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Re: [CQ-Contest] Contest calls (was [RTTY] A Gripe/Rant WPX RTTY)

To: John Geiger <wr6885@proton.me>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Contest calls (was [RTTY] A Gripe/Rant WPX RTTY)
From: W7TMT via CQ-Contest <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Reply-to: W7TMT <W7TMT@protonmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:39:37 +0000
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
The fewer Dits the better!

73
W7TMT



On Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 7:33 PM, John Geiger via CQ-Contest 
<cq-contest@contesting.com> wrote:

> I have wondered the same about RTTY calls, if some characters are easier for 
> the software to copy than others.  As someone who used to have a J in their 
> call, it often was changed to India on phone, not sure how that happened as 
> to me they don't sound much alike, other than they both have 3 syllables.  
> The last letter C often gets switched to K on CW and the first C often gets 
> switched to G on phone.
> 
> I am sure the perfect call is out there, I just havent found it yet
> 
> 73 John AF5CC
> not AF5CK or AF5GC
> 
> 
> 
> Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
> 
> On Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 11:35 PM, ktfrog007--- via CQ-Contest 
> <cq-contest@contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> >  Re: contest calls with all the USA 1x2 and 2x1 calls used up
> > 2x2 calls seem unpopular, but sometimes they are shorter or better than 1x2 
> > or 2x1 calls. AE5TT is shorter than my call, AB1J, and easier to copy. 
> > Folks like AA5AU use 2x2s quite successfully.
> > 1x3 calls can be relatively short and easy to copy, too, depending on their 
> > characters. Wx3 calls are popular because of their long tradition.
> > On CW, characters should always be considered. Dashes carry more energy 
> > than dots and are easier to copy, but too many make for long calls.
> > Dots can be difficult to distinguish. S and H shouldn't be adjacent nor 
> > should 5 and H. A 5 in a call is not a problem adjacent to most other 
> > characters, as it's right where you'd expect it to be. Dots at the end of 
> > calls tend to get lost (Once I was W1GTE. Bad call)
> > Other characters can be confusing, too, especially with wishful thinking. 
> > For instance, B becoming a 6, like with that nice DX mult A61J.
> > Some calls have a nice rhythm on CW. I've always liked K3EST, especially at 
> > high speed, which just gallops through my head.
> >
> > On RTTY, it's just call length, as far as I know.  I don't know if some 
> > RTTY characters more difficult to decode than others. Maybe someone else 
> > does.
> > On FT modes, call length doesn't matter.
> > On phone, call length can be a consideration, but you have to take 
> > phonetics and pronunciation into account, too. I spent a Field Day once 
> > using W3GJB, which I found difficult. With my call both Juliet and Japan as 
> > phonetics often get turned into Quebec. I have a slight speech problem, but 
> > some of this also has to do with having a small signal, which is another 
> > thing to take into consideration on all modes. Big signals decode better by 
> > meat or machine. Get better antennas and an amp if you can.
> > 73,Ken, AB1J
> >
> >     On Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 01:34:43 PM EST, Butchie KAØWWT via 
> > groups.io <ka0wwt=pm.me@groups.io> wrote:
> >
> >  Al, Understood, my reply simply indicated that a program, such as 1x1, as 
> > an example would be nice for us to have. I do understand the requirements 
> > that go along with that block of callsigns. --73Butch - 
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