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Author Topic: Use different name while contesting?  (Read 773 times)

AD6AD

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Use different name while contesting?
« on: January 18, 2021, 11:11:57 AM »

Entered my first contest this last weekend, the NA QSO party.

I found out a LOT of folks have trouble with my name: Vince,
so I shortened it to Vin.
Even that proved hard to hear as the "V" sound is like a hum.

QUESTION: I am wondering if I have to use my real name for a contest.
Is the name used compared to my on-record call sign?
I was thinking of using my middle name; Tom.
Much easier.

(OK to file under "Stupid Questions.")
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KBKZ2105

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2021, 11:20:21 AM »

I don't contest Vince but if I did I would use my real name.

I'm sure some folks here that contest will help you. 

Good luck and God Bless you 
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WA9AFM

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2021, 11:42:05 AM »

Vince, there are several contests which include the operator's name in the reply.  None of these contests 'require' you to use your real name.  The main thing is to use the same name throughout the contest. 

I recall a digital contest several years ago when everyone from California was reporting the name 'Mike'.  I asked one participant why everyone seemed to be using 'Mike'.  Turns out a very prominent DX'er in California had become SK a few days earlier.  The word quickly spread to use his name, Mike, in the contest to honor his memory.
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KD1JT

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2021, 12:29:26 PM »

On phone? Maybe “Vinny” would stand out better than “Vin”.  But hell, it’s just speech, if they can’t copy your name it’s on them!
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WX4W

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2021, 01:21:59 PM »

My real name is Curtis and in contesting it slows me down. I have to spell phonetically every time because people will ask if its with a C or a K.  Now I use "Ed" in almost all phone contests and my initials "CW" when its a CW contest.  Been doing it for a while now and I know PLENTY of guys who use other names for similar reasons.
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W6MK

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2021, 01:27:53 PM »

I'd try various names to see what works best. Would be an interesting experiment.
Keep tabs on how easily each name seems to be understandable.

I think "Al" or "Ed" would work well.

"Jim" short for "James" also good. "James" is the most popular male first name.

Then again "Jesus" might stand out better than some other names. Usually pronounced
"Hay SOOS" by those who have that name these days.
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KBKZ2105

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2021, 01:43:05 PM »

When you guys do a contest do you not verify your log?  In other words if I said my name is Jesus during the contest but used my callsign that says my name ain't Jesus it's Ron Johnson or whatever. 

Who did you talk to during the contest?  Me or Jesus? 

Carry on. 
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K1KIM

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2021, 01:56:59 PM »

How about Just your Initials or VIN CENT.
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WA5RR

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2021, 02:07:33 PM »

You can use any name you want as long as what you sent is recorded the same in the other station's log. For example, a ham friend and mentor to many from our area recently passed away from COVID. A group of us worked the North American QSO Parties (CW and then Phone) and we all used his name in honor of his legacy. It's been done many times in the past and is perfectly acceptable.

My own name is hard to decipher by many over the air so I sometimes just use my first and middle initials--KW. That comes across pretty intelligibly.

73,

Korey--WA5RR
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KBKZ2105

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2021, 02:28:17 PM »

You can use any name you want as long as what you sent is recorded the same in the other station's log. For example, a ham friend and mentor to many from our area recently passed away from COVID. A group of us worked the North American QSO Parties (CW and then Phone) and we all used his name in honor of his legacy. It's been done many times in the past and is perfectly acceptable.

My own name is hard to decipher by many over the air so I sometimes just use my first and middle initials--KW. That comes across pretty intelligibly.

73,

Korey--WA5RR

I'm sorry to hear that about your friend.  If I read your post correctly you used your call sign but his name in the contest.  Is that right? 
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WO7R

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2021, 03:59:58 PM »

Foreign operators very frequently use an "American" or "British" or simply a "shortened" form of their name when contesting or DXing or ragchewing.  Some ops in India, to pick an example, have particularly long names -- and you seldom see these used on the air.

You can see it in their QRZ entries.  I don't know what the percentage is, but maybe 20 or 30 per cent.

All before we consider US ops that hate their first name and use their middle name or "Bud" or some such.

And then there's multi-op contesting where the group has to pick a name.

When a Russian op calls himself "Mike" I don't even have to look it up to know the score.
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NA4IT

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2021, 04:18:43 PM »

Funny story but true...

Back when I was a Tech+, I had a RS 10M rig and a 10M rotatable dipole up about 20 feet. I worked no telling how many Japan stations in the evening greyline. I received quite a few cards from the ops.

The would always say "My name Skip...Skip!"

And the cards had their real name, and somewhere in the middle of the real name appeared "Skip".

I guess it was a throwback to the old CB days where people would call "Skip land, Skip land, Skip land!"
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KBKZ2105

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2021, 04:19:17 PM »

Foreign operators very frequently use an "American" or "British" or simply a "shortened" form of their name when contesting or DXing or ragchewing.  Some ops in India, to pick an example, have particularly long names -- and you seldom see these used on the air.

You can see it in their QRZ entries.  I don't know what the percentage is, but maybe 20 or 30 per cent.

All before we consider US ops that hate their first name and use their middle name or "Bud" or some such.

And then there's multi-op contesting where the group has to pick a name.

When a Russian op calls himself "Mike" I don't even have to look it up to know the score.

Yeah I understand kinda like a handle.  Back in the CB days everyone did this type of thing.  You just picked a name and that was your handle. 
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NA4IT

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2021, 04:21:05 PM »

Entered my first contest this last weekend, the NA QSO party.

I found out a LOT of folks have trouble with my name: Vince,
so I shortened it to Vin.
Even that proved hard to hear as the "V" sound is like a hum.

QUESTION: I am wondering if I have to use my real name for a contest.
Is the name used compared to my on-record call sign?
I was thinking of using my middle name; Tom.
Much easier.

(OK to file under "Stupid Questions.")

Since your call suffix is GGC, you might use "Graham" and if the ask, reply "Great Graham Cracker".

Of course with my call, I could just be "It". "It" is short for "Cousin It".
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KBKZ2105

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Re: Use different name while contesting?
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2021, 04:43:49 PM »

That all makes sense now.  Thank you. 
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