VHF Radio Alphabet

VHF Phonetic Alphabet & Numbers Help

 When communication ends up being difficult over VHF radio you can use the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) phonetic alphabet to get your message across.

Alphabet
 

Example using the Phonetic Alphabet:  Charlie Alpha Papa Tango Alpha India November ( CAPTAIN )

Make sure that you speak all words plainly and end each word clearly. This will help to prevent the words from running together. Avoid shouting and talking too rapidly. The speed at which you speak is important so try not to speak either too slow or too fast, just try and preserve the rhythm of an ordinary conversation while avoiding unnecessary sounds such as "um" or "er".

Numbers
 

All numbers, except for whole thousands, should be transmitted over the VHF radio by pronouncing each digit separately.  Whole thousands should be transmitted by pronouncing each digit in the number of thousands, followed by the word "thousand".

Examples of this:

50        - Becomes Five Zero
100     - Becomes One Zero Zero
4500   - Becomes Four Five Zero Zero
15000 - Becomes One Five Thousand
25009 - Becomes Two Five Zero Zero Nine

When the number contains a decimal point is should be transmitted as indicated above with the decimal point indicated by the word "Decimal".

Example of this:

178.9 - Becomes One Seven Eight Decimal Nine

When dealing with a channel number it should be transmitted across the radio with the word "Channel" followed by each digit pronounced separately.

Example of this:

Channel 16 - Becomes Channel One Six

Monetary denominations should be transmitted over the radio in the manor in which they are written.

Example of this:

       .50 - Becomes Five Zero Cents
$15.25 - Becomes Dollars One Five Decimal Two Five