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Author Topic: Good Call For CW  (Read 1483 times)

G3EDM

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Good Call For CW
« on: June 13, 2021, 04:38:27 AM »

Greetings,

In the next few days I'll be applying for a UK callsign, and because I will be at the "Full" licence level I can choose my own call, from a list of allowable (and non-allocated) ones.

One that seems to be available is G3EDM (it looks like it was SK and now lapsed). It has personal resonance because those three letters are my late grandfather's initials and he was a radio operator on the front lines in World War One.

But is it a good call for CW? I am worried that the single "dit" might be hard to copy in bad conditions. I've never been on the air, so don't have an easy way to evaluate that personally except that when I monitor the bands I find the single-dits in callsigns can go by rather fast.

Another question concerns calls that used to belong to an SK. Do UK hams feel that using such a call is disrespectful? (I am neutral on this issue which is why I am asking for advice. I do not want to offend anyone.) In a way this is a question for the Licensing sub-forum but might as well ask it here.

73 de Martin, KB1WSY
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GRUMPY2021

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2021, 07:12:33 AM »

I'd go for m0use.   That would be fun.   On a serious note have we lost the ability of personal reflection and have to have everything answered for us?  You're asking such a personal question as to what my call sign should be...seriously?   m0use there you go.    Next question.
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W3UEC

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2021, 07:30:21 AM »

I don't recommend taking the call but "G0NEF" looks like the Yiddish word for "thief."  Also, "M0HEL" is "ritual circumciser." However a lady named "Susan Scott" already has that call. 

VY 73 de W3UEC (Steve Dubin).
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WA2EIO

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2021, 07:35:30 AM »

My call was issued years ago from the FCC.  It is not a vanity one, and as a new ham, once I got used to not running the 'dits' together, I have not had any problems with the 'E' first letter.
73,  Ron   WA2EIO
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N8NK

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    • N8NK QRP
Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2021, 07:36:41 AM »

I've been a cw op for 47 years, and if you're going to do CW, that call has a nice ring. It's a nice CW call for sure.
I'm in the US call area 8, but I wanted N0OB and it was taken. lol.
73 and GL OM   :)
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AC2EU

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2021, 07:46:25 AM »

Greetings,

In the next few days I'll be applying for a UK callsign, and because I will be at the "Full" licence level I can choose my own call, from a list of allowable (and non-allocated) ones.

One that seems to be available is G3EDM (it looks like it was SK and now lapsed). It has personal resonance because those three letters are my late grandfather's initials and he was a radio operator on the front lines in World War One.

But is it a good call for CW? I am worried that the single "dit" might be hard to copy in bad conditions. I've never been on the air, so don't have an easy way to evaluate that personally except that when I monitor the bands I find the single-dits in callsigns can go by rather fast.

Another question concerns calls that used to belong to an SK. Do UK hams feel that using such a call is disrespectful? (I am neutral on this issue which is why I am asking for advice. I do not want to offend anyone.) In a way this is a question for the Licensing sub-forum but might as well ask it here.

73 de Martin, KB1WSY

I have no problems with my dit !
99% of OPs get it on the first try.  No ?? or agn agn...

G3EDM

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2021, 07:49:52 AM »

Thanks everyone, that's conclusive, no problem with the "dit". I will apply for the G3EDM call early in the coming week -- apparently it cannot be done online, has to be done in writing, but I'm waiting for confirmation of the procedure. My grandfather Eric would be smiling.

73 de KB1WSY (for now)
« Last Edit: June 13, 2021, 07:53:14 AM by KB1WSY »
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NI0C

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2021, 08:03:38 AM »

Hi Martin,
Nice to see a post from you after some time. I like the way G3EDM rolls off the key with a nice rhythm. Hope you get it!
73 de Chuck NI0C
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AC2EU

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2021, 08:15:58 AM »

I don't recommend taking the call but "G0NEF" looks like the Yiddish word for "thief."  Also, "M0HEL" is "ritual circumciser." However a lady named "Susan Scott" already has that call. 

VY 73 de W3UEC (Steve Dubin).

I'm glad M0HEL wasn't Lorena Bobbitt!  ;D

N1IG

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2021, 08:21:12 AM »

m0oob would be a good one too!   ;)

at one point I had thought of applying for no1fu, but figured it might be a bit too crass...

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W4KYR

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2021, 08:29:00 AM »

G0AT is a good one, unless it's taken
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The internet and cellphone networks are great until they go down, what then? Find out here. 
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N1IG

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2021, 08:32:50 AM »

all kidding aside, you may want to consider the CW weight of the call, and actually try it out on a key before applying for it

Here is a web site where you can put in the call, and it gives you the weighting:

https://fistsna.org/callweight.php

G3EDM = 52 *       Time to send G3EDM at 13 WPM is 4.52 seconds. **

it also has to feel good tapping it out!
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G3EDM

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2021, 08:53:18 AM »

all kidding aside, you may want to consider the CW weight of the call, and actually try it out on a key before applying for it

Here is a web site where you can put in the call, and it gives you the weighting:

https://fistsna.org/callweight.php

G3EDM = 52 *       Time to send G3EDM at 13 WPM is 4.52 seconds. **

it also has to feel good tapping it out!

Good idea! I had already tapped out the call and it feels fine to me. Concerning the time taken to send the call, it is not a major issue for me as I have limited ambitions: in particular I am not interested in contests. Apart from the electronics/homebrewing aspect which is paramount for me, my other major interest is getting to know a little bit about the contact, at least in a basic way beyond just 5NN....

73 de Martin, KB1WSY (for now)
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AC2EU

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2021, 09:01:43 AM »

all kidding aside, you may want to consider the CW weight of the call, and actually try it out on a key before applying for it

Here is a web site where you can put in the call, and it gives you the weighting:

https://fistsna.org/callweight.php

G3EDM = 52 *       Time to send G3EDM at 13 WPM is 4.52 seconds. **

it also has to feel good tapping it out!

I hope all QSOs are faster than 13WPM ! My call got 4.71 seconds, yours (N1IG) is good for almost 4 seconds at that WPM.
Some of the old timers might die before the end of the contact.  :o

I think the feel and flow of the call are more important than the "weight".
Some calls are very awkward sounding.

N1IG

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Re: Good Call For CW
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2021, 09:18:20 AM »

...
I think the feel and flow of the call are more important than the "weight".
Some calls are very awkward sounding.

Agreed.

I've had this call for 20+ years, and it still doesn't feel as rhythmic or as comfortable as my old one (KA1BII).  Even now I sometimes accidentally start tapping out my old call, and I guess because it just feels more natural.
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