[Skimmertalk] Skimmer Callsign Validation

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> There is a Microsoft Excel file at
> www.pvrc.org/~n4zr/Summary_of_All_Calls_6-27-08.xls that 
> summarizes the results.  Callsigns color-coded red in the 
> left-most column were not found in QRZ.com but were accepted 
> by one or more of the validation levels above minimal - at 
> least some may be good, because QRZ is not perfectly timely 
> or inclusive.  Similarly, call-signs colored yellow in that 
> column were found in QRZ but were not validated by any level 
> above minimal (I call them false negatives).

Inspection of the Excel file shows another thing that a human 
ear would probably detect that skimmer is missing ... 

In several cases skimmer is copying/validating both a valid 
call and a busted variation (bad fist?) ... 

9A60AEEST is most likely a version of "9A60A TEST" 

UX7UNST is almost certainly "UX7U TEST"

DR1T is most likely a busted DR1I 

EA3FA is most likely a busted EA3FP 

S52OW is most likely a busted S52OP 

YU1LI is probably YU1LA 

YU9DXT is probably YU9DX

S56M/S55M/S56MS are probably all the same station with 
    "fist" issues. 

SP4NS is probably SP4Z  

WM0M is most likely a busted OM0M 

ER3NX/ER4DX, HB9FAZ/HB9NAZ, UA4FEA/UA4FEL/UA4FER and
    SP3DPG/SP3LPG/SP3LPM are probably "busted" versions of 
    the same call. Anyone who regularly showed up with 
    "unstable calls" should be concerned about their fist, 
    keyer settings (weight), RF into the keyer or "stutter" 
    from LPT/DTR keying. 

LY2PX/LY2PXL, LY7A/LY7GEA and OK5R/OK5RO are probably cases 
   of "CT spacing" or "stutter"  

None of this should be unexpected after listening to the 
quality of CW in many contests.  It simply shows that "skimmer" 
is only another receiver or tool to identify POTENTIAL DX and 
not DX Alerting assistance like another operator.  

The operator still needs to copy the other station/exchange 
and use the tool for what it is and not as a crutch.