New Call Sign Coming

YuccaFlatsRanch · #1 06/29/12, 11:08 PM

I just checked the internet and apparently I am the first and so far only requestor for call sign N5BAA. It's in a status called "Pending 2" - whatever that is and I will know for sure approx 17 days from the 27th of June or somewhere around 14 July I should be approved for my new call. Bye Bye KF5QBG, you are still a virgin call sign as I havn't transmitted the call letters even once over the air and I was/am the first person ever to have had the call.

AngieM2 · #2 06/29/12, 11:12 PM

Nice to know it appears that you will get your call sign.

YuccaFlatsRanch · #3 07/04/12, 10:14 PM

FCC database lists my new call sign as being approved and slated for grant on July 17. I will then be known as N5BAA - Texas Red Sheep Radio.

AngieM2 · #4 07/04/12, 10:27 PM

Of course, I'm going to look for a novice as N prefix use to be used for the novice that could only go on 5 wpm limited high band radio.

Congratulations on getting the call sign you wanted.

YuccaFlatsRanch · #5 07/05/12, 10:42 AM

The previous holder of my new call sign would beg to differ with the term Novice. He was an Extra named Joseph Gibson. He died in 2006 at the young age of 49. He was the only holder of the call sign on record getting the call as an Extra. He had been a Ham since the age of 13. I think He originally got the call in 2000, not too many years after Vanity Call signs were approved by the FCC. Apparently none of his family are Hams as no one applied to keep his call sign in the family. I am honored to take over the call sign, hopefully I won't die young also - of course I am soon to be 63 anyway. He lived in the Dallas area and had lived around Waco, TX too. I wonder how many of the Hams from that part of the state will respond to a CQ wondering who has his old call.

As far as call signs are concerned, I realized on Field Day that when DXing or Contesting, the length or strength or memorability of your call sign makes all the difference. On Field Day we were experiencing Contesting Conditions. Someone would call CQ CQ CQ Field Day and other stations would POUNCE on his call. You wait to transmit your call within seconds after the CQ ended. I was using the Station Operators call which was N5HV. That call is quick to transmit, but not memorable. My old call KF5QBG is neither quick to transmit, nor memorable. My new call is quicker to transmit, AND the BAA is somewhat memorable. BAA is easy to pick out a pile up, or if the CQ calling station just hears AA he can ask for the station calling with AA or BAA to respond. The CQ station is in charge of the Frequency at this point and he can choose to talk to whomever he pleases. Probably the easiest call signs to pick out are those that when you say them the letters are forceful. A call like K5PTT or K5PPT are much more forceful when spoken. Try it and see for yourself. Compare it to N5HHH. The P's and T's are spoken with the teeth and lips. H is spoken with air rushing over the the tongue and comes out with much less force. It all makes a difference. In my new call sign I would much rather had K5BAA than N5BAA as K has 2 syllables and N has 3. November takes longer to pronounce. Kilo also is a much stronger pronounced letter than November.

AngieM2 · #6 07/05/12, 11:05 AM

Hey - no offense meant by the N reference. I'm from before N was used in anything other than a Novice station (1972). And I know FCC used WN's for a while for novice as I was a WN4NED then WB4NED/WB8RME, then I had to choose between the 4 and 8 call sign about 1974 or so.

So to me N still brings back memories of Novice. Just memories nothing bad.

And your call will work well.
And in a CQ pile up, if voice - I have a voice that seems to cut through QRN/M.

Oh well, just stuff about ham radio.

I'm glad you have a good call sign coming.

PNP Katahdins · #7 07/05/12, 02:04 PM

Congrats! I'm glad you got your first choice and it's a 5 for Texas.

K prefix can be an issue if you don't use phonetics. K and KA sound almost identical. You can use Nancy instead of November for N.

73 de Peg

YuccaFlatsRanch · #8 07/05/12, 02:56 PM

Naah - can't use Nancy - was in the Navy for too long and it was November, will always be November. Once trained .........!! In CW (Morse Code) the N is slightly better than K or W. My call will be:

DahDit DitDitDitDitDit DahDitDitDit DitDah DitDah

Bret · #9 07/05/12, 03:00 PM

Good work. Pretty as best bent wiress...but shorter.