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I was a police dispatcher and dispatch instructor for nearly 30 years In a large city/county combined dispatch center. We used a more common phonetic alphabet and taught it and its use to every new dispatcher In all three areas: police, fire, and ems. I am well aware of the value of the phonetic alphabet and its use under highly stressful conditions way beyond anything most hams will ever experience first hand. I never said that a phonetic alphabet is useless. I did say that I disagree with the uselessly rigid behavior of some hams. What I am not pleased with is the anal attitude of some hams regarding the whole issue. In their world, there’s only one phonetic alphabet and anyone who strays, even just a bit or accidentally, is ostracized and labelled a blasphemer.

You are unnecessarily applying overly zealous ham etiquette to GMRS. Some hams tend to be a bit anal about using phonetics on callsigns and then only the Blessed ARRL approved phonetic list. Amateur radio is the only place you find this uselessly rigid behavior. In GMRS, phonetic spelling isn’t required or expected. If someone has a hard time understanding your words or callsign, by all means, use phonetics. But if you say Tom instead of Tango or Apple instead of Alpha, nobody in GMRS land Is gonna bite your head off. We’re kinda laid-back and easy going about these things.

Midland GMRS radios are not programmable. They are fixed with GMRS channels, and that's it. Also, you can find MUCH better antennas than Midland's junk, and for a better price. That link is for Midland Biztalk series business-band part 90 radios.