Mike Coslo wrote in
:

N2EY wrote:
Y'know, with all this discussion about different phonetic alphabets,
people confusing "Papa" with "Japan" and DX/contest folks using a
completely different set and being cornfuzed by anything else, it
makes me wonder.

Doesn't all this add up to 'phone modes being "slow", "limited" and
"error-prone"?

No. Just as with Morse, there is proficiency built up by use. With a
set uof headphones, and the ability to adjust the volume and tone to
where I like it, even my rotten ears can work phone nicely. In the
field days and contests where I have worked high power, I have spent a
lot of time with weak phone signals. I have gone from asking for
repeats in about 25 percent of the cases to almost never.

In fact, the whole phonetic debate is a little funny, since
despite the
kvetching, an experienced operator can pick out the different phonetics
without getting his/her knickers in a twist.

- Mike KB3EIA -



Whilst that is true, I am more concerned about the op who is in a country I
need and isn't experienced.