[SCCC] Seen on QRZ.com

[Leigh S. Jones, KR6X]

This is an interesting subject.  As a contester, I tend to prefer a "clean" 
and
"quick" callsign.  I think of N5EE as optimum.  But I've been aware all of 
my
contesting lifetime of a certain counterculture that preferred a callsign 
with a
poetic ring, punch factor, or an "immunity to copying errors".  To these 
code
zealots, a callsign that would be understood exactly as intended -- even if 
the
spaces between letters were entirely missing -- would be preferred over a
quick callsign.

Exhibit A: W4KFC always sent his callsign with the K and the F slurred
together, unless he was using his mechanical SS CQ machine.  Vic Clark
always thought that his mechanical SS CQ machine had a "come hither"
effect that exceeded the results he could obtain by sending his own callsign
manually, nonetheless he had an incredible "fan" following who loved the
slurred  "KF".

Exhibit B: anything VP2 sent on a bug.  The dash in the V is always
accentuated if punch factor is needed, and the space between the V and
the P is eliminated.  It cannot possibly be mistaken for any other letter
combination.  On a keyer, an urgency is imparted if the space is missing.
The punch factor is unmistakeable.  You can't do this with CT.

KD8IIS has punch factor envy.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dennis Younker NE6I" <NE6I at cox.net>
To: <sccc at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:24 PM
Subject: [SCCC] Seen on QRZ.com


> Saw this posted by KD8IIS on QRZ.com tonight and got a hearty laugh out of
> it. I know exactly what he means.
>
> "There is no such thing as "cursive CW". There is a space between those
> letters."
>
> Interestingly, many of us long time CW guys can actually copy cursive CW
> just fine!  :)
>
> --Dennis NE6I
>
> _______________________________________________
> SCCC mailing list
> SCCC at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/sccc
>