Man there's a load of phony callsigns on the &nb

[AC4BB]

Well I guess I won't be getting some new QSL cards. For the past 3 days I have been chasing DX on 20 and 10 meters. I got a Dk4,9G5,SN8, EU8, KE5, and about 25 others that were totally bogus calls. I wasted a lot of time on the bootleggers. If anyone knows of stations doing that please either e-mail me or if possible post them for everyone to see. BTW: I checked all theses calls out on both QRZ and ARRL for accuracy and they came up as "Not in the database. If we will post some of these phonies it will be a big help to prevent working these people. Thank you, Bryan, AC4BB http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[WA5KRP]

Sorry you got burned, man. Please don't lose your faith in the amateur family. It's loaded with good people.



73

WA5KRP
Texas

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (AC4BB @ Sep. 14 2004,21:58)]For #the #past #3 #days #I #have been #chasing #DX on #20 #and #10 #meters. I got a #Dk4,9G5,SN8, EU8, KE5, and #about #25 others #that were #totally #bogus #calls. #
25 would be an awful lot of bogus calls in three days. #I don't think i've worked 25 "slims" in all the time that i've been licensed! Remember that when you're working DX, foreign stations won't be in the FCC database, OM. #They won't be on QRZ either, unless they have registered it themselves. #You could look them up in the old "Radio Amateur Callbook" if you can find one, or just do like i do these days. #Send 'em all a card through the "buro" and maybe you'll get one back in a year or two!

73
Chuck

[kg6saj]

Quote[/b] (AC4BB @ Sep. 14 2004,21:58)]... I got a #Dk4,9G5,SN8, EU8, KE5, and #about #25 others #that were #totally #bogus #calls...
AC4BB - I don't think that they're all bootleggers...

I'm not trying to be picky, but from a standpoint of 5-land sequentially assigned calls, they're up to KE5CNZ. That's according to both hamdata.com and QRZ's daily FCC report page.
Hard to believe, but then again here in 6-land we're almost to the end of KG6 calls. Next year, KI6*** calls? Sheesh. Guess we're keeping pace with 4-land.
Anyway, if you don't already have this link, here's a quick looker-upper for state side calls:

http://www.hamdata.com/fccinfo.html

just scroll to the bottom right corner.

73, Tim

[N8CPA]

Aren't both QRZ and ARRL restricted to U.S. only, and/or individually registered DX calls. #I don't think it likely that all of those are bogus. #Check some DX databases.

[ad5qb]

I find a lot of DX calls here (http://hamcall.net/call)

[w5alt]

I heard some of those stations the last few days and they most definitely weren't bogus! Many were operating the WAE contest. Why do you think they are bogus?

73,
Walt, W5ALT

[K7JBQ]

And while we're at it, who else remembers when AC4 was the single most sought-after prefix in the entire dx world?

73,
Bill

[w3sy]

I had a great night of DX-ing and I worked some VERY juicy calls! The log book includes:

PHØNY
ID1OT
MØRON
AS5HOL
GOØBER
BØGUS
BOØTLE/GR
UR1LID
PR1CK
DOØFUS
FØOL

Also heard a Sierra Hotel One, but didn't get the rest of his call.

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 15 2004,13:11)]I had a great night of DX-ing and I worked some VERY juicy calls! The log book includes:

PHØNY
ID1OT
MØRON
AS5HOL
GOØBER
BØGUS
BOØTLE/GR
UR1LID
PR1CK
DOØFUS
FØOL

Also heard a Sierra Hotel One, but didn't get the rest of his call.
Don't forget the DXpedition team of RG8U and RG8X. And I'm sure I've worked J3RK and L1D a time or two, but they never QSL.

[WB2WIK]

Who can forget the RG8U expedition to the Belden Congo?

73!

4Q2PAL

[KF0RT]

Or the 5U4GB dxpedition to Tube Island.

73, Rob (KFØRT)

[K9STH]

Lately, many countries (especially in Europe and South America) have been issuing "special" prefixes for short periods of time like contests. Usually, but not always, the rest of the call sign is the same as the regular call of the station that is using it. You have to go to the international prefix lists to even tell what country is issuing these call signs.

Although there are some "Slims" out there, the vast majority of "strange" call signs are ligitimate. You just have to look around to find out what the QSL information is in order to send off your card.

Therefore, I seriously doubt that you worked that many bogus calls. Calls that are not in any database, yes, bogus, no! You need to check some of the DX Internet sites to get the "real" information on these stations. As for KE5 calls, that is just where the FCC is right now in the 5th call area. It takes from 24 to 72 hours on average for the various sites to "catch up" with the FCC's database. Have you checked the FCC website for the KE5 calls?

Also, I have found that many people just cannot quite "get" the call signs correct. They don't listen for the phonetics and confuse A, K, and J. They confuse S with F, or B, C, D, E, and T. And so on. Then, when they cannot find the call in some database they immediately start saying that they worked "Slim". If I had a dime for everyone who has come back to me as "FTH" instead of "STH" over the years I could buy some pretty nice equipment. It doesn't matter that I use "Sierra" instead of "Foxtrot", the other people just don't listen! For some reason too many people can't spell! They think that Sierra starts with the letter "F"!

Glen, K9STH

[W3MIV]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Sep. 15 2004,13:38)]Lately, many countries (especially in Europe and South America) have been issuing "special" prefixes for short periods of time like contests.
During this past weekend's big Euro contest I recorded a plethora of these special event calls. When I looked them up they came up blank, but I logged them as genuine pending evidence to the contrary.

[K7JBQ]

Just be glad they're in the log. Would have been much worse had you decided they were bogus and not worked them.

It's the oldest advice in the dx world, but still the best:

Work 'em first, worry later.

73 es DX,
Bill

[ai4ep]

several reason for geting call signs confused...one major one is that a call sign can be ( nearly ) any group of number / letter combination..where as a WORD usually only hasd one correct sprlling.

example: -- radio -- how many times can you mis spell it ( especially when you are talking on one ? )

-- antenna -- we all use one in one way or another

but you get the gist of what I mean.

I mentioned in another thread about the various combination of my call sign that other folks read back to me, some were hilarious.
Some times I have heard stations tell me " I heard you on ( this frequency ) last week " when in reality I was not even on that band at that time of that particular day.

So those of you whose habit is to TAPE folks, you just might have the wrong fella...then YOU would look bad !!

73

ai4ep

[vk4xjb]

Quote[/b] (AC4BB @ Sep. 15 2004,14:58)]I checked #all theses calls #out on both #QRZ and #ARRL #for #accuracy #and #they #came #up #as "Not in the #database. #

Especially for non American callsigns I would not rate qrz as authoritive.

I know a few VK callsigns that qrz does not know of but these people like working a bit of dx. These people don't know about or just don't care about qrz so their details have never been entered. Can also come up with a couple of European callsigns that qrz does not know about. Plus any possible fake or old entries.

Someone else mentioned Hamcall. It is not up todate either. Not hard to find legitimate callsigns that it does not know about.

Forget if it was on qrz or eham but I have seen a few people claiming they won't acknowldge someone if they are not in the qrz database. Seems a good way to miss some legit contacts.

[KB1GYQ]

There are some calls not in QRZ at the express request of the call holder....

[KC2KFC]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 15 2004,10:11)]I had a great night of DX-ing and I worked some VERY juicy calls! The log book includes:

PHØNY
ID1OT
MØRON
AS5HOL
GOØBER
BØGUS
BOØTLE/GR
UR1LID
PR1CK
DOØFUS
FØOL

Also heard a Sierra Hotel One, but didn't get the rest of his call.
Steve,
You have out done yourself this time. My wife and I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.

[ka5s]

Don't forget the most called CW DX station: UP2LID

Cortland

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (ka5s @ Sep. 15 2004,19:10)]Don't forget the most called CW DX station: UP2LID
I've tried to work him many times but never got through the pileup. #What am i doing wrong???

Chuck http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[EI7JK]

[/QUOTE]Well I guess I won't #be #getting #some #new #QSL #cards. #For #the #past #3 #days #I #have been #chasing #DX on #20 #and #10 #meters. I got a #Dk4,9G5,SN8, EU8, KE5, and #about #25 others #that were #totally #bogus #calls. #I #wasted #a lot of #time #on the #bootleggers. #If #anyone #knows #of #stations #doing that #please either e-mail me #or #if #possible #post them for #everyone #to see. #BTW: I checked #all theses calls #out on both #QRZ and #ARRL #for #accuracy #and #they #came #up #as "Not in the #database. # If #we #will #post #some #of these #phonies #it #will be #a big help to #prevent #working #these people. #Thank #you, Bryan, AC4BB #[QUOTE]

So, why have you not been brave enough to list the full calls of all of these stations that you worked that you are so sure are bogus ?

Come to think of it, how come none of the others who replied to your post, listed no full calls either

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (EI7JK @ Sep. 15 2004,20:48)]Come to think of it, how come none of the others who replied to your post, listed no full calls either
I can't speak for the original poster - i don't know why he didn't list full calls.

I think that most of us who responded don't think that he worked any "bogus" calls. #We were just gently chiding an FCC licensed "amateur extra" because he didn't realize that stations outside of the USA won't be listed in the FCC database!

Sorry, OM...I keep trying to fight the "Ugly American" image , but i sometimes feel that it is a lost cause. #We can be our own worst enemy when we show our ignorance like that!

73
Chuck

[w3sy]

From KA5S:

<span style='color:blue'>Don't forget the most called CW DX station: UP2LID</span>

HAW!! That's hilarious, but might require some explanation for The Uninitiated.....

Similarly, there's the old story about a CW DX station working split.... Someone called on the DX's frequency. A "helpful" station, trying to tell the caller to go up 5, sent "UP5KC." The caller then began frantically calling "UP5KC UP5KC."

Oy.

[w3sy]

From Kentucky Fried Chicken Kevin:

<span style='color:blue'>Steve,
You have out done yourself this time. My wife and I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. </span>

Then you should have heard the pileup for GO2L.

Along with the list already presented, here are one's I have heard, personally, or have heard tapes of them supplied by others in the past 36 years. Many of 'em used LEGITIMATE ITU-authorized prefixes and some of 'em ACTUALLY would be legitimate callsigns IF issued.

(please excuse the obvious 'nasty' nature of a few of them. But they WERE heard and people DID work 'em)

BY1BY (heard in 1997)
DL1DO
CO2CKS
LA3UGH
HA3HA
DM3DUM
RA1DIO
M0TOR

MM3GUD (I heard him in 2000 working a guy. He used the name 'Campbell' and said he was in Southern England)

W0OF (I hear this one every so often)

UB2SME

CO3NDO/M (I heard this in 1986 during a DX contest. He worked a about 10 people before someone came on the frequency and said 'This guy is a SLIM! He's trying to screw you all! You could hear a lot of VOX's tripped with others who laughed!)

There are more.. those are the ones that come to mind that haven't been mentioned yet.

Enjoy!

k3FT

[K9STH]

Back in the mid 1970s the Richardson Wirless Klub (K5RWK) used the 2-meter FM simplex frequency of 146.490 MHz as a general "chatter" and DX alert frequency. One evening several of us were "chatting" on this frequency when another "regular" (and a bit of a braggart) came on and said that he was tuning around 20 meter SSB and remarked that he still needed several African and other stations for his DXCC total. He then said that he was tuning around a specific frequency range on 20 meters.

Suddenly, a very weak, but workable station with the callsign of 5R4GT was heard. This "DX" champion immediately called him. This stations "handle" was "Toobe". No sooner had the 5R4 been worked when 5U4GB was heard. The "DX" champion called him. The 5U4's name was "Rect". Next came 6L6GA who's name was "Amp", 6V6GT, 5Y3A, a couple of 7V stations, several other 6, 5, and 3 prefixes. The "DX" champion was in Seventh Heaven!

Of course what was happening is that there had been a number of stations who had been monitoring the 2 meter frequency who heard the "bragging" of the "DX" champion who were turning off their linears and turning down the microphone gain on their transmitters to make their stations as weak as possible. Since they were in different parts of the Dallas area, the "DX" champion (who lived towards downtown Dallas) had to turn his beam every-which-way to "peak" these stations.

Frankly, what he "worked" was the RCA Receiving Tube Manual! However, he would not admit that he had worked a number of "Slims" (even months later) and sent off QSL cards to all of the bureaus that would be concerned with the various calls. Of course he never got a single card back. But, for as long as I kept track of him he would not admit that he had been "hoodwinked"!

Now, during one of the ARRL CW DX contests 20 meters was dead. However, one local and I happened to tune across the band and we heard a station in Outer Mongolia sending CQ. Well, we both worked this station and then the band went dead again. Of course everyone told us that we had worked "Slim". The station's QSL manager was an OK1 station and we both sent off our QSL cards.

A little over a month later we both got our confirming QSL cards on the same day which just happened to be the same day as the evening RWK meeting. Although we hadn't talked to each other we both had the same idea. We put "Slim's" QSL card in our shirt pocket (where the call could be seen) and went to the meeting. There was quite a bit of "crow eating" that evening! We both had worked a bonified station during a "freak" opening of the band. After that no one ever accused us of working "Slim" again!

Glen, K9STH

Glen,

I'd FULLY forgotten about the 'tube SLIM's!'

Thanks for the reminder! I started laughing when I read the first one and the memories came flooding back and I was chuckling all the time. My coworkers are used to my chuckling for no apparently good reason! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

5Y3GT, 1T4GB, etc

Hilarious.. truly!!

[K7JBQ]

Glen,

Wonderful.

Now, not to brag or anything, but does anyone else have the elusive "Worked All Amish" award?

73,
Bill

[w3sy]

Funny, but I have never heard the term "slim" used for "bootlegger." What is the origin of the term "slim?"

[K9STH]

SY:

The term "Slim" has been used since at least the early 1960s if not before. One of the "stories" that I have heard is that you had a "slim" chance of working a real station.

Another comes from the old slang for a "shady" character or "slim" character.

Actually, I really don't know the definitive answer! It is just that bogus operators have been called "Slim" almost since I was first licensed.

Glen, K9STH

[N8CPA]

"Slim" is a term I originally read in World Radio back when I had no HF gear. When I read it, I associated it with being a term for an unlicensed op, not exclusively DX. To be a lid, one must be licensed. I thought anybody could be a slim--no manuals, no tests, and no license required. I only rarely hear it on the air and rarely read it nowadays.

[w3sy]

QRZ? Was that Sierry Lima One Mike on frequency?

Haw!

[AC4BB]

Quote[/b] (W5MEJ @ Sep. 14 2004,22:21)]Quote[/b] (AC4BB @ Sep. 14 2004,21:58)]For #the #past #3 #days #I #have been #chasing #DX on #20 #and #10 #meters. I got a #Dk4,9G5,SN8, EU8, KE5, and #about #25 others #that were #totally #bogus #calls. #
25 would be an awful lot of bogus calls in three days. #I don't think i've worked 25 "slims" in all the time that i've been licensed! Remember that when you're working DX, foreign stations won't be in the FCC database, OM. #They won't be on QRZ either, unless they have registered it themselves. #You could look them up in the old "Radio Amateur Callbook" if you can find one, or just do like i do these days. #Send 'em all a card through the "buro" and maybe you'll get one back in a year or two!

73
Chuck
Thanks #for the link to #hamcall look . However, #I#have #been aware of #that #site #for # a long #time #and #I #had already #looked the calls #up #there before #posting. #For#those that#would #like #to see #the #calls #here's a #small p-ortion #from #my 20 meter logbook of #12 Sept, 04' SN8KNJ,KE1UA,RK1JWV,UA9GAB,PJ7TZ DK7JN,,9G5GO,, and #several more slims in there. #This#is#just a partial list#of#those. #Betcha,won't find the#people in any database. #I#worked #everyone #of them #and #I #double #checked #the #calligns. #I have#been #contesting #and #working DX more than 22 years. #I make #sure #before #I #end the #exchange #that #I'm #100% sure #I have #the #calls #correct. # Take a #look #and satisfy #your #curosity #that I'm #right. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif #I believe in giving #people #the benefit #of the #doubt. #But not appearing #in any database #that's #proof enough for #me. I just #wanted to #pass #along #some very #valuable information #about #how #I #got #burned #by #some people #that obviously #are phoney's. # Bryan: AC4BB

[vk4xjb]

The link that AD5QB gave on the first page of this thread gives info on DL7ON. The first link google gives for this callsign says where he is and even has a few photos.


What databases do people use? I know of hamcall, qrz, fcc, aca and google.

[AC4BB]

Quote[/b] (vk4xjb @ Sep. 18 2004,00:24)]The link that AD5QB gave on the first page of this thread gives info on DL7ON. The first link google gives for this callsign says where he is and even has a few photos.


What databases do people use? I know of hamcall, qrz, fcc, aca and google.
Did find DL7ON, Thanks for the link I can get him a card off to the BURO. I will take his name off that list and set that website in the favorites. Thank you for the great info .Bryan: AC4BB http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[W5MEJ]

DK7JN is in my 2002 Callbook. Didn't find any of the others you mentioned, but mine is an old callbook. I suspect most or all of the others are valid, also.

73
Chuck

[AC4BB]

Quote[/b] (W5MEJ @ Sep. 19 2004,08:20)]DK7JN is in my 2002 Callbook. #Didn't find any of the others you mentioned, but mine is an old callbook. #I suspect most or all of the others are valid, also.

73
Chuck
Maybe,in the 2002 callbook but he's sure not listed anywhere current that I can find. If,he is good I would love to send him a QSL card. Unless he's got an unlisted call I can't find any record of it I checked all the known databases and no record.

Bryan, AC4BB http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif