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Date: Thu, 28 Oct 93 17:58:50 PDT From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu> Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1279 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Thu, 28 Oct 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1279 Today's Topics: Questions regarding CTCSS, DTMF ??? Vanity Callsign Rules Weekly Solar Terrestrial Forecast & Review for 29 October ZA1QA QSLs Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu> Send subscription requests to: <Info-Hams-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu> Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 28 Oct 93 12:01:51 GMT From: ogicse!emory!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Questions regarding CTCSS, DTMF ??? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9310271309.AA04653@maverick.aud.alcatel.com> mraz@maverick.aud.alcatel.com (Kris Mraz) writes: >>>What is DTMS squelch and DTMF paging? >> >>DTMF stands for Dual Tone Multi Access, the ordinary telephone >>touchtones, or TT, that are used for dialing a number. > >DTMF is Dual Tone Multiple Frequency. I knew that. :-( Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV |"If 10% is good enough | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | for Jesus, it's good | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | enough for Uncle Sam."| emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -Ray Stevens | ------------------------------ Date: 27 Oct 1993 16:43:04 GMT From: orca.es.com!olin!alan@uunet.uu.net Subject: Vanity Callsign Rules To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9310262143.AA04520@maverick.aud.alcatel.com> mraz@maverick.aud.alcatel.com (Kris Mraz) writes: >In NEWSLINE #844 the story SPECIAL CALLS says: > >The FCC "...wants input on the subject of issuing personalized vanity >calls signs...". > Just a couple of minor problems that I see here... >Let me propose the following for discussion: > > 1. There shall be two classes of vanity callsigns: regular > and short-term. > ....stuff deleted.... > > 8. Previously held callsigns will become invalid and available > for reissue immediately upon issuance of the regular > vanity callsign. [The one year grace period in rule 7 is waived]. A potential problem that I see with this is that, in my case, what if someone gets my old call K6XO and immediately starts operating in the contests with it. I will end up getting QSLs that should go to him unless he tells everyone that he works that he is not me (not very likely). Also, I suspect that things at the incoming DX QSL bureaus will get messed up with cards coming in for one callsign which was held by two different people who are very active. I believe that the one year waiting period should be applied to any callsign that is given up. ....more stuff deleted.... > > 14. Short-term callsigns shall become available for re-issued > immediately when they expire. Same deal here...if a group or person gets a special event call, and then another group or person for some reason gets the same call (such as NX#WPX for use in the WPX contest), the same kind of confusion can result unless the QSL route or manager is very well publicized. I think that there should be some dormancy period here as well. I also think that there should be a phase-in program, with Amateur Extras getting the first shot at the available calls, and then the Advanced 3 months later, then the Generals 3 months later, then the Technicians 3 months later. This would also help to spread out the initial demand a bit, since the early demand is likely to be quite high. I am not sure whether this privelege should be extended to Novices or not. Perhaps it could be part of the upgrade package. In 1976 and 1977 when the FCC did this with the 1x2 calls, a list of available calls was published periodically. These lists could be distributed by other means this time. Perhaps via the packet network, or monthly in QST, or both, and/or by other means. The more desirable calls (such as W#DX, if available) will go quickly. -- Alan Brubaker, K6XO |~~|_ "Pumps have handles, Hams have names; <IYF disclaimer> | * |mine's Lee, what's yours?" - Lee Wical, Internet: alan@dsd.es.com|____|KH6BZF, the Bloomin' Zipper Flipper. ------------------------------ Date: 28 Oct 93 22:59:59 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Weekly Solar Terrestrial Forecast & Review for 29 October To: info-hams@ucsd.edu --- SOLAR TERRESTRIAL FORECAST AND REVIEW --- October 29 to November 07, 1993 Report Released by Solar Terrestrial Dispatch P.O. Box 357, Stirling, Alberta, Canada T0K 2E0 Accessible BBS System: (403) 756-3008 --------- SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY FORECASTS AT A GLANCE ---------------------------------------------------- This brief 10-day outlook is not presently available, but will be given next week, as usual. PEAK PLANETARY 10-DAY GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY OUTLOOK (29 OCT - 07 NOV) ________________________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY SEVERE | | | | | | | | | | | HIGH | | VERY SEVERE STORM | | | | | | | | | | | HIGH | | SEVERE STORM | | | | | | | | | | | MODERATE | | MAJOR STORM | | | | | | | | | * | | LOW - MOD. | | MINOR STORM | | | | | | | | *|***|* | LOW | | VERY ACTIVE | | | | | | | | **|***|***| NONE | | ACTIVE |** | * | * | | | | **|***|***|***| NONE | | UNSETTLED |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| NONE | | QUIET |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| NONE | | VERY QUIET |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| NONE | |-------------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|------------| | Geomagnetic Field |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| Anomaly | | Conditions | Given in 8-hour UT intervals | Intensity | |________________________________________________________________________| CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 65% NOTES: Predicted geomagnetic activity is based heavily on recurrent phenomena. Transient energetic solar events cannot be predicted reliably over periods in excess of several days. Hence, there may be some deviations from the predictions due to the unpredictable transient solar component. 60-DAY GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY ____________________________________________________________ 82 | J | 78 | J | 74 | J | 70 | J | 66 | J | 62 | J | 57 | J | 53 | J | 49 | J | 45 | J | 41 | J | 37 | J M M| 33 | M J M M| 29 | MM JM M A M| 25 | MM JM A MA A M| 21 | MM JM A MAA A M| 16 | MM JMA A A MAA AAM| 12 | MM JMA A U UUA U AMAAUU AAM| 8 |U MMUUU UJMA AU UUUU UUA U AMAAUU UUUAAM| 4 |UQ QMMUUUUQQQUJMAUQQQAUUUUUUUUUUAUQQQU AMAAUUUQ QUQQUUUUAAM| 0 |UQQQQMMUUUUQQQUJMAUQQQAUUUUUUUUUUAUQQQUQAMAAUUUQQQUQQUUUUAAM| ------------------------------------------------------------ Chart Start Date: Day #241 NOTES: This graph is determined by plotting the greater of either the planetary A-index or the Boulder A-index. Graph lines are labelled according to the severity of the activity which occurred on each day. The left- hand column represents the associated A-Index for that day. Q = Quiet, U = Unsettled, A = Active, M = Minor Storm, J = Major Storm, and S = Severe Storm. CUMULATIVE GRAPHICAL CHART OF THE 10.7 CM SOLAR RADIO FLUX ---------------------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________ 129 | | 127 | * | 125 | ** | 123 | ** * | 121 | * **** | 119 | * **** | 117 | ******** | 115 | ********* | 113 | ********** | 111 | *********** | 109 | ************ | 107 | ************* | 105 | * ************* | 103 | **************** | 101 | **************** | 099 | **************** | 097 | ***************** | 095 | ******************* * | 093 | ******************* * ** | 091 | ********************** ***** | 089 |*** *********************** ****** * | 087 |*** * *********************************| 085 |**** **** **********************************| 083 |**** ***** **********************************| 081 |***** ****** ***********************************| 079 |********* **************************************************| 077 |************************************************************| ------------------------------------------------------------ Chart Start: Day #241 GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF 90-DAY AVERAGE SOLAR FLUX ----------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________ 102 | | 101 |* | 100 |*** | 099 |***** | 098 |******* | 097 |********* | 096 |************** ******* | 095 |************************ ***************** | 094 |************************** *************************| 093 |************************************************************| 092 |************************************************************| ------------------------------------------------------------ Chart Start: Day #241 NOTES: The 10.7 cm solar radio flux is plotted from data reported by the Penticton Radio Observatory (formerly the ARO from Ottawa). High solar flux levels denote higher levels of activity and a greater number of sunspot groups on the Sun. The 90-day mean solar flux graph is charted from the 90-day mean of the 10.7 cm solar radio flux. CUMULATIVE GRAPHICAL CHART OF SUNSPOT NUMBERS --------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________ 135 | | 128 | * | 121 | * | 114 | *** | 107 | *** | 100 | ***** * | 093 | ****** * * | 086 | ****** * * * | 079 | ******** ** * **** | 072 | *********** ** * * **** | 065 | **************** * **** ***| 058 |** ****************** ** *********| 051 |** * ****************** ** **********| 044 |**** * ****************** *************| 037 |**** * * * ****************** *************| 030 |******** * * ********************* *************| 023 |********* * **** * ***********************************| 016 |********* ** ******* ***********************************| 009 |************ ********* ***********************************| 002 |************ ********* ***********************************| 000 |************************************************************| ------------------------------------------------------------ Chart Start: Day #241 NOTES: The graphical chart of sunspot numbers is created from the daily sunspot number counts as reported by the SESC. HF RADIO SIGNAL PROPAGATION PREDICTIONS (29 OCT - 07 NOV) High Latitude Paths ________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | | VERY GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | CONFIDENCE | GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | LEVEL | FAIR | **|***|***|***|***|***|***| * | | * | ------- | POOR |* | | | | | | |* *| * |* *| 70% | VERY POOR | | | | | | | | |* *| | | EXTREMELY POOR | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | PROPAGATION |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| | QUALITY | Given in 8 Local-Hour Intervals | -------------------------------------------------------- Middle Latitude Paths ________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | | VERY GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | CONFIDENCE | GOOD | **|***|***|***|***|***|***|** | | * | LEVEL | FAIR |* | | | | | | | *| **| *| ------- | POOR | | | | | | | | |* |* | 70% | VERY POOR | | | | | | | | | | | | EXTREMELY POOR | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | PROPAGATION |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| | QUALITY | Given in 8 Local-Hour Intervals | -------------------------------------------------------- Low Latitude Paths ________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | | VERY GOOD | | | | | | | | | | | CONFIDENCE | GOOD |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| **|***| LEVEL | FAIR | | | | | | | | |* | | ------- | POOR | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | VERY POOR | | | | | | | | | | | | EXTREMELY POOR | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | PROPAGATION |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| | QUALITY | Given in 8 Local-Hour Intervals | -------------------------------------------------------- NOTES: NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE High latitudes >= 55 deg. N. | High latitudes >= 55 deg. S. Middle latitudes >= 40 < 55 deg. N. | Middle latitudes >= 30 < 55 deg. S. Low latitudes < 40 deg. N. | Low latitudes < 30 deg. S. POTENTIAL VHF DX PROPAGATION PREDICTIONS (29 OCT - 07 NOV) INCLUDES SID AND AURORAL BACKSCATTER ENHANCEMENT PREDICTIONS HIGH LATITUDES __________________________________________________ ___________________ | FORECAST | Given in 8 hour local time intervals | |SWF/SID ENHANCEMENT| |CONFIDENCE|Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| |F|S|S|M|T|W|T|F|S|S| |__________|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| | 0% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 0%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| | 20% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 20%| | | | | | | | | | | | 40% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 40%| | | | | | | | | | | | 60% | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | | | 60%| | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | | | | | | | | | | | 80%| | | | | | | | | | | | 100% | | | | | | | | | | |100%| | | | | | | | | | | |==========|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===| |-------------------| | 100% | | | | | | | | | | |100%| | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | | | | | | | | | | | 80%| | | | | | | | | | | | 60% | | | | | | | | | | | 60%| | | | | | | | |*| | | 40% | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | **|***|***| 40%| | | | | | | |*|*|*| | 20% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 20%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| | 0% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 0%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| |----------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |CHANCE OF |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| |F|S|S|M|T|W|T|F|S|S| | VHF DX | Given in 8 hour local time intervals | |AURORAL BACKSCATTER| |__________|_______________________________________| |___________________| MIDDLE LATITUDES __________________________________________________ ___________________ | FORECAST | Given in 8 hour local time intervals | |SWF/SID ENHANCEMENT| |CONFIDENCE|Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| |F|S|S|M|T|W|T|F|S|S| |__________|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| | 0% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 0%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| | 20% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 20%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| | 40% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 40%| | | | | | | | | | | | 60% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***| | | | 60%| | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | | | | | | | | | | | 80%| | | | | | | | | | | | 100% | | | | | | | | | | |100%| | | | | | | | | | | |==========|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===| |-------------------| | 100% | | | | | | | | | | |100%| | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | | | | | | | | | | | 80%| | | | | | | | | | | | 60% | | | | | | | | | | | 60%| | | | | | | | | | | | 40% | **| **| **| **| **| **| **| * | * | * | 40%| | | | | | | | |*| | | 20% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 20%| | | | | | | |*|*|*| | 0% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 0%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| |----------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |CHANCE OF |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| |F|S|S|M|T|W|T|F|S|S| | VHF DX | Given in 8 hour local time intervals | |AURORAL BACKSCATTER| |__________|_______________________________________| |___________________| LOW LATITUDES __________________________________________________ ___________________ | FORECAST | Given in 8 hour local time intervals | |SWF/SID ENHANCEMENT| |CONFIDENCE|Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| |F|S|S|M|T|W|T|F|S|S| |__________|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| | 0% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 0%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| | 20% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 20%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| | 40% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 40%| | | | | | | | | | | | 60% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 60%| | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | | | | | | | | | | | 80%| | | | | | | | | | | | 100% | | | | | | | | | | |100%| | | | | | | | | | | |==========|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===|===| |-------------------| | 100% | | | | | | | | | | |100%| | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | | | | | | | | | | | 80%| | | | | | | | | | | | 60% | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | 60%| | | | | | | | | | | | 40% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 40%| | | | | | | | | | | | 20% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 20%| | | | | | | | | | | | 0% |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| 0%|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| |----------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |CHANCE OF |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| |F|S|S|M|T|W|T|F|S|S| | VHF DX | Given in 8 hour local time intervals | |AURORAL BACKSCATTER| |__________|_______________________________________| |___________________| NOTES: These VHF DX prediction charts are defined for the 30 MHz to 220 MHz bands. They are based primarily on phenomena which can affect VHF DX propagation globally. They should be used only as a guide to potential DX conditions on VHF bands. Latitudinal boundaries are the same as those for the HF predictions charts. AURORAL ACTIVITY PREDICTIONS (29 OCT - 07 NOV) High Latitude Locations ________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | CONFIDENCE | VERY HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | LEVEL | HIGH | | | | | | | | * | * | | ------- | MODERATE | * | | | | | | * |***|***|***| 65% | LOW |***| * | * | * | * |** |***|***|***|***| | NOT VISIBLE |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| |----------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | AURORAL |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| | INTENSITY | Eve.Twilight/Midnight/Morn.Twilight | -------------------------------------------------------- Middle Latitude Locations ________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | CONFIDENCE | VERY HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | LEVEL | HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | ------- | MODERATE | | | | | | | | * | | | 70% | LOW | | | | | | | * |***|** | * | | NOT VISIBLE |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| |----------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | AURORAL |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| | INTENSITY | Eve.Twilight/Midnight/Morn.Twilight | -------------------------------------------------------- Low Latitude Locations ________________________________________________________ | EXTREMELY HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | CONFIDENCE | VERY HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | LEVEL | HIGH | | | | | | | | | | | ------- | MODERATE | | | | | | | | | | | 80% | LOW | | | | | | | | | | | | NOT VISIBLE |***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***|***| |----------------|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | AURORAL |Fri|Sat|Sun|Mon|Tue|Wed|Thu|Fri|Sat|Sun| | INTENSITY | Eve.Twilight/Midnight/Morn.Twilight | -------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Version 2.00b of our Professional Dynamic Auroral Oval Simulation Software Package is now available. This professional software is particularly valuable to radio communicators, aurora photographers, educators, and astronomers. For more information regarding this software, contact: "Oler@Rho.Uleth.CA", or "COler@Solar.Stanford.Edu". For more information regarding these charts, send a request for the document, "Understanding Solar Terrestrial Reports" to: "Oler@Rho.Uleth.Ca" or to: "COler@Solar.Stanford.Edu". This document, as well as others and related data/forecasts exist on the STD BBS at: (403) 756-3008. ** End of Report ** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1993 15:32:50 GMT From: worldbank.org!news@uunet.uu.net Subject: ZA1QA QSLs To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <harp.28.0@bnr.ca> harp@bnr.ca (Alan Harp) writes: >Don't know anyone personally who hasn't received their QSLs. I received >mine in a reasonable amount of time. Gee it's been more than a year ago >now. I have Albania confirmed on all bands except 160 now. Before >ZA1A that was unheard of. > >OH excuse me when I say all bands I mean 160M through 10M. These are the >bands I work. > >**************************************************************************** >* Alan Harp K4PB * Bell-Northern Research * CW FOREVER * >* mail: harp@bnr.ca * Research Triangle Park, NC * * >**************************************************************************** > Alan, Am I correct in assuming you received a card from ZA1QA ? (I got lots of mail replies which indicated circumstances similiar to mine - $$ sent, but no cards!) 73 Darrell ------------------------------ Date: 28 Oct 1993 15:26:24 GMT From: orca.es.com!olin!alan@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <DRT.93Oct26092851@al-burro.mit.edu>, <1993Oct26.161942.19759@worldbank.org>, <CFKHwn.Lnn@odin.corp.sgi.com> Subject : Re: 'Vanity' Call Signs In article <CFKHwn.Lnn@odin.corp.sgi.com> adams@chuck.dallas.sgi.com (Charles Adams) writes: >In article <1993Oct26.161942.19759@worldbank.org>, dearnshaw@worldbank.org (Darrell Earnshaw) writes: > >We have the Continental US divided into 10 zones, etc. At the present time >this division means nothing. Any ham permanently residing in any zone can >own any call from any other zone from which they transfered, bringing their >old call with them. Is this country the only one in the world, where a >country is divided up into zones or regions assigned specific prefixii (;-) ), >that currently allows this? > >The reason this is a bother - if i'm looking for a state, etc. for an award >or multiplier in SS or whatever, I have no earthly idea on their geographic >location any more. Does it bother anyone else? ...stuff deleted... Well, Chuck, this call sign business has interested me for a long time. Jay had mentioned that back in the '70s you could pay $25 and get a 1x2 callsign if you held an Extra Class license. Quite a few friends of mine did this, and one friend of mine actually held two different calls in a short period of time (the first call that he got he did not care for, so he got another). Actually, this occurred in the late '60s and early '70s. In the mid '70s, there was another 1x2 callsign program that was cooked up where if you held an Extra Class license, you could exchange your call for a 1x2 call - no fee required. This was when the first N calls were issued, as well as the first X suffix calls (X calls had previosly been reserved for experimental stations). I was lucky enough to get a 1x2 X suffix callsign. I submitted a list of about 30 callsigns that I was interested in, and waited. K6XO was the 7th on my list of 30 calls. Many of us who are DXers and contesters are very conscious about how our callsign comes across, and there are desirable and undesirable characteristics about callsigns, depending on what mode you are using and so on. For example, my previous call was K6QPH. Well, on CW, this was a problem. I was often confused for K6QPS. On SSB, I was often trounced in the pilups because I did not have an M or an R in my call (the phonetics Mexico and Radio cut through amazingly well in a DX pileup - Santiago, Bravo and Tokyo work well too). So having a call with an easily recognized suffix is definitely an advantage whether you are DXing or contesting. So those of us who were active were scrambling to get a "better" call that would give us some advantage without having to go spend more $$$$ on more aluminum and steel. When I lived in Hawaii, my call was KH6EVT. Very often I was confused with KH6EV or KH6VT. The E or the T would often get "lost" in the QRM (on CW, that is). So the lesson here was, if you like CW, don't get an E or T in your call. Another confusing thing on CW is having a K at the end of your callsign. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if the K is a prosign or part of the call. One night, I heard KK6K on 40 CW. I'll just bet he has all kinds of fun with that. As far as the call areas are concerned - yes, there are pros and cons on both sides. It used to be that you were required to get a new callsign when you moved from one call area to another - not any more, obviously. I suppose the reasoning was that many people (like me) would rather keep their old calls, since it is part of our identity on the air. I was just not interested in taking "pot luck" on some AA7 call. Also, the FCC would not have to issue a new callsign - merely change the address and that was it. Most other countries around the world are smaller than the U.S., so call districts are not always relavent to anything - the U.K. is one example, but it is true that most countries do have call areas and if you are familiar enough with the geography you can be fairly confident about the general location of a station that you are hearing. There are other exceptions besides the U.K., Argentina being one of them (in Argentina, the letter following the numeral tells you where the station is located). In some contests, I will sign /7 to help anyone who is listening to know that I am not just another W6. Most of the time, I leave the /7 off - it is just extra baggage. -- Alan Brubaker, K6XO |~~|_ "Pumps have handles, Hams have names; <IYF disclaimer> | * |mine's Lee, what's yours?" - Lee Wical, Internet: alan@dsd.es.com|____|KH6BZF, the Bloomin' Zipper Flipper. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1279 ****************************** ******************************