"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message ...
"Brian Kelly" wrote in message


I find that people have a high error percentage in getting my call
correct
even with a clear, strong FM signal unless I give it at least once
phonetically. While my call is N8UZE, the Z is frequently repeated
back to
me as B, C, D, G, P, T, or V. The only people who don't make that
mistake
are those who have known me for a while and are familiar with my call.

There's an ancient quick fix for that problem. Use N 8 U Zed E.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv

I am aware of that but am not used to it, not having grown up around
speakers of French or people from Canada or near the Canadian border.

I didn't realize "Zed" has a "French connection". Live and learn. I
never noticed that there are any regional trends to it's use, I'm ten
minutes from the Mason-Dixon line and it's been SOP everywere I've
tuned since AM days. It's used unconsciously even on the machines and
in face-to-face conversation. N 3 N Zed is one of the locals, I
suspect that if somebody called him N 3 N Zee it would cause a
back-up-and-think-about-it moment. Maybe it's just an Old Fart thing.
Heh.

Besides, I like to make absolutely sure that someone I've never spoken to
before gets it right. Occasionally the "E" also causes problems.

I have a long-established policy: I *always* use phonetics to open
*every* QSO with somebody I haven't worked previously, on HF or on the
machines. I really don't care if the machine politically-correctness
cops like it or not.


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv

"Brian Kelly" wrote in message
om...
"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
...
"Brian Kelly" wrote in message


I find that people have a high error percentage in getting my call
correct
even with a clear, strong FM signal unless I give it at least once
phonetically. While my call is N8UZE, the Z is frequently repeated
back to
me as B, C, D, G, P, T, or V. The only people who don't make that
mistake
are those who have known me for a while and are familiar with my
call.

There's an ancient quick fix for that problem. Use N 8 U Zed E.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv

I am aware of that but am not used to it, not having grown up around
speakers of French or people from Canada or near the Canadian border.

I didn't realize "Zed" has a "French connection". Live and learn. I
never noticed that there are any regional trends to it's use, I'm ten
minutes from the Mason-Dixon line and it's been SOP everywere I've
tuned since AM days. It's used unconsciously even on the machines and
in face-to-face conversation. N 3 N Zed is one of the locals, I
suspect that if somebody called him N 3 N Zee it would cause a
back-up-and-think-about-it moment. Maybe it's just an Old Fart thing.
Heh.


Yup, zed is the French name for the letter Z. It is NOT part of a phonetic
alphabet. Outside of ham radio (which I got into in 1992) you only hear it
in areas subject to French influence.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dee D. Flint" wrote in
:


"Brian Kelly" wrote in message
om...
"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
...
"Brian Kelly" wrote in message


I find that people have a high error percentage in getting my
call correct even with a clear, strong FM signal unless I give
it at least once phonetically. While my call is N8UZE, the Z
is frequently repeated back to me as B, C, D, G, P, T, or V.
The only people who don't make that mistake are those who have
known me for a while and are familiar with my call.

There's an ancient quick fix for that problem. Use N 8 U Zed E.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv

I am aware of that but am not used to it, not having grown up around
speakers of French or people from Canada or near the Canadian
border.

I didn't realize "Zed" has a "French connection". Live and learn. I
never noticed that there are any regional trends to it's use, I'm ten
minutes from the Mason-Dixon line and it's been SOP everywere I've
tuned since AM days. It's used unconsciously even on the machines and
in face-to-face conversation. N 3 N Zed is one of the locals, I
suspect that if somebody called him N 3 N Zee it would cause a
back-up-and-think-about-it moment. Maybe it's just an Old Fart thing.
Heh.


Yup, zed is the French name for the letter Z. It is NOT part of a
phonetic alphabet. Outside of ham radio (which I got into in 1992) you
only hear it in areas subject to French influence.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE



Zed is the _English_ as well as French name for the last letter of the
alphabet. Zee is American, and likely also not understood in VK, ZL, etc.

"Alun" wrote in message
...
"Dee D. Flint" wrote in
:
[snip]

Zed is the _English_ as well as French name for the last letter of the
alphabet. Zee is American, and likely also not understood in VK, ZL, etc.


However if you will check the etymology in the dictionary, it is of French
origin. Interestingly enough no etymology is given for zee.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE