There are many differences between the USA and Europe:
First off, Europe would fit inside the USA.
You call it petrol, we call it gasoline.
You call them chips (or whatever), we call them fries.
You use the metric system, we're still on standard.
You use Celsius, we use Fahrenheit.
You call it the cinema, we call it the movies.
And so on, and so on, and so on ..........
But as a Ham, I've noticed a big difference in the way we approach special event stations. Here in the US, for the most part but not always, we apply to the FCC through the ARRL for special 1X1 call signs. For instance, when the Piscataway Amateur Radio Club celebrated the tri-centennial of the founding of Piscataway, we applied for and used W2P.
The 13 Colonies special event used call signs such as K2I for New Jersey, K2E for Delaware and so on. The special event station that just celebrated the 45th Anniversary of Apollo 11? W4A.
But in Europe, you guys take the opposite route! Special event stations from European nations can be a mouthful. DM200TSV, SF2014ECC, E72NATO, 3E2000PC, LZ1437MGS and my all time favorite, SV2013ATGM.
What I like about these European call signs is that they try to bear some significance towards the event they are commemorating - SV2013ATGM was about Alexander the Great, E72NATO celebrated membership in NATO and so on. A lot more descriptive than 1X1 call signs, that's for sure.
I'm just waiting to hear one some day that has all the numbers 0 through 9 and all 26 letters of the alphabet. THAT would be a special, special event call sign - a bear to copy, but special, nonetheless!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The humorist in me wants to change one line of your comparison.
ReplyDelete"You use the metric system, We put a man on the moon."
Cute post, though.
de n7fan