[Amps] Weakness of first two letters of call signs

[Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP]

Jeff,

I don't think most amps do this, but I know that some transceivers do 
(e.g., the Elecraft K3 under some circumstances, due to its closed-loop 
power control). There is also a psychological mechanism at work, I 
think. At least in my case, I sometimes become aware of a very weak 
signal calling me after the first few characters, at which point my 
brain locks in on it. Finally, sometimes there is QSB which takes out 
part of a call.

Operators have been told over and over ONLY SEND YOUR CALL ONCE! Well, 
not every situation is a Bouvet Island pileup, and -- especially on the 
low bands -- I would really like it if callers would send their calls 
two or three times.

73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
.
On 06/10/2020 13:24, Jeff in Mali: via Amps wrote:
> In my pileups, I find that people often send their call signs only
> one time. Most call signs are of the form XX#YY or XX#YYY. By the
> time their sending gets to the #, their signal is strong enough so
> that I can copy the rest of the call. i am wondering if it is a
> common property of amplifiers that they take a finite time to reach
> full power and that as people send their call sign, the first couple
> of letters are being transmitted at less than full power? Do people
> in the group have any experience with this phenomenon, or is it just
> my imagination? I try to get people to send their call 3 times (QSZ
> 3), but someone has convinced a lot of operators that once is
> enough. 73, Jeff TZ4AM