Speak Out: Call District Relativity
A contributor states, "On VHF, folks call CQ with district numbers that are not reflective of
where they are. Some will say their grid square, some won't. Now, on 6 meters especially,
beacons are popping up with 1, 2, 8, 9 and more district numbers, but they are all retired
transplants to and radiating from FL. Perhaps it should go beyond gentlemen’s agreements, on 6
meters and up, if you own a beacon, or operate in a district other than what your call indicates,
you have to give /4 or whatever district you are in. What do you think?"
34 opinions on this subject.
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N7DM on 2009-08-26
I care. I entered a QSO with a '2'...swung my quad on 2-Land and lost him. Swung back South and found he was in SoCal.
If I was living/visiting in California, *I* would sign " / 6 " for CQ's and First Replies.
KA2BKG on 2009-08-23
Read a lot of these comments and never thought I would add something? I agree with some that when you change your call district you should change your call. I have held my callsign for 30 years, but never changed it. I now live in 3 land and sometimes get, "Why are you 2?" or 'They actually put a 3 on my call when they find out I live in MD.' It really doesn't mean anything, but it would be nice if we were in line with the rest of the world. Just imagine the DX station who thinks he has reached the eastern part of the US and is really excited only to find out he is working another west coast station.
Have you every worked an Alaska prefix and found out the guy lives in VA?? Or the vanity call sign that the person chose because he likes the 1 instead of the 8?
As we change into a more CB'er mentally, "Who Cares." is prevelent everywhere. I know it is not that law, but maybe it should be.
KA2BKG
Bel Air, MD
N3OX on 2009-08-23
"Commercial licenses don't have numbers, why should ham calls have them. "
International treaty, I believe.
N3OX on 2009-08-23
"This simple assertion needs to be supported by facts to be believed:
"Now, on 6 meters especially, beacons are popping up with 1, 2, 8, 9 and more district numbers, but they are all retired transplants to and radiating from FL."
"
I can give you at least one.
W9DR/B ... EL86
'Course I know it's EL86 because the beacon says so... so... not a huge problem ;-)
AI2IA on 2009-08-23
This simple assertion needs to be supported by facts to be believed:
"Now, on 6 meters especially, beacons are popping up with 1, 2, 8, 9 and more district numbers, but they are all retired transplants to and radiating from FL."
As it is, I don't accept it.
AE5RC on 2009-08-23
At one time it might have made some difference. We are a more mobile society in the 21st century so the relevance of call districts to match location is gone the way of the doh-doh bird. I do find it to be a good qso starter though. If the ham's location is not in the "correct district location", I enjoy saying something about being a "misplaced (pick a number)" and ask how that happened. Good ice breaker. It has led to some interesting stories of relocation, actual call changes in the "good old days" and other items that create a nice fabric of a qso.
73
AF3Y on 2009-08-22
I dont give a rat's patootie. Gene
HFRF on 2009-08-22
One idea that just occurred to me is why not get rid of numbers in call letters? If the FCC isn't going to require that operating locations match districts, numbers become meaningless in calls. Commercial licenses don't have numbers, why should ham calls have them.
HFRF on 2009-08-22
Hams really like to try to force other hams to do what they want. Some people are really bossy and like more rules and regulations for their purposes. I don't think so.
KG4ZVA on 2009-08-21
On the flip side of this topic, people who use downloaded or cd copies of databases should keep these updated. Case in point, I made a contact on 20 meters only to have the OM tell me I wasn't living where I was because his database said I was still in a state I haven't lived in in at least 5 years. When I did live there, I was only a tech, and judging by his attitude he believed I was transmitting where I wasn't supposed to be. I've been a general for several years now and live in a different state. I can only assume he had a cd copy or downloaded copy of the database. So if you are an op who uses these, PLEASE update. and if your database shows my call as still living in Georgia, throw it away! I can understand why they would use it, but like everything else, update.
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