Operating Aids
Communications Procedures
ITU Phonetic Alphabet
Word list adopted by the International Telecommunications Union
A -- Alfa
B -- Bravo
C -- Charlie
D -- Delta
E -- Echo
F -- Foxtrot
G -- Golf
H -- Hotel
I -- India
J -- Juliett
K -- Kilo
L -- Lima
M -- Mike
N -- November
O -- Oscar
P -- Papa
Q -- Quebec
R -- Romeo
S -- Sierra
T -- Tango
U -- Uniform
V -- Victor
W -- Whiskey
X -- X-ray
Y -- Yankee
Z -- Zulu
The RST System
Readability
1 -- Unreadable
2 -- Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable.
3 -- Readable with considerable difficulty.
4 -- Readable with practically no difficulty.
5 -- Perfectly readable.
Signal Strength
1 -- Faint signals, barely perceptible.
2 -- Very weak signals.
3 -- Weak signals.
4 -- Fair signals.
5 -- Fairly good signals.
6 -- Good signals.
7 -- Moderately strong signals.
8 -- Strong signals.
9 -- Extremely strong signals.
Tone
1 -- Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad.
2 -- Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad.
3 -- Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered.
4 -- Rough note, some trace of filtering.
5 -- Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated.
6 -- Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation.
7 -- Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation.
8 -- Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation.
9 -- Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind.
If the signal has the characteristic steadiness of crystal control, add the letter X to the RST report. If there is a chirp, the letter C may be added to so indicate. Similarly for a click, add K. The above reporting system is used on both cw and voice, leaving out the "tone" report on voice.