[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] WTF?

[ka4gfy at cox.net]

Mr Davis,

While the use of "Zip Your Pants" may not be in the ITU Phonetic Alphabet, it is in no way illegal, nor did it violate any amateur protocol.  There is not anything the FCC would do.  The FCC is not in the business of enforcing amateur protocol.  The amateur radio community takes care of that themselves and we do a very good job of it.  Where we need help from the FCC is enforcing the vulgarity and intentional interference.  The FCC has been very supportive in that role. 

In nearly 30 years of amateur radio activity, I have heard many instances of hams using non ITU Phonetics for an ID because it was the only way to be understood through fading and crowded band conditions. It is a fairly common practice for both US and foreign amateurs.  I don’t recall a situation where anyone was ever offended by the use of non standard phonetics.   As you can see from an earlier email, Mr Miller was not offended at all by the use of “Zip Your Pants.”       

For your information, I was the net control station that day.  If I had any problems with it, I was the person to make the call.  If there was an issue, I will not address it over the air, but rather off line and with the individual involved.  In my many years of managing people in amateur radio activities and professionally, I subscribe to the philosophy of “Praise in public and criticize in private.”  If there was an issue, addressing it over the air only would have brought more attention to it.  

In addition, the control operator of the repeater was listening to the entire event, and I saw him later that day.  He never mentioned anything about it.  If there was any violation, he would have most likely asked that I call him about it right away. 

I am not sure where you obtained your information about us (Do you mean ham radio in general?) having difficulty in obtaining volunteers to assist in public service activities, but I can assure you that is not the case.  Despite the cold temperatures on Saturday and Monday, there were enough volunteers for both the 10K run and the parade.   These folks are very dedicated in what they do and no one appreciates a "Monday morning qurterback."        

While the Amateur Radio Service has a very serious side, we do not go overboard in formality.  There are some services where short, formal radio traffic is the norm, mostly because they do not have the flexibility in available frequencies that we enjoy.  So, being brief and formal is by necessity for those services.  

I noticed that you did not mention you have an amateur radio license. If you are not licensed and live in the Alexandria, VA area, I strongly suggest you sign up for our licensing class that starts March 6.  It runs for 9 weeks and will end on May 8.  You will learn all about operating on the amateur radio frequencies.   After you have accumulated several years of public service activities, you can organize an event.  Perhaps then, you will find out what is really important and what is not. 

Rich Adamy, KA4GFY  

---- James Davis <eou8122003 at yahoo.com> wrote: 
>     I was monitoring the activities for the GW Parade
> Monday morning. While I was listening the most horrid
> breach of Amateur Radio protocol I have ever heard
> came across the airwaves. While giving out the 
> assignments K7DID made an assignment for KC4ZYP. She
> then called net control and announced his call sign
> using the phonetics "zip your pants." I was not only
> upset by this tactless and embarrassing use of cutesy
> letter naming, I was surprised that Net Control didn't
> even blink an eye. I don't know who this girl thinks
> she is, or where she got her Amateur Radio training,
> but someone over there needs to take her aside and let
> her know that she is a poor representative of your
> organization. In addition if I had been in KC4ZYP
> position, I would have left right then and there 
> never to return. No wonder you people have problems
> getting people to volunteer. I am only sorry that I
> did not record that transmission so I could have
> reported her to the FCC. That is certainly not in the
> spirit of Amateur Radio.
>    
>   James
>     
> 
> 
> 
>  
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