Jim Hampton wrote:
Hello, Dan

A 1X2 call starting with "W" or "K"? How many of these folks do you think
are around that are *not* in possession of a vanity call? C'mon! Give us a
break! The original holders of 1X2 calls are mostly, if not entirely, sk.
A dear friend of mine, W2ZS (almost the end of the 1X2 calls) has been sk
for decades. Like about 3 decades.

My original call, issued in 1962, was WN2CJV. That would have made me
WB2CJV had I passed the 13 word per minute code test. Unfortunately, it
took me another year to get to 13 and I obtained WB2OSP in 1964.

With the issuance of vanity call signs, most of the 1X3 calls are gone -
mostly vanity call signs. Depending upon the call district, some of the
states were as far as a WD prefix.

Since I doubt many folks would spend money to get a call sign beginning with
WA, WB, etc., those are the folks that you can be certain have been licensed
since the early 60s. I did obtain WA3RJX in 1970, however, when I moved to
Pennsylvania. Still, had I kept that call, it would be 35 years old!
Moving back then might also require a call sign change - along with a
"newbie" type call sign.

When the FCC allowed extra class licensees to choose their own call sign in
the early 70s, I obtained N2JH. At that point, I'm not sure if they would
allow you to grab an old expired call.

Once the gates were opened for vanity call signs, all bets are off as to how
long an amateur has been licensed. My bet would be that the WA and WB type
prefixes would be the only ones that would *almost* guarantee the individual
has been licensed long enough to qualify for the quarter century club. It
won't be long (and may have already happened) that there are some 5 word per
minute folks with a 1X2 call (which means fairly new hams).

I know a few with N8*** that are/were 5 wpm and were licensed in 1983 or
earlier, I don't think that would make them fairly new hams. A few more
years and they will qualify for the quarter century club.

I have to ask what the heck you were thinking with your response that a 1X2
or 1X3 call indicates an old timer?

???



73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA