[Elecraft] 20 meter CW

[Richard S. Leary]

Tim et All,

I was first licensed as K3RIW, Gaines, Pa. It was a conditional license
granted when I was in England. I have never operated from Gaines, Pa. When I
got back to the states I operated as K3RIW/5, then /3 (was in Pa, but not
Gaines),then /1, and finally /7. In 76 I upgraded to Extra and was given
W7LKG. No more callsign changes for me. I always QSL'd using the portable
designation and address. Now with LOTW, I get really peaved when anybody
signs a portable prefix or suffix on their call, but QSL's with the basic
call only. Not only do you lose my QSL in LOTW, but I lose yours. If you
send me a /4, I QSL to the /4. You (should) QSL to the call you send over
the air. Contesters (and I'm one) that use a contest call, then QSL with
their personal call cause the same havoc. LOTW QSL's are lost. Same with
eQSL if you use it. 

So, I have no problem with calls being used from other than the suggested
call area, W6's from W7, etc., as long as you are operating from your
"licensed" location. But, if you are portable or mobile, then state that
fact, and then if you QSL, use the portable/mobile designation on the QSL,
be it LOTW, eQSL, or card. I wonder how many QSL's are floating around in
LOTW, not claimed, because of prefix/suffix's left out (or added). I copy
the call as sent, and if there is a /x, then that is what goes in the log,
and the log is what I send out QSL's against. 

Best time I ever had was working as KW6GB/1 (Wake Island) from Otis AFB in
MA. I was also K3RIW/1 then (1967-69).

Ok, sorry for the OT. My rant is over, and the flame suit is on.

73,
Rick - W7LKG

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of N3XX
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 07:22
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 20 meter CW

Hi all,

It is very simple to check the callsign on qrz.com and see the qth.

I have a "3" callsign, and live in the 4th call area.  All my contacts are
uploaded to LOTW as N3XX.  If I were to work you as N3XX/4 then upload as
N3XX, you won't get a qsl match on LOTW if you upload my callsign as N3XX/4.

I know I could add the callsign N3XX/4 to LOTW, but would you really want to
do have to upload your contacts as callsign/number?  If I were to upload as
N3XX/4, and others upload only my callsign, N3XX, no qsl match.

If I send /4 after my callsign, where am I?  Am I at home, or actually
operating portable from another qth.

If I send /4, then qsl cards start arriving for N3XX/4.  That's not my
callsign.  When I receive a card, I want it to have my callsign on it
without the /4.

What about trying to get through a pileup with a portable callsign, or which
group to call with if the DX station is going by the numbers?

I know it might be convenient for some, but to me, sending /# after the
callsign causes a lot of problems for people with callsigns in a different
call area than the number indicates.

Sorry, but I will never send my callsign as N3XX/4.  I don't see a good
reason for it, and feel that it would only create more confusion.

73,
Tim - N3XX

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