"Ivor Jones" wrote in message
...
"KØHB" wrote in message
ps.com
On May 10, 6:20 pm, AF6AY wrote:


Why is the (supposed) laugh on voice expressed as "HI
HI."


For the same reason that hams give "59" signal reports
instead of saying "you're loud and clear", for the same
reason that they say "73" instead of "best wishes", and
for the same reason that they say "QSL" instead of "I got
that". These, and "hi hi", are carryovers of CW
"shorthand" and have survived as a natural sort of
"insiders lingo". As a newer ham you may find them
unnatural or awkward to use, and the good news is that
everyone will still be happy to snag your prefix in WPX,
even if you don't say TKS ES GL OM HI HI..

73, de Hans, K0HB

The CW shorthand I can understand, but why "handle"..?!

73 Ivor G6URP


For what it worth - from URL:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...at-HOBBIES.htm
l

"The term handle is an old slang term for name that goes back to the cowb
oys
of the Old West. Telegraphers picked it up and the ham radio operators go
t
it from them. CB operators copied the hams, and there you have it."

I have heard several old time hams give this explanation

Lamont