How is Your Call for DX'ing?
Ray Swan (NV2A)
on
October 22, 2008
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I'M SHOUTING HERE. THIS IS NOT MY ORIGINAL IDEA! It comes from an idea advanced by GW0DIV in the Build My Antenna article where he replied "How about a contest to see who has the most efficient, best DX call sign?"
How about that idea? One of our DX club members has what may be the call I envy most, K2RSK. It's hard to miss in a pileup.
My call, NV2A, works pretty well most of the time on SSB and CW. It seems to work best when I spit out the last two or, 2 Alpha. But there is an occasional problem with it. Every now and then the guy on the other end will wish I was someone I ain't! They respond to N42A and it's a real bear to convince them it's a "V" and not a "4". What I've had to do is send "N" "v v v" (pause) "2A" and they get it then, usually with a hi hi sign !
The K2RSK call sign has a rhythm to it that I find myself rattling off in my head like one of those sticky tunes you hear on the car radio! Not only that, I swear Peter sometimes has a bit of a rock star swagger in his step when he comes to the WNYDXA club meetings! He wears that K2RSK moniker like BatMan wears his cape, lot of swagger! LOL
I once chided an old friend Bob, WB2CJL about his long 2x3 call. Bob was a superior RTTY op and he said he liked his 2x3 because sometimes to, send it 3 times, he hung out there on the screen just long enough to be noticed. He didn't have to resort to gorilla calling as his call did the job for him! CJL is in a better place then here now, RIP Bob.
Do you know of any call signs that you envy or really like where CW is concerned?
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AI8P on October 22, 2008
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I selected mine for SSB and CW ops and I haven't heard any other 8 call that I like better. Of course, I've heard it so many thousands of time, that I would like it by now even if I didn't initially.
de Dennis, AI8P
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NB8N on October 22, 2008
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CW has been my favorite mode since obtaining first license in '78. That initial call sign was KI4FIU. Not a great sound for CW. I next held N4HQU. A bit better but still a drag to send. I now hold NB8N, and find it a dream to send with a Bencher paddle. On the other hand, speaking this call can be a tongue tangler: NOVEMBER BRAVO EIGHT NOVEMBER.
73, Bob - NB8N
www.bobburdick.com
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NI0C on October 22, 2008
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I sure prefer my "new" call (which I've held for 24 years) to my original call, K0VSH.
Probably the shortest call I've worked on CW is the contest call, EE5E.
73,
Chuck NI0C
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KB2DHG on October 22, 2008
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Some people get real competitive when it comes to getting their call out. Me, I really don't care.
I am an Extra Class operator but have chose to keep my original NOVICE call sign. WHY? Because the day I became a NOVICE and part of this wonderful elete class of hobbiest was the proudest day of my life.
It doesn't matter what your call is, if you are patcient and a good operator, someone will come back to it!
Good contesting and DXing to you all, DE: KB2DHG
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N5XH on October 22, 2008
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I like mine. About ten years ago I got relicensed after having let my license expire ten or fifteen years before that. During the wait between the testing session and the license being granted, I perused all the available vanity calls, and selected this one because of how it sounded and felt on CW.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N3EF on October 22, 2008
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I seems that the "EF" in my own call has a nice ring to it. I can't tell you how many times a dx station has come back with "EF?" during a pileup. I chose it because it's my initials, I was not a cw op at the time but now that I'm 100% cw, it works well.
Eric N3EF
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE1CZ on October 22, 2008
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I like my call for cw VE1CZ it seems to have a bit of rhythm but I leave a short pause between c and z.My old call VE1VLF although it seems hard has a better rhythm.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KA3NRX on October 22, 2008
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Any call sign that's shorter than mine!....;-D....
Actually I like my call sign. And it is by choice that I have had it since getting my novice ticket in 1985, and through all of the upgrades. Even though it's not the best for DX pileups, it's how everyone locally knows me. Besides, the fun phonetics I have for it are "No Radio X-pert." Just a little something I came up with many years ago. Got to love it! LOL! This call will be with me until the end. DX struggles or not. (Disclaimer: just so it's known, I do NOT use "No Radio X-pert" as phonetics when calling DX. I always use standard phonetics, so just chill. I am not 19 anymore!).....
Vince P
KA3NRX
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K0BG on October 22, 2008
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Back in the mid 70s, I tried to get John Towas' old call. Although he had been dead long enough, the call was a few months shy of being re-issuable. Probably just as well. The call? WØFU
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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by N4CQR on October 22, 2008
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N4CQR is much easier to work with than KD4PWK. Everyone seemed to have trouble with the P. I like my current call and it works well on CW.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N7YA on October 22, 2008
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I chose N7YA 10 years ago from an unassigned block specifically for its punch on CW, very rarely is it read back wrong. But i get a lot of "whiskey alpha" on fone readbacks...but overall, i am very happy with my call and have no plans of changing it again.
My call before this was AB7WY, which has the rhythm of a hermit crab walking across marbles. Even though it was pretty solid readback on CW, it was still too stiff for me and the old bug. Before that was N7RAP, not very good on CW due to the call ending with a dit...you never want your call ending with a dit unless you have a 2x1 and the suffix is E...i always got RAG, RAW, NAP, etc. And the whole time i had that call i ran QRP with a wire off the balcony, rough go.
My first call was NL7CT, a little jumpy on CW, but not too bad, nice looking call if that counts, "cold toes". That one cut through on fone, but its been over 20 years since ive been back up north.
I do believe the flow of a call helps during pileups and contests. The most rhythmic call ive heard was a tossup between NE5E and UU2NNO....run both of those on your paddle about 25 wpm and see if it doesnt get stuck in your head like some fast food jingle.
73...Adam, N7YA
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N3OX on October 22, 2008
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I wanted something with fewer trailing dits after I operated from an apartment with N3UMH for several years.
I could work DX, but I found that it was a lot more likely for the DX to come back to "N3UMS" than it was when I had good antennas.
It was kind of the tipping point for me. I'd had my call since I'd started and wasn't sure I wanted to get rid of it, but I weighed that against the dwindling number of 1x2's in the vanity program and the fact that having an "H" at the end seemed to have turned into a little bit of a liability for CW DXing, and here I am.
I don't know if it stands out in the pileups, but it lends itself to a much better mascot:
http://n3ox.net/pictures/theox2.jpg
The Ferocious UMH was a stretch...
Dan
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KY6R on October 22, 2008
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My call is somewhat similar to N7YA's, and when I went searching for a vanity call (my old call was WA2QHN - way too long), there was something very rhythmic to KY6R on CW. CW is exactly why I chose this call over even shorter calls. It just rolls off the paddle (for me at least).
DX-peditions never have a problem with my call, but non-hams ask me what the "KY" stands for. One person asked me if I liked the Kentucky Sixers. I won't repeat what others have asked.
But what do they know (heh heh).
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N3AIU on October 22, 2008
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My first calls were WN3YJZ and WA3YJZ. I hated them, because even when sending at 35+ WPM in pileups others could squeeze off the calls twice before I finished mine once.
My present US call, N3AIU, is considerably shorter. I got it when I obtained my advanced license. I chose the 1x3 over the 2x2s normally assigned to advanced licenses, because I thought that the former were better. I think that I made the right choice. I must be careful, however, how I send this call because it could easily be mistaken for N3LU.
My temporary German call, DL1NE, is really great because it contains my initials. I did not ask for it. For all I know it was assigned randomly. The only downside is the E at the end, which is sometimes missed under less than favorable operating conditions.
73, Nick N3AIU/DL1NE
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KZ1A on October 22, 2008
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I like mine. Works well for both CW and SSB.
Best part is that it is not a vanity call. Got it when I upgraded to Extra back in the eighties.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KK9H on October 22, 2008
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My call was purely the "luck of the draw" when I got my Extra in 1981, but I have liked it ever since. I think it has worked well for me on both phone and CW. The double Kilo at the beginning seems to get the attention of the DX stations pretty well and it sounds OK on CW. Also, the phonetics Kilo and Hotel seem to move the outgoing power meter better than some other letters.
Don KK9H
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by N4OI on October 22, 2008
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I got my ticket six years ago and was assigned KG4VJR -- try that on CW and see why I was motivated to find my current vanity call about a month or so later -- N4OI. 73 de Ken
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KA5BSE on October 22, 2008
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HELLO
I HAVE BEEN A HAM FOR 30+ YEARS AND STILL HAVE MY ORIGINAL CALL AND LOVE IT ON CW. TRY IT, GREAT RYTHEM.
73's KA5BSE -... ... .
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by W9UCR on October 22, 2008
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I operate almost exclusively CW and my call, W9UCR has a nice rhythm to it. I've had the call since my novice days in 1952 and although I could have switched to a 1 x 2 call when I got my Extra, I kept this one. Now, 56+ years later, it seems a part of me. I expect my son, KA4MOP will pick it up when I'm a SK. I wonder how many times I've sent that call over the years <g>. It sounds especially great when I'm QSO'ing someone who is ex-Navy and sends it with that "banana boat swing." Music to my ears!
73, Bob W9UCR
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AE6QF on October 22, 2008
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Bob Stone, ex-NE6E had a great CW call. Bob is a silent key---he was the sound engineer for Frank Zappa.
73, Quiet-Finger, AE6QF
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KB9CRY on October 22, 2008
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Obviously I'm still using the Novice call the computer gave me back in 89. K9RY is still active so I have to wait for that call.
My is easy to enunciate on SSB and has letters that offer good "alternate" phonetics for use during QSB/Low Band opn, ie Kilo Bravo 9 Charlie Radio Yankee can become Kentucky Boston 9, 7-8-9, Canada Romeo Yokohama. This is the only alternate phonetics on my call that you'll ever hear me use and I'll only break it out as a last resort.
On CW, my call has two advantages. One is that is has a nice sing-song rythmn to it. It's pleasant and easy to pick out the letters and it's pleasant to send on my paddles.
The second inadvertant advantage, actually for both SSB and CW, is that it's just long enough that even when I begin to call in a pileup with 1X2 calls, that initial wall of noise where everyone can not be deciphered, my RY letters come through perfectly. I can't relay how many times the DX comes back to the pileup with "the Radio Yankee station, you're 5X9 or 599.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KI4CRA on October 22, 2008
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Mine isn't bad either, and its not a vanity, somehow AI4HO has a little ring to it. My old call which wasn't bad, was not all that great on CW.
73 de Mark
AI4HO
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N6EY on October 22, 2008
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I chose mine for easy copy on voice and CW - N4RLL was okay on CW, but lousy on sideband or FM - it's a mouthful.
Going on a tangent - Alan, K0BG was after W0FU. Like many, I was hoping for N6FU, K6FU, W6FU....you get the point. I think the last word in that has to be the OM who has the call N0FU.
On the other hand, how well do you think DX responds to callsign of our YL neighbor to the north who holds VA6INA?
Just had to ask.
73,
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AF3Y on October 22, 2008
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Yep, I like mine for SSB and CW. Plenty short for SSB, when I cut the Foxtrot to Fox, it's only 6 sylables (AL FA FOX THREE YAN KEE). I get compliments on the call from time to time. Not really too bad for CW either. Gene , AF3Y
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KL7AJ on October 22, 2008
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I don't know if I could have picked a better one, even if I had a choice at the time. KL7AJ just rolls off the old Vibroplex. :)
Eric
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W6RMC on October 22, 2008
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My call: W6RMC has a really good swing to it in CW, which is mostly how I get my DX, AND I was a Chief Radioman (RMC) in the US Coast Guard. All the guys on the CG Nets are envious!
So I really don't envy anyone elses call.
th
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W9OY on October 22, 2008
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I chose mine because it has a lot of dah's and I figured my transmitter would be on more than it's off so I should be louder in the pileups.
73 W9OY
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by G3RZP on October 22, 2008
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My XYL is G4FNC. That has a lovely rhythm on CW. Pity she's not active (in ham radio - it's Girl Guiding or Girl Scouting in American that takes her time, besides her travel for work).
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W6EOD on October 22, 2008
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Our club's call sign is W4AAZ. Seems like it always get through the first time both cw and ssb.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KG6TT on October 22, 2008
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When it works it is great.... when it doesn't get through fast enough I sometimes find myself asking "maybe I need a 1x2 or a 2x1?" Then I come back to my senses.
The FCC gave me KG6TT when I first moved to California in 1984. I was KB8ZO before that. I really thought it was a rather perfect call for me as it plays well on CW and sort of fits my hobby within the hobby.... collecting and using Ten-Tec equipment.
Every once and a while a nice 1x2 or 2x1 comes available and I still think about it. But for me it comes down to the fact that KG6TT had never been issued to anyone else but me... so it is special in that regard. Guess I'll hang onto it till they attach 'SK' to the end.
73,
Jerry, KG6TT
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WX4O on October 22, 2008
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My call is short and ends with a 'dah' character. You'd think stations would sometimes confuse the 'X' with a 'K' but it doesn't happen. I'm keepin' it. :)
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N5XM on October 22, 2008
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I was able to get n5xm in November of 1998. Of course I wanted a 1x2 for DX if I could get one, and after much thought I decided on this one. The xm rolls nicely off the fist. It is a vanity call, but I am the first one to use it, which is also cool.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NY2V on October 22, 2008
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Used to be W2ZOJ. Easy on phone, although phonetics were awful. Lasted long enough on CW to be still sending when others stopped.
When the NY series was being routinely issued to Extras, I managed to get in just under the wire with NY2V, a call "commensurate with my license class", and not a vanity call. When I applied for it, on the advice of NN2H who noted the NY's might be running out, I held my breath waiting.
Ultimately, I called the FCC to see if my request ever got there. Funny, but two days later, the license arrived in the mail.
Bottom line.. as a native and still New Yorker.. I love the call.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NY7Q on October 22, 2008
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My call is similar to N7YA, but his is smoother.
My orginal call was WN6FTH, a bear with a bug.
NY7Q is my call now(for several years) and is okay with CW.
I may give it up. I am retired, and tired of ham radio
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K4DGW on October 22, 2008
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When first learning CW, I listened to one particular station for over half an hour, trying to figure out his call. It was N5ESE. Man, that one hurt.
My previous call (the one I am posting under, K4DGW) has a nice rhythm to it. My new call, NM4M is very distinctive on CW. As stated in the article, it is a bit short on RTTY, and seems to confuse DX on phone.
My all time favorite belongs to Stan Reas, QSL manager for FISTS. K4UK
It just sings
Dave Wilburn
NM4M
http://www.nm4m.com
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W4JBR on October 22, 2008
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My friend Mac McCarthy has the best one.....
N4SE dahdit dididididah dididit dit
Just rolls off the key!
2 of my all time favorites are:
Mississippi and Tennessee try those in your head at about 25 wpm....
Or for all you old timers..."Bens Best Beer"
Jack
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W2HQ on October 22, 2008
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WOW. These are a great bunch of guys, that dx assn. Back when i was somewhat active, my call was AA2OT. My usual setup was some form of wire in the air with a stock Yaesu rig. I am not much of a CW guy but when I did get on and in the middle of some of those wonderful pile ups..... I would throw out the OT and almost always got the instant OT? I really enjoyed the flow of AA2OT and often thought of trying to get it back. I went to the vanity W2HQ because I could and thats that story.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K0FF on October 22, 2008
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My call is fine on CW- didiDahdit didiDahdit, but gets a little dicey on phone. Fiddle WHAT!!??
K0FF
original holder.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KL7FH on October 22, 2008
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The Alaska DX Club will be using KL5O for the 50th anniversary of Alaska Statehood 1959-2009 starting Jan. 2009. It rolls off the key very smoothly. A picture of our QSL is on QRZ.com
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K1KA on October 22, 2008
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I picked my present call for CW use. I thought it would be good also for SSB but ocassionally they think my suffix is a prefix.
My original call, W2TND, was great on CW but always seemed to be a mouthful on SSB. Never could get phonetics I like either.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NG0K on October 22, 2008
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I don't particularly like mine on CW. For some reason the NG is mistake prone for many to send on a paddle. Maybe as much as a 1/3rd of the time. Surprisingly the ending K has never been a problem. So one of these days I might change it to a 1x2 or 1x3 that is easy to copy and send. Heck my old call KC0SOG is now available again. It was actually very musical on CW and I had few problems.
73, Doug NG0K
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WB2WIK on October 22, 2008
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My call is long and can be confusing, but I've had it for 43 years now so will likely keep it forever.
Interestingly, on CW I have absolutely zero problems getting the call through quickly, and almost nobody ever asks for a repeat -- even weak DXpeditions, at 40 wpm.
I just worked the VK9DXW expedition Monday evening on 10 meter CW. Signals were weak and fluttery, made contact with one call, they didn't miss anything.
On "phone" I find some ops screw it up, but the really good ops (like contesters) don't.
As such, I never longed for a "better" call.
But I've used better ones for contesting! My little contest group for years used K2XR, which has great rhythm on CW and always got right through. I used to contest in the 70s with K2CW, another nice call for both modes. I know Gene N2AA picked that call for brevity and contesting, and it was a good choice. Lots of good ones out there, but even with my old 2x3 I have no problems getting through and am rarely asked for a repeat.
WB2WIK/6
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by VE7HA on October 22, 2008
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Maybe it was the operators..but KH6IJ and XE1IIJ calls have stuck in my head as to the sound of them on CW from over 35 years ago...
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W3JK on October 22, 2008
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And you call this an article !!! Why dont we all ask how our parents named us and go figure.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AA4Q on October 22, 2008
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I passed my (20wpm) extra when I was 17 in Florida just as they changed the callsign formula, this is what came in the mail NO WAY WILL I EVER CHANGE IT!!!!!
._ ._ ...._ _ _._ is OK, alpha alpha four kay-bek can be just a tad confusing for those who don't know that quebec is pronounced "kay-bek" instead of "queee-bec" and the proliferation of 2x2 calls has led some to expect another letter to appear somewhere...
I gotta admit, our local AA7A has a cool one!
Poole
AA4Q
AZ
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by W7ETA on October 22, 2008
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You should point out to your friend that we now have a new standard for calls: How does it perform as an antenna?
Best from Tucson
Bob
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE7HA on October 22, 2008
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W3JK...loosen your suspenders, relax your belt, enjoy life just a little! This is an article for those who love CW...
Murray
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by KG6WOU on October 22, 2008
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Locally we have a guy who is:
NE5EE
-. . ..... . .
You cannot get much shorter than that - I guess if you could get N5EE that would be one element shorter.
I like phone so my call is way too long for pileups but I'm also too invested in it to change, plates on the car, stuff like that. No biggie.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KF4HR on October 22, 2008
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I've considered getting a vanity call several times in the past, something that would be easier to verbalize or send via CW when DX'ing. Unfortunately the more I looked into it, the more I realized there were letters I didn't want. When it came to voice contacts I didn't want letters that have the "E E E sound" (C,E,Z,B,G) because those letters they have a tendency to sound the same on the air and phonetics become an absolute must... "Uh, did you say your call was GBE or ZBG?" And I didn't want W in my call because in voice W is a bit long to verbalize. Then I began to look for vanity calls that I might be able to be used for some slick abbreviation of some sort, or a call that could be sent quickly in CW, but nothing caught my eye or met with my other requirements.
So, at least for the being, call is going to have to do. ;^)
KF4 Ham Radio
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WB2WIK on October 22, 2008
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>RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing? Reply
by W3JK on October 22, 2008 Mail this to a friend!
And you call this an article !!! Why dont we all ask how our parents named us and go figure.<
::Parents for hundreds of years have named their children for events that occurred during conception.
I had to change my name to Steve, from my birth name of Broken Condom.
:-)
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N2UM on October 22, 2008
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I operate only CW. When I changed my call to the present one, I did some study of sounds of letters in pile ups and contests. I found that 1x2 calls do well and I also found that letters that end with a dah at the end of the call seem to be more effective.
I'm sure you'll notice that this was a very scientific study over a period of time or that I choose my 10 calls when I applied and am stuck with this call.
Gary
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by M0RNA on October 22, 2008
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My call, M0RNA, is nice in CW... well the last three letters are anyway ;)
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N4JTE on October 22, 2008
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Am I missing something ? There has got to be an "ARTICLE" out there somewhere; PLEASE !!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VK2DX on October 22, 2008
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My call of VK2DX is a good one!
By the way, the Willis Island DXpedition call is VK9DWX, not VK9DXW
John VK2DX
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KT8U on October 22, 2008
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I did not ask for the call but it's a good one for CW and I am glad I married Stephanie instead of Katie.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KB2HSH on October 22, 2008
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Yeah....MINE.
Sure it's a Group D/Novice Call sign (from 1988), but 4 dits, 3 dits, 4 dits?
Very easy to hear even in heavy QRM/QRN.
John KB2HSH
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WA4DOU on October 22, 2008
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I never considered changing my call anymore than changing my name. Most of my activity is on cw, chasing dx. I have a friend who used to hold N7FU and that was pretty catchy. A dx call that I always liked the rhythm of is: VU2BK.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE3TMT on October 22, 2008
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Although my call was picked for family initials, it has a nice ring on CW and very distinct on RTTY. I don't even have to look at the screen to know someone is answering me. Go ahead, try it, you'll see what I mean!
73,
Max
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE3TMT on October 22, 2008
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Hey John,
Gotcha beat! one dash, two dashes, one dash. Can't get any easier!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K0RGR on October 22, 2008
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I started out as WN6RGR, soon WB6RGR.
When I got my Extra, I became N6FF. I soon learned that the letter "F" reduces your signal by 20 dB in a DX pileup on SSB. Two "F"s make you almost inaudible.
When I moved to Iowa, I changed to a '0' call - WF0H.
I still had the -20dB "F" in my call, complicated by the soft "H". Furthermore, everybody tried to make it into W0FH.
So, I got a vanity call - K0RGR. Now, both my old 1X2 and 2X1 calls have been reassigned. All I can do is wish their new owners luck!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AI4ET on October 22, 2008
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I'm happy with my call sign.
I used a cw weighting program to calculate the weight of the hams call signs who have posted before me on this thread. Here is the results:
CW Call Sign Weight Analyzer http://www.radioqth.net/cwweight.aspx
This is a useful tool when trying to figure out how long it will take to send a call sign using CW. The greater the weight of the call the longer it will take to send it... analyzer will return them sorted by the lightest weight (or quickest to send) call sign first.
Call Sign Weight
AI4ET 38
N3EF 40
N4OI 42
N6EY 42
N5XH 44
N5XM 44
AA4Q 46
AI8P 46
K5END 46
KT8U 46
N2UM 46
NB8N 46
NV2A 46
W7ETA 46
N3AIU 48
N4JTE 48
N7YA 48
KG6TT 50
NI0C 50
VE7HA 50
W8BS 50
AF3Y 52
K1KA 52
KY6R 52
N3OX 52
AE6QF 54
KK9H 54
KZ1A 54
NG0K 54
NY2V 54
VE3TMT 54
W6EOD 54
WX4O 54
KA5BSE 56
NY7Q 56
W2HQ 56
W3JK 56
K0BG 58
K0FF 58
K0OK 60
K4DGW 60
M0RMA 60
W6RMC 60
KL7FH 62
N4CQR 62
W9OY 62
KI4CRA 64
KL7AJ 64
VE1CZ 64
W4JBR 64
G3RZP 66
K0RGR 66
VK2DX 66
W8ZNX 66
W9UCR 66
KA3NRX 68
WA4DOU 68
KB2HSH 70
WB2WIK 72
KB2DHG 74
KG6WOU 74
KB9CRY 84
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W1NK on October 22, 2008
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My circa 1977 Novice call, WB1CRI, had a pretty good feel coming off my straight key and, then later, paddles. But when I upgraded to Extra in the 80's and the DX bug bit....hard.... I wanted a call that would get me through the pile-ups a little quicker. I drew NG1J. Really nice and rhythmic on CW and a nice feel on the paddles. But, as I got more into contesting, NG1J turned out to be a dog on phone. Many times "November Golf 1 Japan" was copied as "November Golf *4* Japan". "November Germany 1..." felt awkward.
Now I find W1NK to be a happy medium. Fairly rhythmic on CW and easy coming off the paddles and easily understood on phone.
Frank, W1NK
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KE4R on October 22, 2008
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When I upgraded I chose my current callsign (KE4R) because the letters in it are very familiar and not prone to be mistaken for anything else on CW. Its very quick to send (gets a weight of 40 on the list above) and typing it on the receiving end is easy so it gets logged correctly. I was just beginning to get active in contesting/DXing and wanted these attributes when I applied for this call. It's served well and I almost never have to send repeats of my call.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W6NB on October 22, 2008
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I really like the CW rhythm for my call, W6NB. If I didn't have it, I think I would want W6GG, W6NG, or maybe W6NGG. Any of those starting with N instead of W would be good too.
73,
MW
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N6AJR on October 22, 2008
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I was thinking about changing my call way back when ( it was my original call issued to a brand new tech in 1978 ( Never was a novice)) and then someone came up with the phonetics of November six All Junk Radio and after that I was happy with it.
a real kick in cw is to send my name Tom Lish.. try it..
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K9MI on October 22, 2008
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Outside of all the dahs in the 9, the dah dah, dit dit stands out well in the pileups.
73, Mike K9MI
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K5FH on October 22, 2008
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I have held K5FH since 1977 and it works very well for DX and pileups. The radioqth.net CW weight analyzer gives it a weight of 46; not bad. My original call (1970 - 1977) of WA5ZXS had a CW weight of 68 so K5FH is a definite improvement.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K6YE on October 22, 2008
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Nice article. I have had several calls: WN6ZNL, WA6ZNL, WB6GNK, N6IYF, WQ6F, K3TH, and last but not least, K6YE. I never really cared about how they sound on CW or phone as long as I got in the log and the contact was meaningful. I think one of the more amusing calls on phone is WW2QQ (Waddle Waddle Two Quack Quack).
I have to be careful on some repeaters because some think they hear KA6YE insted of K6YE. All in all, whatever floats your boat, enjoy it.
Semper Fi,
Tommy - K6YE
DX IS
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K9DY on October 22, 2008
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I am pretty partial to mine for CW and phone. My old call was a mouthful(WA9DYV). I didn't want to change my "name" after 38 years, but K9DY is much more efficient.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by G3SEA on October 22, 2008
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G3SEA is smooth like the ocean swell ;)
KH6/G3SEA is not so smooth :O
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VK3ZL on October 22, 2008
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I like my call sign for cw on 160 meters....VK3ZL often gets attention in a pileup..If they miss the VK then the ZL makes the ears prick up....
Bob VK3ZL..
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K9KUZ on October 22, 2008
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In the high school ham club they used the call w9eie on cw. I'm sure that was a pirated call. I was not a ham at the time, nor in the club.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K0FF on October 22, 2008
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"by W7XU on October 22, 2008 Mail this to a friend!
I like my US call, but I liked TO5E even better. "
I like that call too Arliss! Thanks for new one on 6m and #338 overall!
73 DE K0FF
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KD5SFK on October 22, 2008
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I admit that I don't use CW very often--maybe once a year for a contest. That said, having a callsign with a K at the end SUCKS! 90% of the time if I throw mine out to answer a calling station, it comes back KD5SF not KD5SFK because K is so often used at the end of a transmission. Then it takes repeating it 3-4 times before the other station finally gets it with the K on the end. Another ham I know that has a K at the end (and who primarily uses CW) agrees with me on this point.
The best callsign I ever used in a contest was KA5E. Dave always let us use KA5E for field day because his was by far the shortest and fastest of our motley field day bunch. KA5E is so fast and easy--and has good rythm--we almost always got answers after one call.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing? Just dandy!
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by AI2IA on October 22, 2008
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I went after a vanity call exactly for the reason of ease of sending and receiving. Judge for yourself if I succeeded:
di-dah di-dit 2 di-dit di-dah
There is no escaping the numbers, five being the easiest in my log book, so the rest was easy since I live in two land.
I have a bonus, too! When I reach Italy for DX, I give my call as "America Italy two Italy American." It works every time for an Italian station, and I get right through.
It's a palindrome, and an acronym for "artificial intelligence to information access."
You can't get sweeter than that, or can you?
I would never envy another's call, and I am content with my choice.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AE6Y on October 22, 2008
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If the exact call mattered very much, would we ever hear such ungainly calls as W3LPL or KC1XX in CW contests? These are terrible calls to send, but their big signals certainly get through the pileups!
73, Andy, AE6Y, P49Y
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N3OX on October 22, 2008
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"A dx call that I always liked the rhythm of is: VU2BK. "
My favorite is actually VU2RAK. I always liked tuning across his CQ's on 15m CW.
VU2 is a great rhythmic prefix.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K6NT on October 22, 2008
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I like sending the call sign of the club I belong to: K6AA
I like my son's W6MO, and I like mine.
Thanks for the weight analyzer site listed earlier.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N6TZ on October 22, 2008
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For CW, my choice of best call would be one that starts and ends with a "dah", then the number should be very obvious. So I would pick: K 5 M M . No doubt where it begins or ends, or what is in it. I looked and a lucky fellow in Texas has that call.
My friend Harvey had N 6 M M , now a silent key. A very nice call for CW - and that was his mode.
Hal, N6TZ
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N0EE on October 23, 2008
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N zero ECHO echo. Just kinda echos away on voice and quick on CW.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE3FMC on October 23, 2008
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VE3FMC
Victor Echo Three Ford Motor Company.
I choose that call because I worked for Ford Motor Company when I got my ticket.
If I check into nets etc with FMC the NCS usually comes back with Ford Motor Company.
I do not work a lot of DX but I have never really have any problems getting that call across when I do. I do use Fox Mike Charlie for DX purposes.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K3GM on October 23, 2008
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GOLF MIKE...GOLF MIKE!!
<say again please!>
GOLF MIKE....GOLF MIKE!!!
<again...again please>
GERMANY MEXICO...GERMANY MEXICO..
<thank you Germany Mexico>
The two shortest phonetics in the alphabet, and it often backfires.
Tom, K3GM
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N3AIU on October 23, 2008
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AI4ET:
The length calculation is a nice starting point if you want a good callsign for pileups, but it's not everything.
The shortest letters, such as E and I, can sometimes hinder rather than help if they are at the end of a call. My German call DL1NE is not as good in pileups as my US call N3AIU because the E sometimes gets lost in the QRM/QRN/QSB.
The ordering matters as well. N3AIU can be mistaken as N3LU. I'm careful now, and that almost never happens anymore, but it involves putting just the right amount of space between the letters so that they are cleanly separated but not so much space that it wastes time. I'm not sure if your length calculator takes that into account.
When I got my extra 25 years ago, I had a choice to keep N3AIU or get a 2x1 or 1x2 call. I decided to keep the call because I was comfortable with it. I'm sure your length calculator does not take that into account.
Incidentally, I might have given up N3AIU for NM2E, which represents my complete name used when I publish articles (Nicholas M. Elias II). NM2E is not perfect for pileups because it ends in E, but it sure is pretty cool. Coolness could possibly be implemented in a length calculator.
73, Nick N3AIU/DL1NE
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WR8Y on October 23, 2008
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I never liked my first two calls: WN8VUX and WB8VUX for CW. When I got the extra in '85, I waited for the "right" calls to come along and pulled WR8Y. I am very happy with it for CW, and for voice it's short; so it's good all around.
You would be surprised how many of us have problems with "V" and "U" on a noisy or crowded band. SELDOM does someone get WR8Y wrong, all those dahs are hard to miss!
While my old call would be 34 years old, I am not unhappy I changed. I'm gonna be WR8Y unless the FCC says I have to change!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K3RKS on October 23, 2008
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I have had this call since my Novice days in 1962. The RKS has a nice swing.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W9OY on October 23, 2008
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One question
Why is a smaller weight more copyable in a pileup or anywhere else for that matter?
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NN4RH on October 23, 2008
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NN4RH
CW Weight is 50 - not bad
RH are my initials
and NN4 is my SKCC number (994)
The most common miscopies are C4RH and NN4RS
It sucks on phone. November November Four Romeo Hotel. By the time I get through the November November part, everyone else is done.
My General callsign was KG4WNE. I actually had pile ups on me a few times because someone copied it as KG4WN and spotted it as a Guantanamo Bay DX.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by G0OTT on October 23, 2008
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My first call was very fluid in cw, G7GSK
My current callsign is booooring G0OTT
I had to wait over a year for it as well, it was sequential back in those days.
My thoughts were George zero Over The Top, youthful whimsies hihi.
Pity I never have a station to emulate my call :)
Regards Darren
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N5NA on October 23, 2008
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Sorry guys but mine is the best! N5NA with a weight of 36.
73,
Alan N5NA
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AE9L on October 23, 2008
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I like my call both for CW and SSB. For DX I use America Eagle 9 London, usually gets through.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KC0UZA on October 23, 2008
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KC0UZA - Kind of long in CW. I've thought about a vanity call but haven't seen one available that appealed to me. Then there's that inertia thing. I'm running out of QSL Cards so I guess I'll keep it for another batch.
73
Mike
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WS4Y on October 23, 2008
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I've had this call since 1983 when I moved to Florida.
I let the FCC give me a new call so this is what they
gave me. I like it and it saves a few $$ at renewal time since it is not a vanity. I've used it in many a
cw contest. With 24K qsos in the log I'd say it is
now getting broke in well. Now in 0 land but I'm
going to keep it for life.
73 Bill WS4Y
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K0WA on October 23, 2008
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I like my call....picked in 1977. It is great for CW and SSB I bet a lot of other "WA" owners like theirs too.
Kilowatt Zero Whisky Alpha
Kilowatt Zero Washington America
Kilowatt Zero Wise Ass
Lee :>)
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NV2A on October 23, 2008
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AI2IA wrote :It's a palindrome, and an acronym for "artificial intelligence to information access."
You can't get sweeter than that, or can you?"
Yes you can! The day I received my request to change my call from N2FTG, my friend called to tell me he had the perfect phonetics for me "Not 2 Far To Go" and I agreed with him but it was too late, I had just received my new advanced call of KD2PF which I wasn't really fond of and that's why the ladies at HQ gave me NV2A. I told them my first call was WV6ZXU and that I"d never had a call that I liked so they sent me NV2A!
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WU7X on October 23, 2008
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My friend and mentor, Mitch, has the neatest call for phone and CW that I can think of: WB7NCN . Send that a couple of times in your head in CW and see what I mean. Hey Mitch, where the heck are you? MT????
Dale WU7X
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AA5JG on October 23, 2008
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Has anyone used a call with "DX" as the suffix? If so, how does it do in pileups? Seems like it would stand out pretty well.
73s John AA5JG
Initial call
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W7VO on October 23, 2008
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I really liked my friend KH6LCs call when he lived in CA, "AA6T". He is a great CW operator, and that call rocked. On phone it was "Alpha Alpha Six Tomato" for more contests than I can remember.
I used to be KW6C before I moved to Oregon, and that equated to KiloWatt 6 California! When I moved to 7 land I took WA7MR as an interim call until I could win one of the 1X2 lotteries. On phone AND CW that call was problematic because of the WA prefix and a two letter suffix. I've had no such problems with "Victor Oscar"
Mike Ritz, happily W7VO
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K8LEA on October 23, 2008
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K8LEA since the late 50's and no interest in changing it. I mostly work 2M FM anyway....
But a buddy of mine had a beauty: "K8OTM"
We liked "On The Moon", but try to send "OTM" in CW....
(OK, it's easy to send :). Just a bear to receive!)
Regards,
Stu.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K0FF on October 23, 2008
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"Has anyone used a call with "DX" as the suffix? If so, how does it do in pileups? Seems like it would stand out pretty well.
73s John AA5JG
Initial call "
Yep- KW0DX our DX club call. Works just fine.
Geo>K0FF
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WA4IIF on October 23, 2008
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I like my call (WA4IIF) for CW because its suffix has a very clean, snappy, and distinctive sound. I got a WN4IIF call as a Novice in 1962, and when I upgraded to General in 1963, I received the WA4IIF call. I let the WA4IIF license expire, but got back into ham radio a few years later with a different call. After having a variety of calls (WBOGXM, WD6FZI, KI4AS, and AB4FX) over the years, I got the WA4IIF call back through the Vanity call program. Getting it back was like being reunited with an old friend. I plan to keep the WA4IIF call until I'm a SK.
73, Chuck
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KC0TAS on October 23, 2008
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My original call -- the one that I am posting under, has been used for CW 2x. Of course I was sending witha hand mic right after I had passed my Gen (with CW). Now I am NJ0E. Selected for one reason only -- My name is Joe and this "just seemed to call me". I does have a swing -- a real slow swing. But I am more active on SSB than CW. And it does get thru easily.
NJ0E
Joe
OMISS 5877
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KP4DX on October 23, 2008
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I have had my call now for over 30 years....I think it is decent in working Dx....
73,
Luis KP4DX : )
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W9YO on October 23, 2008
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I received my novice license in 1972 with the call of WN9LAU and then WB9LAU at General. This was fine until 1996 with Extra. While living in South Texas I chose W9YO. It worked great in pile-ups into both Central & South America, plus Europe. Still have plenty of good DX now back up here in Illinois. Yankee Oscar seems quite clear to copy through most QRM with only 100W. 73, Bill
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WA8MEA on October 23, 2008
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Well, my first call was WN8MEA. However, something was going on in the '70's that I don't recall, but I landed up with a WD call upon upgrading. WD8DWM. I hated that call! I got called everything from BMW to DWI!
So when the vanities opened up, I went after the call I should have gotten at the time they quit the WN's and KN's: WA8MEA
I don't know what it is about this call, either. However, people will always get the E and the A inverted. It doesn't matter if I use "Mike, Echo, Alpha" or "Mexico, Ecuador, America". I've even gotten stupid with the phonetics just to see if "Monkeys Eat Apples" will work.
Last week on a 160 meter net, I was asked for the very first time if I was a teacher. I had expected to be asked that years ago. MEA = Michigan Education Association. (No, I'm not a teacher....)
BTW, it's not my voice. I'm not a "low talker". I have a booming DJ voice (I use to work in broadcast radio....) and plenty of volume.
Since the contesters have been misusing the 1 by 1's, maybe I'll just run a special event every weekend and make the callsign situation more advantageous.
73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
tinytenna@hotmail.com
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WA8MEA on October 23, 2008
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I'd pay $501 for:
RG8U....
73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
tinytenna@hotmail.com
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K5END on October 23, 2008
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quote, "WD8DWM. I hated that call"
but "DWM" is Dense Wavelength Multiplexing, state of the art telecommunications technology, TODAY!!!
You were decades and Terabits ahead of your time!!
:)
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K5WMG on October 24, 2008
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I was originally WB5YJX, although the FCC erroneously issued me the call of WB5XJK in 1976 and then quickly retracted it. Used YJX for 250 plus years and it worked great on SSB, as I was still talking when shorter calls had ended. Often had comebacks like "JX only." Then I decided to switch to K5WMG as it is my initials and I like the sound the WMG makes.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KG6WLS on October 24, 2008
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How is Your Call for DX'ing? Reply
by K5WMG on October 24, 2008 Mail this to a friend!
"I was originally WB5YJX, although the FCC erroneously issued me the call of WB5XJK in 1976 and then quickly retracted it. Used YJX for 250 plus years..."
Welcome to the year 2226!!!
:)
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W3JJH on October 24, 2008
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When I upgraded from Tech, my first HF contact was with N5II--great fun parsing that at 20 word/min!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KC0VJX on October 24, 2008
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My old call sign was KC0VJX and I was able to get my great uncle's (SK) call sign which was KN5EIE
The difference is night and day.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W5XE on October 24, 2008
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I had my call on a list submitted to the FCC in 1976
when one with the time could ask for a specific call.
Lucky enough to get the call which I chose for the
cw rythym as well as geographical location of New
Mexico, Mexico and Far West Texas. I also had for
a long time the call V31XE on the other end of Mexico.
Not much of a dx'er these days but still mostly cw.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NK2U on October 24, 2008
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Lucky me, the FCC gave me NK2U in June of 85 and it sounds fantastic on CW. My Tech/General call was verrrrry sweet on CW: N2ESN, rolls right off the fingers! That has rhythm.
de NK2U
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NK2U on October 24, 2008
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"Probably the shortest call I've worked on CW is the contest call, EE5E"
Heh, could be confusing: where does it start and where does it end???
de NK2U
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K3YD on October 24, 2008
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My first (General +) call was WA3BSV which had nice rhythm when sent in CW, especially on a bug. However, when I got into DXing I found that the DX stations were coming back to the 2x1's before I finished my call.
When I upgraded to Extra, K3YD was on my "dream sheet". I didn't realize how effective it would be, on both CW and Phone. The characters have enough dashes to make it through on CW even when I'm running QRP (or a poor antenna) and "Kilo Three Yankee Delta" punches through on phone.
I plan to keep it--and to use it more.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N4DXI on October 24, 2008
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With a call like N4DXI....
1. I can answer any CQ's for DX
2. It sounds good with CW, plus everybody knows how to copy DX
3. I live in Florida, deep in Dixie, looks good on my car registration plate.
4. Hard to forget, I'm getting older.
John Bescher, N4DXI
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N7YA on October 24, 2008
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AA4A just plain rocks!! Thats about as smooth as it can get right there.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N7YA on October 24, 2008
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"Probably the shortest call I've worked on CW is the contest call, EE5E"
Ok, that probably holds the title without contest (no pun intended)of fastest call....if you send it repeatedly at about 35 wpm, i half expect an old time newscaster to pop up and say "This just in!".
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N4DXI on October 24, 2008
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Does anybody know of a study ranking the recognizability of standard voice phonetics under static and noise conditions? Like "Tango" seems to get through the QRM/QRN while "India" doesn't have the same punch.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W8ORW on October 25, 2008
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My call works fine on cw. An old, old, old timer who is no longer alive had a super dx call for cw-- W8YIN.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K5MO on October 25, 2008
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Mine's ( K5MO ) a lot better for CW than my older one (WB5OAU).
:-)
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K9FON on October 25, 2008
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My old call KC9GUZ was a toungue twister on SSB and CW so i had it changed to K9FON which is a snap to say on SSB. I have not tried it on CW yet though. But i hardley ever get it butchered up on SSB especially on DX.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W6FG on October 25, 2008
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Wow, that http://www.radioqth.net/cwweight.aspx is a cool program Dan, thanks! I like the sound of calls with an II or EE suffix ..
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KJ4DX on October 25, 2008
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My favorite call was one that I only held for a short time, between license classes and geographic areas of the country. That callsign was, and I got a lot of compliments on it, KG9DB. My current callsign, a vanity, does not flow so well.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AI4VE on October 25, 2008
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I received AI4VE after upgrading to Extra last year. The V causes me trouble on voice if I don't use phonetics but on CW it goes out pretty quick. Just have to be sure to put in enough space between letters. It has a ditty rhythm that seems easy for others to pick up.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W0AAA on October 25, 2008
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DX is my first love and call signs rank a close second. Have had a bunch of them. I'm in a triple letter rut. CW is my main mode, but I also like to work SSB, so having letters that cut through the crap is a big deal to me. My favorite letters in a suffix are ones that end in the "A" sound. (get some X-rays or Norways, Mike Mike Mike rocks too) Had KØNNN for 6 years and used Norway Norway Norway instead of November. Repeating a word 3 times seemed to work quite well for me. Also had KØTTT and Tango cuts through well too. The prob there was a BIG contest station known as K1TTT. Very confusing call to have when your're in a contest with him. He had his first so I bailed on that one, like I was any kind of threat. :) Got a chance to go after one that was close to my 1st one in '61 and changed for the final time. 73, WØAAA (ex. WAØAAD)
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W6FG on October 25, 2008
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I'm a CW only op and I sure like the sound of your AAA suffix Zed. You got a good one there. Mine's not all that hot on CW but I just couldn't pass up the chance to get a 1 x 2 with my dad's and my initials.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W7LV on October 25, 2008
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Mine is OK for CW, better for SSB. My phonetics for the suffix run from LIMA VICTOR to LIMP VEGETABLES and, occasionally, LAKE VICTORIA. After 0300 Local, LAST VIRGIN.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AA9OC on October 25, 2008
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If you send CW accurately with a properly weighted electronic keyer and stick to the standard phonetic alphabet any call will be effective.
It has been my observation that the use of non-standard phonetics or running together CW characters causes more error than a clunky callsign. But with that said, since my initials were not availabe my choice for a new call was mostly influenced by how it sounded in Morse code.
Anthony
NR9R
ex AA9OC
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NG0G on October 26, 2008
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My original call was N6BPL a real train wreck in a CW pileup. When I took my extra I got WV6U which I thought might be a problem on CW but it seemed to do ok. When I moved to Iowa I spent quite a bit of time looking through the available calls for one that I thought would be a good CW call as about 85 percent of my DX chasing is on CW. I picked NG0G. Short characters with none that might be mistaken for something else. It as worked out great and I am very happy with it.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WA6BFH on October 26, 2008
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It is humorous that there is a common understanding amongst the Hams that read this article that various callsigns might be desirable to work DX, because some callsigns can be more easily heard through a “pile-up”.
On my favorite DX band, Hams listen and standby to let all who are on the frequency work the DX. There is no need for shouting or long repetitions of callsign, or any portion thereof. There may be a need for more RF power, but not to bust a “pile-up”, just to be heard through diminishing “MUF” conditions.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W7GZX on October 26, 2008
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My first call from 1963, K3FDW had a rythm. After the stint in the Navy, I settled in Washington State and got W7GZX around 71. It's a tongue twister to say, let alone send in CW, but it's an old call and I hate to get rid of it for a vanity call.
Dietrich
W7GZX
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W7GZX on October 26, 2008
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My first call from 1963, K3FDW had a rythm. After the stint in the Navy, I settled in Washington State and got W7GZX around 71. It's a tongue twister to say, let alone send in CW, but it's an old call and I hate to get rid of it for a vanity call.
Dietrich
W7GZX
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W3TUA on October 26, 2008
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I chose my current call based on how well it flowed in CW. On SSB, some people hear a '2' instead of the '3' but that's not often. My previous call I had for over 20 years was KA5VCQ and seemed to take forever to send in CW but caught some ears during phone pileups due to the 'CQ' part.
K1TTT is a good CW call when it's spaced like Dave sends it in contests.
73,
Korey--W3TUA
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WW5AA on October 27, 2008
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Every contest I have at least a couple stations say "nice call".
73 de Lindy
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KG2V on October 27, 2008
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My original Elmer - who got me interested, but I didn't get my ticket at the time
AE2E
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by EI7IQ on October 27, 2008
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My friend, Pat's call: EI5IS. He says people think it's a mistake.
John, EI7IQ
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W0AAA on October 27, 2008
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[It is humorous that there is a common understanding amongst the Hams that read this article that various callsigns might be desirable to work DX, because some callsigns can be more easily heard through a “pile-up”.
On my favorite DX band, Hams listen and standby to let all who are on the frequency work the DX. There is no need for shouting or long repetitions of callsign, or any portion thereof. There may be a need for more RF power, but not to bust a “pile-up”, just to be heard through diminishing “MUF”]
WOW! I'm having a problem with the statements above. Not sure what your "favorite" DX band is or if you have joined some DX net but if you have ever tried to contact P5, BS7, VU4, or any other extremely rare country/entity on the DX list when those limited opportunities occur...believe me..."many hams do not listen and standby to let all who are on the frequency work the DX!!!" I wish all would listen and standby but it's not that way. So that is why some of us strive to find a callsign that can be heard through the CRAP and give us just the slightest edge of making that contact.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N7YA on October 27, 2008
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"K1TTT is a good CW call when it's spaced like Dave sends it in contests."
Agreed, he has great timing. I have heard him in every contest for years and always sounds great.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W8ASA on October 27, 2008
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I used to be WB6QWF, which takes a relatively long time to send via CW. My current call, W8ASA, is much shorter, and easier for folks to recognize. I almost never get requests to repeat.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WA8H on October 27, 2008
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I like mine, short and sweet. CW it's easy to send.
73 all. Nice comments
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W5ESE on October 28, 2008
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I enjoy sending mine on a bug, and the
weight is pretty good.
W5ESE 40
I do agree that weight is not everything in DX'ing.
My experience is that the trailing 'dits' is often
missed under weak signal conditions.
I don't work much phone, but I found in the CQ WW
SSB contest that the phonetic 'ECHO' was sometimes
heard as 'TANGO'.
Scott
W5ESE
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N3CU on October 28, 2008
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My first callsign was WB2FLK which was a bit too long for DXing. Then I upgraded to Extra and received NR3R. At the time I received the call, there were not too many 2 x 1 calls and the DX stations came back with N3RR often. I then obtained my current callsign which has worked very well on both CW and SSB. It flows well on CW and is also easily recognizable on phone.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KB9BIT on October 28, 2008
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Kinda long, but I seem to get through alot of pileups. It's pretty sweet to hear "BIT?" come back in CW from the DX. So, I guess I'll keep it.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W6FG on October 29, 2008
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Hi Terry,
Do you ever have trouble with the other station thinking you're N9MII?
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by XW1B on October 29, 2008
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I've always been 99% CW so starting out as WA4UVG wasn't the best. The progression to AA4XR was very nice but I much prefer my present call. See you in the pile up!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WD5CCW on October 30, 2008
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I've had my call for 31 years and work mostly cw. On ssb, I get a chuckle from some when I come back phonetically "Willy Delta 5 Counter-Clock-Wise"
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WO5I on October 31, 2008
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I specifically selected my callsign for CW operation. Something short, with easily copied characters and a nice CW "rhythm" (it has a nice beat - I can dance to it hi hi).
However, it is also fairly easy to miscopy. I get a lot of W-(Zero)-H-I or W-(OH)-H-I (guess some hams forget that we have to have a number in there). Still, it's pretty rare and I find myself in the log of most stations I want to work.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE3OU on October 31, 2008
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My first call assigned was VE3EGG, the E was tough to read in pile ups... so I went through all the open two letter VE3 calls in 1965. I tried them all on CW, my first choice was VE3OW, and second was VE3OU. Missed the first choice by a few weeks.
But having a VE seems to add a few dbs to the signal as well, over the multi W/K/N/A etc from our neighbour.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by NV2A on October 31, 2008
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W3JK. YOU WIN! You just one the boner award for this post. Over 164 post of peopling joining in on the fun and you were the one and only to score a sour grape comment. Congratulations and UP URs !
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K6MM on October 31, 2008
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I'm happy -- I've got Mickey Mouse on my team. :-)
73, John K6MM
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K6DDX on October 31, 2008
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My call is as good as it gets. Not only does it have DX in it, but it's fairly short and on CW every character starts with dah-dit.
I routinely break pileups even when my signal is weak. I hear DX stations say 'the delta xray station' but I also have a rhythm in my speech that seems to nail them.
And it's not a vanity call!
73, Bob
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by AG5T on November 1, 2008
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Mine is not bad at all on cw. I also selected the AG prefix just to be a little different. My former call was about the worst call you would want on cw - AB5NN - having 5NN in the call? Now you see why I changed it.
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N1EY on November 2, 2008
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I am surprised by the number of hams that said E is great for working DX.
Everyone busts my call and think that they have talked to N1QY or N1TY.
Bill
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RE: How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KD2E on November 2, 2008
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I'm happy with mine...A dit!
And on phone, Katie Twoie can't get easier than that!!
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W1KGB on November 2, 2008
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I always get a comment on my call, like if I wear a trench coat, or "I bet no one argues with you". It is actually my grandfather's (SK) call. It does perk up the ears in DX if anyone knows what the KGB is, and I am sure to get a CQ answer.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by WS2E on November 5, 2008
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WS2E I didn't pick it. I worked hard to pass extra back in the 89 so I could get a short call as they were about to run out. I was very happy when this one arrived. It's works out great for cw. Will be licensed soon in Thailand HS1Z?? wont be the same :( but theres no way around the long call.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KK4Z on November 5, 2008
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I've had three call signs and all were pretty good. KC5RKS was easy to hear. When I upgraded to Advanced I received KM5AV. Kilo Mike 5 Alfa Victor or Kilo Mike 5 America Victoria for DX. The America Victoria really seemed to work in a pile up.
When I moved to 4 land I looked pretty hard for a good call sign. I was getting chided for having a 5 call. I found KK4Z hidden and available. It had been out there for about a year and no none found it/wanted it.
I thought it was a good compromise for Voice and CW. For voice the hard double K sound stands out and the Z can be said Zulu, Zed, or Zanzibar for DX effectively lengthening or shortening the call for band conditions. DX picks up the Zanzibar or the Kilo Kilo 4. With CW the call has a nice flow too.
This is my last call sign change and the only thing I'm missing is a QSL card from the original owner of the call.
73
Scott KK4Z
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by NV7E on November 6, 2008
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I was WA9INK for many years but requested the call NV7E because I wanted the prefix NV7 to reflect my home state of Nevada. I am basically a CW man, so I chose the shortest CW character "E" for the suffix. I plan on retiring in Elko, Nevada, and operate there every year so "E" now stands for Elko.
NV7E is a great CW call with a weight of 40 using the radioqth.com CW Call Sign Weight Analyzer.
I currently work in South Africa, where I am ZS6SIG. I always had a hard time getting people to copy my handle "Sig" correctly, but this call seems to have solved that problem, at least for as long as I am in South Africa.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by W4ET on November 6, 2008
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My first callsign was WN0DDG. It was pretty good for CW. When I got my extra class license, the FCC assigned me KR5E. It was also a great CW call and easy to understand on phone.
W4ET is a great call for both CW and Phone. I can count on one hand the occasions when someone had trouble with my callsign on CW. When we had a S.D. address I briefly changed my call to W0RH (my initials). However, folks had trouble with the H and wanted it to be an S. It also didn't sound all that good on phone. When we moved to N.C., I got W4ET back, and I don't think I'll give it up again. The only other call that I would trade W4ET for is W4AW. But my brother has that one and I don't think he is ready to give it up.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by N5MCI on November 7, 2008
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I received my call in '88 as my first call. I love it on cw, as it has a nice flow, and i'm always your 'long distance connection'.
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by K6SID on November 8, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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When I first got my Novice license my Elmer had, in my opinion, a great call for DXing especially on CW - W6RST.
In recent years, when I got back on HF, I went for a Vanity call, which is contains my handle and is also a good call for CW and SSB - K6SID (formerly, WB6IFA)
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KG9E on November 8, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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I chose my vanity call sign based on its English, phonetic and CW brevity, and also because it has a very nice rhythm in CW. It almost sounds like a jingle for a commercial :
dah di dah, dah dah dit, dah dah dah dah dit, dit
http://www.kg9e.net
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by KG9E on November 8, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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I chose my vanity call sign based on its English, phonetic and CW brevity, and also because it has a very nice rhythm in CW. It almost sounds like a jingle for a commercial :
dah di dah, dah dah dit, dah dah dah dah dit, dit
http://www.kg9e.net
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How is Your Call for DX'ing?
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by VE7ABC on November 10, 2008
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Mail this to a friend!
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I am lucky enough to have to easy to belt out calls.
VE7ABC & VA7TT.
Both are easy on phone and easy on CW, although I need more CW practice.
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