I wouldn't trade K5XU either, Mike, if I were you.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Mike Duke, K5XU
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2015 1:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CW Calls

I was WB5ADC from August of 1970 until November of 1996.

When I was preparing to submit my list of vanity call choices, I sat down
with a keyer, and sent various 2 and 3 letter combinations to see how they
sounded, as well as how it felt to send them.

A few combinations sounded okay, but were awful to send, while others just
didn't sound smooth no matter how I sent them.

My first choice was N5MD, just because it would be cool to have my initials
as my call. That wasn't a bad CW call either. Another person with the MD
initials received that call before my application was processed.

K5XU was my second choice. As soon as I began using it, I realized what a
great call I had gotten for CW. It is okay for voice work, but it really
rocks on CW at any speed.

I had very little trouble remembering to use the new call on CW, but it took
me two forevers to not stutter through WB5, uh, K5XU, on phone.

Looking back, I hope Mark Dempsky is as happy with N5MD as I am with K5XU. I
would not trade calls with him.

--
Mike Duke, K5XU