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Post by 2E0YYY on 21st July 2012 at 23:59
After spending some time on G/SP-004 working the Olympic NoV today, I'm conviced OFCOM could have come up with something better than the tongue twisting "O" that they've dreamt up, especially with the zero prefixes.

Ah well, I suppose it's only for six or seven weeks :-(

Mike 2O0YYY
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 07:18
In reply to 2E0YYY:

Convinced you say but make no suggestions. It can't have been too hard for either you or your QSO partners or you would have stopped using it early in the activation.

So which of the 25 letters available both conveys "Olympic" and is a better choice?

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by G3CWI on 22nd July 2012 at 08:21
In reply to MM0FMF:

"So which of the 25 letters available both conveys "Olympic" and is a better choice? "


Q. I would have thought it was obvious.

The London Olympics is sponsored by the letter Q. I predict that it will be the most used word in coverage over the next few weeks.
This thread is closed
Post by 2E0YYY on 22nd July 2012 at 09:09
In reply to MM0FMF:
> In reply to 2E0YYY:
>
> Convinced you say but make no suggestions. It can't have been too hard
> for either you or your QSO partners or you would have stopped using
> early in the activation.

Yesterday, using MO6MMM, I worked over 220 VHF/UHF contacts from G/SP-004. My "O" was "read back" as a zero on umpteen occasions. Therefore, it would seem to me the "O" is somewhat confusing.

Clearly, up there in GM land where no-one uses the VHF band (my last two activations up there producing just seven contacts on FM), this problem would never arise.

> So which of the 25 letters available both conveys "Olympic"
> and is a better choice?

I'm not paid to choose anything, Andy. I'm merely highlighting the problem with sticking an "O" into a UK call sign.

Mike 2E0YYY
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Post by G7LAS on 22nd July 2012 at 09:19
In reply to 2E0YYY:

I'm going to start saying golf-Olympic-seven...

Being an IT geek, I cross my zeros in the log so it hasn't been an issue for me, but can certainly see how confusion could arise - at least among less intelligent amateurs ;)

Anyway, less of that. Good to work again yesterday Mike and thanks for the points... surprised you're not up there again today!

Rob
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Post by DB7MM on 22nd July 2012 at 09:30
In reply to 2E0YYY:

Is amateur radio really that different in the UK? I used the callsign DO7MM several years without any problems. DO is the prefix for the German license class E and therefore quite common.
What is so tongue twisting saying "Mike Oscar Six Mike Mike Mike"?

In my personal opinion callsigns with a digit in the prefix like E7 or your 2E are much more confusing.

73 de Michael, DB7MM
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 09:45
In reply to DB7MM:

>What is so tongue twisting saying "Mike Oscar Six Mike Mike Mike"?

Nothing. It's a non-issue. It if was a real problem Mike would have stoped using the optional additional 'O' in the callsign and used his normal call. He didn't ergo no problem. ;-)

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by M0LEP on 22nd July 2012 at 09:51
In reply to DB7MM:
> In my personal opinion callsigns with a digit in the prefix like E7 or
> your 2E are much more confusing.

Indeed. Operating 5Z4/M0LEP last year was... in-ter-est-ing... ;)

In reply to MM0FMF:
> He didn't ergo no problem. ;-)

...except (I'm guessing here) with folks who're more used to exchanging phone numbers than callsigns... ;)

73, Rick M0LEP
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 10:20
In reply to M0LEP:

> Indeed. Operating 5Z4/M0LEP last year was... in-ter-est-ing... ;)

The Republic of Colombia uses both the "HK" and the "5K" prefixes. That leads to a lot of fun in CW contests!

73,
Walt (GO3NYY)

P.S. It occurred to me that the GO2xxx and MO0xxx series could lead to some interesting combinations, given the right suffix!
;-)

I wonder if Roy or John has been using GO0OOO ? Tee hee!
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 10:29
In reply to G3NYY:

>I wonder if Roy or John has been using GO0OOO ? Tee hee!

Yes, http://www.sotawatch.org/reflector.php?topic=7028#58582

Andy
MM0FMF
This thread is closed
Post by 2E0YYY on 22nd July 2012 at 10:45
In reply to DB7MM:
> In reply to 2E0YYY:
>
> Is amateur radio really that different in the UK? I used the callsign
> DO7MM several years without any problems. DO is the prefix for the
> German license class E and therefore quite common.
> What is so tongue twisting saying "Mike Oscar Six Mike Mike
> Mike"?

Hi Michael,

Not everyone is lucky enough to have such a flowing callsign as "Mike Oscar Six Many Many Mikes" ;-)

The problem arises, because so many "M" and "G" calls are followed by a Zero. Inserting an "O" between the first letter and number of these callsigns, can be a little confusing. Looking on the bright side, in six or seven weeks, everyone will be used to their special call. But of course, the special call ends in seven weeks ;-)

> In my personal opinion callsigns with a digit in the prefix like E7 or
> your 2E are much more confusing.

Agreed Michael. The 2E0 call can be a nightmare on HF.

73 Mike
2E0YYY
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Post by 2E0YYY on 22nd July 2012 at 11:16
In reply to G3NYY:

>
> I wonder if Roy or John has been using GO0OOO ? Tee hee!


Hopefully, they'll have a more success on HF than the Rag, Tag and Bobtail day, I had yesterday, Walt :-(

Total pants!

73 Mike
2E0YYY
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Post by G4WSX on 22nd July 2012 at 11:21
In reply to 2E0YYY:Yep Roy was using yesterday with no problems at all - Hi
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Post by 2E0MIX on 22nd July 2012 at 11:23
In reply to 2E0YYY:
Hi Mike,

'Rag,Tag and Bobtail', I remember them well,

73, Derek
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 12:31
In reply to 2E0YYY:

> Hopefully, they'll have a more success on HF than the Rag, Tag and Bobtail day,
> I had yesterday, Walt :-(
>
> Total pants!

Well, if you were using a callsign like "2O0YYY/P", I'm not surprised! Hi hi!

BTW, I worked 'GO2HQ' on 14th July. Talk about jumping the gun!

'Rag, Tag and Bobtail' ... I remember them well! But you have to be of a certain age to remember 'Muffin The Mule'!
:-)

73,
Walt (GO3NYY)
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Post by G4OWG on 22nd July 2012 at 13:02
In reply to G3NYY:

> 'Rag, Tag and Bobtail' ... I remember them well! But you have to be
> of a certain age to remember 'Muffin The Mule'!
> :-)

Ah yes I remember it well :-)
And the first commercials - they were more memorable than the programs.
Both watched on a colour set - green or blue - depending on which government surplus
CRTube my grandad used in the latest tv he'd built :-)

Roger G4OWG
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Post by G3CWI on 22nd July 2012 at 14:15
In reply to 2E0YYY:

> Hopefully, they'll have a more success on HF than the Rag, Tag and
> Bobtail day, I had yesterday, Walt :-(


The WSPR site is showing very poor conditions on 30m right now. No-one is hearing my beacon at all which is unusual.

73

Richard
G3CWI
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Post by 2E0YYY on 22nd July 2012 at 14:36
In reply to G3CWI:

> The WSPR site is showing very poor conditions on 30m right now. No-one
> is hearing my beacon at all which is unusual.

After failing to find a a single contact on 40m yesterday, I considered resorting to the kite antenna, Richard. However, there wasn't even enough wind on Shining Tor of all places, to launch it. That and the fact that I'd left it in the car and didn't really fancy the walk back down to the Cat and Fiddle, to retrieve it ;-)

73 Mike
2E0YYY
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 14:45
In reply to G3CWI:

http://www.ips.gov.au/Images/HF%20Systems/Global%20HF/Ionospheric%20Map/WorldIMap0.gif doesn't look too bad.

But A=11... not so good.

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 15:16
In reply to G4OWG:

> And the first commercials - they were more memorable than the programs.

Indeed. Do you remember on a Monday morning at 10 am they used to run all the new commercials that would be used in the coming week? It was called "Monday's Newcomers". I used to watch it every Monday morning during the school holidays.

Topic drift ... de GO3NYY
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Post by 2E0YYY on 22nd July 2012 at 15:31
In reply to G3NYY:

> Indeed. Do you remember on a Monday morning at 10 am they used to run
> all the new commercials that would be used in the coming week?

I'm far too young to rememeber such things, Walt...

> Topic drift ... de GO3NYY

LOL, that's most unusual for the SOTA Reflector ;-)

73 Mike
MO6MMM
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 15:39
In reply to 2E0YYY:

"1001 ...
Cleans a big, big carpet ...
For less than half-a-crown!"

73 de GO3NYY
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 16:00
In reply to G3NYY:

>GO3NYY
__^_____
__^_____
__^_____
__^_____

I'm stunned and shocked to see Walt falling in line with this fashion! ;-)

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 16:06
In reply to MM0FMF:

Glass houses come to mind ...

> Andy
> MA0FMF

[Source Sotawatch reflector, 10 September 2009]

73,
Walt GO3NYY
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Post by M0LEP on 22nd July 2012 at 16:21
Heh! As a relative newcommer to this game, I watched the "R" and "Q" calls come and go, and now "O" is here. What other occasions have been graced with special prefix letters over the years?

73, Rick M0LEP (who got NoVs for R,Q and O but who hasn't used any of them on-air.)
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 16:59
In reply to G3NYY:

I've always been a sucker for a shiny prefix Walt. I've had an MA, MR & MQ and an MO still to use. (Though why I'd want another dash in my call, I have enough already.) I'm sure I'd read you weren't for all this modern callsign nonsense. Must have been someone else on ukra.

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 17:01
In reply to M0LEP:

Hi Rick,

In addition to the ones you mentioned, the letters 'E' and 'Q' have been permitted for previous Queen's Jubilee celebrations. So this year is the second time 'Q' has been used.

There was a special station some years ago at the site of the J F Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede. I think it used a 'GK' prefix (although I'm not sure of this one), and it also used a USA callsign for a couple of weeks.

'GG' has been issued quite recently for a special Girl Guides anniversary activity. 'MZ' is occasionally authorised for contest operation from the Shetland Islands.

'A' was permitted for use in Scotland to celebrate the 'Scottish Homecoming' year in 2009.

The only secondary letters I can't recall EVER having been used are 'F' 'L' 'V' and 'Y' ... but someone may be able to prove me wrong!

By the way, for a short time callsigns in the '2K' series were issued upon request to CB-ers!!!

73,
Walt (GO3NYY)
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 17:05
In reply to M0LEP:

1977 E for Lizbet's Silver Jubilee
2000 2C Welsh amateurs, Welsh assembly i.e. my call would have been 2C0FMF
2002 E for Lizbet's Golden Jubilee
2009 A for Scottish amateurs, Year of Homecoming.
2011 R for Billy's wedding
2012 Q for Lizbet's Diamond Jubilee
2012 O for 2012 London Olympics (not sure I can legally use those 3 words together with giving some money to Seb Coe!)

Any I have forgotten?

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 17:05
In reply to MM0FMF:

> I'm sure I'd read you weren't for all this modern callsign nonsense. Must have
> been someone else on ukra.

Not me, Andy. I've had all the variants that have been offered! However, I am well known for my opposition to the use of 'recycled' callsigns by kids pretending to be old-timers!
;-)

73 de G*3NYY [since January 1960]
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Post by G4MD on 22nd July 2012 at 17:19
In reply to G3NYY:

> However, I am well known for my opposition to the use of 'recycled'
> callsigns by kids pretending to be old-timers!
> ;-)

:(

de Paul G4MD
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Post by M0TUB on 22nd July 2012 at 17:20
In reply to G4MD:

:)
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Post by G3NYY on 22nd July 2012 at 18:53
In reply to G4MD:

:)
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Post by G3OHC on 22nd July 2012 at 19:53

Hi Walt / Andy

GV was used in May 1985 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the end of WW2
( - V for victory )

73 Graham G3OHC
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Post by G8XYJ on 22nd July 2012 at 20:00
In reply to G3NYY:

G8XYJ - Created 1980
Retired 1982 - replaced by G4OYX

I came along in 1987!

M3XTL Created in 2002
2E0XTL Created in 2009
G8XYJ Recycled in 2011

Means that someone can have the excellent M0XTL which when said phonetically, Xray Tango Lima, runs off the tongue nicely!

I like to think that us Recyclers are part of a very elusive but sentimental club!!!
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Post by MM0FMF on 22nd July 2012 at 20:20
In reply to G8XYJ:

The longer I'm licensed the more I think that all calls should be reissued a few years after they stop being used. Much as is done in the US and VK and probably other countries. Stops all the nonsense in its tracks. You keep a licence current, you keep the callsign. Let it lapse and the callsign goes into the pool.

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by 2E0EYP on 22nd July 2012 at 20:34
> In reply to M0LEP:
>
> 1977 E for Lizbet's Silver Jubilee
> 2000 2C Welsh amateurs, Welsh assembly i.e. my call would have been
> 2C0FMF
> 2002 E for Lizbet's Golden Jubilee
> 2009 A for Scottish amateurs, Year of Homecoming.
> 2011 R for Billy's wedding
> 2012 Q for Lizbet's Diamond Jubilee
> 2012 O for 2012 London Olympics (not sure I can legally use those 3
> words together with giving some money to Seb Coe!)
>
> Any I have forgotten?
>
> Andy
> MM0FMF
>
>


Q was used for the Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2002, not E.

Jimmy 2(O)0EYP
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Post by G3NYY on 23rd July 2012 at 07:43
In reply to G3OHC:

Thanks, Graham. I had completely forgotten about GV!

73,
Walt (GO3NYY)
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Post by G3NYY on 23rd July 2012 at 08:03
In reply to 2E0EYP:

> Q was used for the Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2002, not E.
>
> Jimmy 2(O)0EYP

Yes, you are right, Jimmy.

Think of the confusion it would have caused if they had used 'E' in 2002.
2E stations (Novice/Intermediate) would have kept their usual callsigns. Meanwhile, all 2M, 2I, 2W, etc stations would have moved (metaphorically) to England for the duration!

:-)

73,
Walt (GO3NYY)
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Post by G0VOF on 28th July 2012 at 10:47
In reply to G3NYY:

Having used my "O" prefix a few times, I think the most common issue is the GO being mistaken for GM on CW, certainly for stations that may not be aware that there are GO / MO stations around.

On a different note, not being one that is interested in sport I haven't really been looking forward to the Olympics, but I did think the opening show last night was very impressive!

Thanks & 73,

Mark GO0VOF
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Post by MM0GYX on 28th July 2012 at 10:55
In reply to G0VOF:
Mark,

When you called me the other evening, I started writing GM0..then realised it was GO0..and lost the rest. No problems second call though (-:

I agree with you, I thought the opening ceremony was very good, it had feeling, and the theme had clearly been thought out and well planned by Danny Boyle and co. I like the way he concentrated on what the UK has going for it, history, good or bad! He's a great director.

73,Ian.
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Post by G8ADD on 28th July 2012 at 10:58
In reply to G0VOF:

I'm finding it hard to get used to the "O", for some reason my tongue keeps tripping over it!

I watched the opening under protest but found it quite enthralling, and for some reason found the juxtaposition of "Eclipse" from "Dark Side of the Moon" with a massive fireworks spectacle very moving!

73

Brian GO8ADD
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Post by G3NYY on 28th July 2012 at 15:18
In reply to G8ADD:

> I'm finding it hard to get used to the "O", for some reason
> my tongue keeps tripping over it!

Use CW, then, Brian. Problem solved!
;-)

> I watched the opening under protest but found it quite enthralling,
> and for some reason found the juxtaposition of "Eclipse"
> from "Dark Side of the Moon" with a massive fireworks
> spectacle very moving!

I must say I had been prepared to be cynical about the Olympic opening ceremony, but I was actually thoroughly impressed. There was something in it for everyone and I believe it was well worth the money spent.

I was amazed at how they managed to match the broadcast audio feed to every close-up camera shot throughout the programme. And everyone's microphone worked without fail - every time! A veritable technical achievement.

73,
Walt (GO3NYY)
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Post by G8ADD on 28th July 2012 at 16:52
In reply to G3NYY:
> In reply to G8ADD:
>
> > I'm finding it hard to get used to the "O", for some
> reason
> > my tongue keeps tripping over it!
>
> Use CW, then, Brian. Problem solved!
> ;-)
>

> 73,
> Walt (GO3NYY)
>

If only, Walt, if only!

73

Brian GO8ADD
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Post by MM0FMF on 28th July 2012 at 17:27
In reply to G3NYY:

>I must say I had been prepared to be cynical ...

Snap. We can do pageantry like Trooping the Colour etc. very well but I was expecting something dire to be both the plan and the execution for this. It's such a nice feeling to be impressed by something like this done by your own countrymen.

I didn't watch much of the airy-fairy nonsense, just the procession of the teams and the lighting of the flame. The boss kept asking where places like Elbonia and Federated States of Micronesia were and I annoyed her by giving the location and call prefix! Geek is as geek does :-) Even I wasn't sure about Moldova and told her it was in The Taint. Taint? she asked. "T'aint Europe and t'aint Asia" was the reply.

I may well have to break out the Olympic NOV tomorrow. Not sure which will bring a bigger pile up, using MO0FMF or GS3PYU. The only problem is overcoming the muscle memory that keys MM0 as soon as I pick up the paddle.

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by G8ADD on 28th July 2012 at 19:03
In reply to MM0FMF:

I suppose that to a certain type of mind there was "airy-fairy nonsense", but to me the displacement of a rural arkady by the industrial revolution, the growth of the machines, and "molten metal" creeping inexorably down the channel and around the ring before the ring rose up and took its place in the olympic symbol - well, that was a coup de theatre that I will always remember!

73

Brian GO8ADD
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Post by MM0FMF on 28th July 2012 at 19:26
In reply to G8ADD:

I didn't see that bit... I was doing some turning on my poor man's lathe (electric drill clamped in the vice). Made a nice centre for my 70cms driven element. I saw the teams enter and the cauldron lighting. I didn't stay for the bit from the old bloke with the bad syrup at the end.

But kids singing and people dancing, sorry bores me terribly. Unless it's old videos of Pan's People on TOTP, that's what YouTube was invented for. ;-)

The overall reaction seems to be everyone was expecting a disaster and it wasn't but instead was really rather excellent. Which is nice.

Andy
MM0FMF
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Post by MM0GYX on 28th July 2012 at 20:13
In reply to G8ADD:

I found that particular piece quite moving. It worked so well and actually made me feel quite proud to be British, an unusual emotion that I've not felt too often. Bravo!

Of course you can't please everyone, lots of people on facebook were less than impressed. It's not cool to say "we done good" though, is it?

73,
Ian.
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Post by G8ADD on 28th July 2012 at 23:23
In reply to MM0FMF:

I imagine its on the iplayer, I think you would enjoy the first half hour!

73

Brian GO8ADD
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