Phonetics You Need for DCS: APCO, International and More

Phonetics You Need for DCS: APCO, International and More February 6, 2016 Diana Feinberg, AI6DF Staff 60

Phonetics You Need for DCS: APCO, International and More 1. Why know more than APCO phonetics? 2. History of radio communication phonetics 3. Phonetics used by Southern California agencies 4. Recent developments in radio phonetics 5. Learning the phonetics

Increased LASD multi-agency interoperability and HF use mean DCS members now need more than APCO phonetics The country of Belgium provides an analogy to DCS s radio language Mostly Dutch speaking Brussels (capital) Mostly French speaking Mostly German speaking

Increased LASD emphasis on multi-agency interoperability and HF now give DCS members a Belgian Connection Expression said in Belgium To have a well-paid Brussels job: 1. You need to speak French to get your job 2. You need to speak Dutch to keep your job 3. You need to speak English to do your job Mostly Dutch speaking Brussels (capital) Mostly French speaking Mostly German speaking

Increased LASD emphasis on multi-agency interoperability and HF now give DCS members a Belgian Connection The Belgian Connection with DCS To have a well-paid Brussels job: 1. You need to speak French to get your job 2. You need to speak Dutch to keep your job 3. You need to speak English to do your job To be in L.A. County DCS: 1. You need to speak English to get into DCS 2. You need to speak APCO to stay in DCS 3. You now need to speak International phonetics to completely do your job

Phonetics for radio communication have undergone only a few iterations since radio s earliest days The Evolution of Radio Phonetics - 1 1914-1918: British army and navy had separate phonetics 1924: British Royal Air Force adopted similar phonetics, partial precursor to today s APCO Focus then was for military use British RAF phonetics 1924-42 Ace Beer Charlie Don Edward Freddie George Harry Ink Johnnie King London Monkey Nuts Orange Pip Queen Robert Sugar Toc Uncle Vic William X-ray Yorker Zebra Circled phonetics are used in APCO today

Phonetics for radio communication have undergone only a few iterations since radio s earliest days The Evolution of Radio Phonetics - 2 1927: First International phonetic language for civilian use aimed at aviation Recognized by International Telecommunications Union Adopted by International Air navigation commission, 1932 1 st International Phonetics, 1927, modified 1932 Amsterdam Baltimore Casablanca Denmark Edison Florida Gallipoli Havana Italia Jerusalem Kilogram Liverpool Madagascar New York Oslo Paris Quebec Roma Santiago Tripoli Uppsala Valencia Washington Xanthippe Yokohoma Zurich

Phonetics for radio communication have undergone only a few iterations since radio s earliest days The Evolution of Radio Phonetics - 3 World War II resulted in U.S. and British merging similar phonetics, 1941-1956 More of APCO phonetics began to emerge RAF and U.S. phonetics, 1941-1956 Able Baker Charlie Dog Easy Fox George How Item Jig King Love Mike Nan Oboe Peter Queen Roger Sugar Tare Uncle Victor William X-ray Yoke Zebra

Phonetics for radio communication have undergone only a few iterations since radio s earliest days More Evolution of Radio Phonetics - 4 In 1956 the International/NATO phonetics were created for military use Civilian aviation, ham radio followed too Note: Juliett spelled with two t s for French users International/NATO phonetics, 1956-present Alfa (Alpha) Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India Juliett Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu

Phonetics for radio communication have undergone only a few iterations since radio s earliest days APCO Phonetics Came from LAPD Los Angeles Police Department began using initial APCO phonetics in 1940 s Later adopted by Association of Public Safety Communication Officials, but not all law enforcement agencies use APCO phonetics Among many agencies using APCO: New York City PD Indianapolis PD State of Maine PDs Adam Boy Charles David Edward Frank George Henry Ida John King Lincoln Mary Nora Ocean Paul Queen APCO Phonetics, -present Robert Sam Tom Union Victor William X-ray Young Zebra

DCS members are to use APCO phonetics to support LASD, but many other nearby agencies do not use APCO Uses APCO Phonetics Uses International/ NATO Phonetics Uses Plain English Los Angeles County SD Orange County SD L.A. County Fire Dept. L.A. County DCS Orange County RACES Most city Fire Depts. Los Angeles PD (originator) San Diego County SD Many city depts. Nearly all law enforcement in Los Angeles County Riverside County SD Ventura County SD California Office of Emergency Services Army & Air Force MARS ARRL ARES groups School districts & other special districts Bottom line: APCO still for LASD use, but you will need to understand the International/NATO phonetics in dealing with other radio groups

APCO Phonetics aren t really changing. but with growing use of mobile broadband APCO issued in 2015 a list of common code words for data exchanges Common code words facilitate point & click Code words likely used with voice traffic too https://www.apcointl.org/doc/911- resources/apco-standards/601-11161-2015-status-codes/file.html

Interesting wording https://www.apcointl.org/ doc/911-resources/apco- standards/601-11161- 2015-statuscodes/file.html

Common code words for data exchanges will also facilitate data searches & situation analyses https://www.apcointl.org/ doc/911-resources/apco- standards/601-11161- 2015-statuscodes/file.html

There are traditional ways to develop familiarity with International/NATO phonetics No-cost methods for learning International/NATO phonetics Print out a phonetics list and memorize Monitor aviation radio band (108-135 MHz, AM) Get involved with ham radio HF DXing (note: some DXers self-modify phonetics)

Another way to quickly learn International/NATO phonetics associate letters with images Created by: Michael Maher, NJ2X

Another way to quickly learn International/NATO phonetics associate letters during your morning coffee Found on ebay.com

Another way to quickly learn International/NATO phonetics there are smartphone/tablet Apps for that

In summary, other agencies and groups use International/ NATO phonetics we have been asked to know these too DCS members will need to use APCO phonetics, International/NATO phonetics, and plain English During CFMB drills on HF frequencies please use International/NATO phonetics not APCO DCS message handling in the future may involve more APCO common data exchange words Thanks for learning this information