems?  Contest Sponsors can 
publish them along with their event rules.

Yes, more than one syllable phonetics will slow down an exchange, but much 
less, IMHO, than the wasted time asking for multiple repeats.

One person reported a problem with "Mike".  I don't think I have ever heard 
anyone have a problem with "MEXICO"...or DENMARK...or AMERICA, etc.

WE have an opportunity to improve things...if WE want to.

Regardless of any changes, after reflecting on last weekend's CQ WW SSB, I 
think *some* "DX" SSB ops need to slowwwwwwwww down their verbalization of 
***ANY*** phonetics if they want to be understood (especially those with 
H-E-A-V-Y accents).

73...

Rick, K6VVA