Again, I don't think that this topic is a strict numbers game. At
35-40wpm ae5e is difficult to copy unless sent VERY carefully, which
might take longer than your estimation. Second, you've got to factor in
lids like me who require that you sign ae5e at 20wpm before my thick
skull gets it. That wastes a lot of time. How do you propose to factor
that in?
The shortest available US callsigns are actually a5e and n5e.
And why the assumption that only big US stations are sending at 35 wpm?
73 de Al, KE1FO
Al Frugoli
Service Coordinator, CVS
Champlain Vocational Services
512 Troy Ave, Suite 2
Colchester, VT 05446
(802) 655-0511 ext 108 (802) 655-5207 (Fax)
The contents of this e-mail are strictly confidential. Please take all
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-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of CT1BOH - José
Carlos Nunes
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 2:01 AM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] The battle of the callsigns
It is known that the outcome of a contest performance is determined by
three main factors:
1.. Geographical location
2.. Operating skill
3.. Station performance
What perhaps it not so well know, there is a callsign battle going on,
and this factor is also of great importance to the final outcome of the
contest.
With the help of an audio spectrum analyzer, I determined the length of
some well know calls, at 35 and 40 WPMs.
Also I collected data from P40E CQWW CW 2003 operation. In this
operation, according to my logging software, I pushed F1 button (TEST
P40E) 5605 times. Although the program did not record how many times I
pushed F4 (P40E) button, taking into account the 8183 QSO's, let's
assume, the overall number (F1+F4) is around 10.000 times, which if
anything, it is a conservative number.
With all this information, let's check how long different calls take,
and it's impact in the final score:
@40 WPM
P40E = 1,593 second * 10.000/60/60= 4,43 hours
D4B=1,031 seconds *10.000/60/60= 2,86 hours
ZD8Z=1,655 seconds*10.000/60/60= 4,60 hours
So the battle of the callsigns is won by D4B.
D4B callsign will give the operator a 1,56 hour advantage over P40E
(3,25% of the contest time) and a 1,73 hour advantage over ZD8Z in the
contest
P40E is the shortest callsign available to foreigners in Aruba, so there
is nothing more to be done regarding this subject.
ZD8Z would gain a bit had he chosen ZD8E instead of ZD8Z.
Let's now check some calls in the USA. Let's continue to assume the USA
stations broadcast their calls 10.000 times, but now at 35 WPM
KQ2M 1,867 *10.000/60/60=5,19 hours
K5ZD 1,584 *10.000/60/60=4,40 hours
N9RV 1,660 *10.000/60/60=4,61hours
K1AR 1,659 *10.000/60/60=4,61hours
Now what if all these USA stations instead of using their callsigns
would rather use, one of the shortest USA calls: AE5E
AE5E 0,883*10.000/60/60=2,45 hours
What would be the gain in hours be and the respective % in the total
contest time (48 hours):
KQ2M 2,73 hours 5,7%
K5ZD 1,95 hours 4,1%
N9RV 2,16 hours 4,5%
K1AR 2,16 hours 4,5%
It is quite impressive. Just by choosing a shorter call, KQ2M would have
almost 6% more of available time. That's a lot of time and points to the
final score.
And what about those famous MM callsign that relentlessly broadcast
their calls over the air. Well because they operate MM the total
operating time is not 48 hours but the sum of the operating time on all
the six bands. I have no data regarding how many times they broadcast
their callsigns, but lets guess it is 30.000 times.
W3LPL 2,223 seconds*30.000/60/60=18,53 hours
K3LR 1,659 seconds*30.000/60/60=13,83 hours
KC1XX 2,503 seconds*30.000/60/60=20,86 hours
K9NS 1,587 seconds*30.000/60/60=13,23 hours
Would they rather use AE5E call this would be their gain in hours:
W3LPL 11,17 hours
K3LR 6,47 hours
KC1XX 13,50 hours
K9NS 5,87 hours
It is funny how both KC1XX and W3LPL calls are lousy contest calls
(judged only by the time it takes to transmit it). Of course they are
well know, and there are advantages, but they would be better off
switching definitely to a shorter call, like AE3E or AE1E or AE9E
Anyway, the point is, if your objective is records, winning, etc, the
quickest way to boost your score is choosing the shortest contest call
available.
73, José Nunes, CT1BOH, www.qsl.net/ct1boh
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