View Full Version : Callsign bootleggers
k7cop
11-30-2002, 12:24 AM
I have been using the PSK31 digital modes for about three years now. In that time, I have, periodically checked callsigns through the database just because I'm
curious as to who I am talking to.
In the last month, I have had at least two stations that,
when checked against the database, show a different owner.
I sent letters to those folks and advised them that someone has been using those callsigns.
My thought to those of us who do use the digital modes is to ask for a qsl card, then try and figure out, if
possible who these "random" bootleggers are. Chances are that the person you are in QSO with will just dissappear from the contact as mine did, both times.
What I did get was merely a name, and a state, no city or town was given.
Most hams are very free to give not only their grid square, but their address, and even their latitude and longitude if they are legit.
This seems to be happening more frequently than it has in the past.
Having had my call bootlegged a couple of times, I find a little concern in it.
I sure would not want to recieve a "pink Slip" for something I haven't done. #
k7cop@spro.net
I keep getting QSL cards in the mail and haven't been on HF for a very long time...
go figure... who would want to use this call...hehehe
Harry N0PU
KD5UJZ
11-30-2002, 12:43 AM
Sorry Harry,
I thought I was expected to qsl will all in the topic every time I poseted http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Hehehehe... good one...
Harry N0PU
BTW: who needs assembly when ya have machine code?
KD5UJZ
11-30-2002, 12:54 AM
hehe, I spent about an hour converting "hello world" assembly instructions to motorola z80 op codes. All I accomplished was a locked solid TI-86. After that I could not work up the guts to do it on any computer. #The majority of my asm experiance was with an SX-key, small microchip that can be bought as a dev kit from parallax. I bought it because I loved the basic stamp, but some of the routines were too slow for some of the sms network functions we were working with.
The saying came about as somewhat of a metaphor to who phone when you have cw? But seeing as how I am only about half way through the alphabet with morse, I could not say the later.
My first computer was a 4040 four bit slice machine back in early 70s... then went on to the 8080 before there WAS assembly for it... everything we wrote was in machine code... Had difficulty moving to assembly when it came out... Went to college 25 years later and found out there was NAMES for those sort routines we were using back in those days... hehehehe
Harry N0PU
KD5UJZ
11-30-2002, 01:07 AM
My former boss's son was a computer science major at lowel, He dropped one of his punch card assignments en-route to number them. His father graduated from mit in the 40's I belive with a degree in EE. He taught me all that I know about electronics the hard way. I once asked for permission to buy an rs232 interface cable in the first month I worked for him. He was quite disgusted that I did not just build one. I learned quite quickly which pins to short to bypass check sums.
N5LRZ
11-30-2002, 01:07 AM
Being digital, those suspected bootleg calls could just be typo errors. Some people, myself included, seem to have a rought time on the ol keyboard.
UJZ: That's MY kinda elmering...Aren't ya glad now he did it that way???
RA: Not 3 in one month...
Harry N0PU
N7CPC
11-30-2002, 04:28 AM
UJZ........Better watch that icon, someone in the UK may be turned on by it!
NNNN
N7CPC/cc http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
ai4ep
11-30-2002, 04:59 AM
well based on some of the ACCURATE and PROFESSIONAL SPELLING of the words by the various operators, it is really NO wonder that the call signs are not accurate ! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif , also add the noise on the radios, it is some times hard to distinguish a "t " from a "d ", and a "z" from a "b", also add in the cultural speaking dialects from the various parts ( just of the usa ) of the world...clash that "twangy southern accent " with the "yankee slang " #with the distinctive "mid west speak everything very professionally " and we do have a small mess... but then this world is NOT perfect. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif happy holidays to all---less than 25 days till CHRISTMAS--- http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif ....kd4amg
ai4ep
12-05-2003, 04:34 AM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif how little we have changed in just over one year !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KD5UJZ @ Nov. 28 2002,19:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...He dropped one of his punch card assignments en-route to number them...[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The second lesson I learned about Hollerith cards, is that it is best to draw a diagonal line through the side of the stack even before numbering. That way, if you drop them, screw up the numbering, etc, at least you have somewhere to start sorting.
6800, 6804, and 6809 machine code here along with Zilog Z-80. LONG time ago!! I learned Fortran, Cobol, assembler, Basic, Pascal, Modula 2, a little LISP, 'c', and 'c++' along the way.
Have not done anything in the last 8 years. Worked my way up to being a "pointy-haired manager". http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I know what you mean about the bootleggers! I was a little suspicious when ID1OT answered my CQ. Then there was a pileup for PR1CK that sounded suspicious. And I didn't think AS5 was a real prefix when I worked AS5HOL.
Bootlegged calls heard/worked over the years..
Some were heard/worked by me (and yes.. I recognized some as bootleggers but still had a laugh) and some have been related to me by those who heard and/or worked them.
WARNING! THIS IS NOT * A POLITICALLY CORRECT ** POST!
Some of the callsigns and explanations MAY offend some faint-of-heart, but they are really what was heard.
RG8 (and any variation of suffix) A, U, X, AU, etc.
UG75AU (guy said it was a special events call for 75 years of the 'supposedly independent' province in Russia.
DL1DO, PR1CK, CO2ME, JI2ZZM (I heard this guy 3 years ago during a DX contest)
SL1M, W(zero)OF, BA1RK, BY1BYE, G(zero)ON
AND THIS one .... about 20 years ago, on 40M, I overheard someone working a guy - who DID NOT get the joke until some other guy came on and told him later.. you SHUDDA heard the HI HI HI on the air after it was over.
The guy was using the callsign VA3GIN/A..
The guy 'claimed' to be operating from Ontario, Canada. Then the (sadly uninformed) guy he was working asked about the 'slash A' he was told it ws because the guy was operating FROM HIS AIRPLANE which was sitting on the tarmac waiting for clearance to take off!
The uninformed guy ACTUALLY started asking questions about aeronautical mobile ops. The bootlegger acted normally and answered the questions. He also ID'd EVERY transmission witha long spoken 'SLASH AAA' after the VA3GIN callsign.
The uninformed guy would then ID both the bootlegger AND himself UNTIL the bootlegger couldn't keep from laughing during the transmissions and went QRT!
The uninformed guy called him a few times and made a comment about perhaps he (the bootlegger) had to take off and he'd (the uninformed guy) would be monitoring. Someone FINALLY took pity on this guy and called him and told him it was a bootlegger. The uninformed guy wanted to know how that was possible and the guy politely told him 'Just look at the callsign without the slash and see!'
There was a pause... then another pause.. Finally the uninformed guy came back (and to his credit) was chuckling and said 'Well, guess that was one on me! Oh well! I better pay more attention!". He signed clear and went QRT.
The Laughter heard on the frequency as the various stations listengin kicked in their VOX was something. Plus a few 'H-I's' on CW were heard. A VERY FUNNY incident.
There are others.. like the one where the guy exactly zero beated CHU and on the bottom of the minute where CHU omitted the tick came on and transmitted ATOP CHU and said "HEY! YOU MISSED ONE!"
Yes. I DID hear that one too... Why? I used to use CHU to check the clock AND my old HW100 frequency display.
73
Chuck K3FT