wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (11/29/84)
I've seen several notices in this newsgroup, and also seen and heard references in other ham publications and radio programs, referring to the use and authorization of "commemorative" or "special-event" callsigns. It seems that these are usually just a replacement of the normal prefix of a callsign with some other prefix, and effective for a limited time. My query is, basically, "why?" -- I understand a special callsign for a special-purpose station, like one at a World's Fair, with a call like "W85WF" or something for the "1985 World's Fair". But how does letting hams use an extra letter "F" or something in their calls "honor" or "commemorate" the sequicentennial of the invention of the combine, or the state visit of the Maharajah of Ummagumma? Usually the special prefix doesn't seem to be a mnemonic related to the event or occasion, even. Do those of you who are active hams ever use the special calls? I would think that you are proud of your call as is, you have devised clever acronyms or phonetic spellings related to it, and you have no real interest in using a different one for a week or month. Am I right in this? Are these things really worthwhile or just gimmicks? Will Martin USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA
doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (12/11/84)
> I've seen several notices in this newsgroup, and also seen and heard > references in other ham publications and radio programs, referring to > the use and authorization of "commemorative" or "special-event" callsigns. > It seems that these are usually just a replacement of the normal prefix > of a callsign with some other prefix, and effective for a limited time. > > My query is, basically, "why?" > Are these things really worthwhile or just gimmicks? The idea here is to create yet another prefix, so that prefix-hunters have something new to hunt. This assures that the operator of the commemorative station will have plenty of QSO's. Doug Pardee/N7FB -- Terak Corp. -- !{hao,ihnp4,decvax}!noao!terak!doug