[UK-CONTEST] Call sign Dyslexia

[Kerr, Prof. K.M.]

Interesting thread with some new and old issues.

I agree that the 'hard' phonetics are best and that you sometimes change according to the situation and who is at the other end......Golf vs Germany, Mike vs Mexico, Victor vs Victoria. Sometimes the longer phonetic is better when sigs are weak or QRM is high.

Regarding LDL and similar, I can understand the problem in high QRM situations, like any band below 15MHz this weekend! Snatches of intelligible transmission amongst the splatter and crud were a joy to the ear but often only one or two letters long. If your suffix has a repeat letter, especially when it's first and third that are the same then you are in trouble
I am not for one minute suggesting that LDL does this but following this argument through:.......The reprehensible practice of repeating 'last two' or 'any two that will grab attention'.....like the EU who called me using 'nine mike' (I was very disappointed)....... reflects this difficulty. Getting snatches of, for example, 'echo sugar echo sugar' leaves you wondering who on earth is calling. I really wish the practice of 'last two' was never invented.

The Brain 'hears' what it expects to hear. Common letter combinations from everyday life are in your brain's 'database' and are used for subconscious comparison before your conscious (though barely so at many times this weekend in my case) cortex 'gets' the info. I think this is why my own call, even in perfectly good receiving conditions is often recycled back to me as GM4XYI.....viz 'XYZ' being a very common three letter combination in everybody's head. This fudging doesn't happen on CW though. Anyone else get this?

While we are on the subject of clear communication, I note the exponential rise in the use of voice keyers and various 'canned' messages for use in SSB contests. It is striking how often the canned message sounds nothing like the operator......I think this is getting much worse. Whether this is because the recorded voice is truly somebody else (maybe a way of spotting the multi-op station masquerading as a singleton!!??) or mangled by the machine or RF doesn't really matter. The change of voice breaks the rhythm and even with no QRM, highS/N ratio exchanges I had many instances when I wondered who was giving me a report after the recorded message made the initial call. For me this is a real pain for the recipient and reduces communication efficacy for both sides. ............I think, nay hope, that I sound like my own 'CQ contest' message!

Regards (and rant over),

Keith GM4YXI (GM7V)


________________________________________
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com [uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Alex GM3ZBE [alex at gm3zbe.plus.com]
Sent: 27 October 2008 20:50
To: ALANNOTTAGE at aol.com
Cc: uk-contest at contesting.com; dave at g3ueg.co.uk
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Call sign Dyslexia

I've always found ECHO a very weak phonetic for the "E" at the end of my
callsign.  I've never been able to settle on a good one.  ECUADOR is
quite strong but people don't expect it as a phonetic and I usually am
asked for a repeat which is counterproductive.

I tried using "Germany Mexico three Zanzibar Brazil Ecuador" at one time
but it was too much for some people :-)

Alex GM3ZBE

ALANNOTTAGE at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 27/10/08 13:38:49 GMT Standard Time, dave at g3ueg.co.uk
> writes:
>
>
>
>> Has anybody come up with a solution to the same type of problem?
>>
>
> In your case Dave, for calling others, I would advise....United Echo Germany
> (with distinct spaces - no slurring :>)  More syllables...but also more
> forceful, which should help to 'drive' the brain cells in the rx'ing operator!
>
> Agree with others re Sunday brain-fade.  Quite evident when listening around.
>  Can sound alarming on Sunday morning around dawn, but most folk usually get
> a 'second wind' later in the day.
>
> Al G0XBV (X-Ray Boston Victoria)
>
>
>
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