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.