DX Stories by Paul M. Dunphy, VE1DX

California Calling

by Hugh Cassidy, WA6AUD

Originally published in the WCDXB, 16 December 1975

WEST COAST DX BULLETIN - Published every week by the Marin County DX Group. One of the Local QRPers was full blast in the recent DX tests and his game-plan and been noted for his: "This is W6---, California calling." So naturally being a bit smarter and more cleverer, we thought we might mention this bit of redundancy. Maybe, in looking back, we should have talked about the weather. "Look! Buster", was the quick reply, "Argentina issues calls so that the first letter after the number indicates the state, right?" We had to admit this was so. "And Brazil issues calls so that the prefix indicates the state or area, don't they?" the QRPer demanded and we had to admit he was right. "So!" says the QRPer, smug in his voice, if they issue calls as you admit, identify the states in Brazil and Argentina by their assigned prefix or suffix."

Son of a Gun! We were getting the feeling that we were in a corner. "Why, that ridiculous" we protested. "Why should we have to know that information?" That beaded-eyed smile was there and the QRPer pressed on. "Well, if you do not know the call sign prefixes and suffixes in other countries, is it not possible that DX stations will not know that W6s are California? Isn't it?" And there we were, out to show the QRPer he was not so smart but look how it ended. For while you can find the insights into the Inevitable DX Truths at K2CD, Mike D'Alto's web sight at URL:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1641/

there are sleeping lands to those DX areas where it is possible that they do not know that the W6s are in California . . .

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