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Re: [CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?
From: "Bob, W3IDT" <w3idt@comcast.net>
Reply-to: w3idt@comcast.net
Date: Thu, 30 May 2013 19:23:00 -0400
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
John,

I think you missed one of my comments (below) in this thread (and reminded me that there was on other item I could have added):

a. You said, "If you call someone, they assume that you were already able to copy their callsign ..." I had clearly stated that, "I do S&P at 19wpm. I can, of course, *verify* a spotted call at a much higher speed." (emphasis added). That is, I pick a spot (RBN or manual), and listen to verify the call. That I can do at reasonable contest speeds.

b. You said, "... and that you would be able to copy the report and recognize your callsign at their speed."
Recognize my callsign at reasonable speed: Yes.
Copy the report: NO, otherwise why would I be calling at 19wpm if I could copy at 30wpm (to a station operating at 30wpm)?

c. You said, "You probably already heard the report that they
gave to the station before you so you should already have some idea what
to expect."
Wish that was true. I do try to listen to a round or two. But you (well not YOU @P40A - with 3000+ Qs) might be surprised at how often stations will cq for minutes on end without a reply! So I call them at 19wpm, expecting to have to ask "nr?" Surely that should be a clue that I can't copy much faster. A second request of "nr? qrs" is like a sledge hammer!

d. I worked you three times in wpx cw. It's guys like me that drive your totals. You probably made some attempt to slow down.


Bob, w3idt
--

.............................
. Robert F. Teitel, W3IDT   .
.                           .
. W3IDT@arrl.net            .
. W3IDT@comcast.net         .
.............................


Charlie, hs0zcw, is right: Slowing down to the caller's speed used to be standard; but now, *very* few ops will do so (maybe we should keep a list to make public). I even have a function key programmed with "qrs"... My second repeat request becomes "nr? qrs". That seems to have helped a little: almost everyone dropped the cut numbers, even if they didn't slow down much.

For 50+ years I have struggle with cw. Do S&P at 19 wpm. (I can, of course, verify a spotted call at a much higher speed.)

One hot shot (RBN said 41wpm) with multiple cut numbers in the 4 digit serial is getting a NIL: After my third (or fourth?) repeat request without proper response (slower / no cut numbers) I sent "tu and our serial"; after his "tu", I promptly hit DELETE.

A couple of stations simply ignored me. Fine with me. If you don't want to work me at 19wpm, ignore me. I'll call you twice, then move on.

Bob, w3idt
--

.............................
. Robert F. Teitel, W3IDT   .
.                           .
. W3IDT@arrl.net            .
. W3IDT@comcast.net         .
.............................

On 5/30/2013 12:59 PM, john@kk9a.com wrote:
I think if you are calling CQ at 20 wpm people should answer you at that
speed. If they call you at a much higher speed it is just rude. If you
call someone, they assume that you were already able to copy their
callsign and that you would be able to copy the report and recognize your
callsign at their speed. You probably already heard the report that they
gave to the station before you so you should already have some idea what
to expect. I think it is unrealistic to expect a running station to match
the speed of every caller.

I also do not like cut numbers when I am expecting a serial number,
especially when it is sent as a mixture of real numbers and cut ones. Many
logging programs will make the conversion if you type the appropriate
letter.

John, P40A last weekend



To:      CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject:[CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?
From:    Charles Harpole <hs0zcw@gmail.com>
Date:    Mon, 27 May 2013 19:35:27 +0700

When is high speed CW not speedy?
Answer, when sending to me well beyond my SENDING SPEED of 20 WPM.  I
worked the whole contest at 20wpm sending and rcving (I can do that speed
well and remember when it was considered fast?), lots as H&P so the other
station already knew my speed because I called him at 20.

He sends four numeral S.N. at 40wpm, so I have to ask for THREE repeats,
one for each of the last three numerals.  If, like good ops of old, he just
came down to 20, no repeats and no delays and no cursing me under his
breath.

I guess some programs are difficult to adjust speed or maybe "real"
contesters are just arrogant???   My radios have a speed knob right on
front.

I bet that without RBN and code readers, the speed demons would not be able
to run like that.   BTW, by sending 5NN at 70wpm followed by the SN at 40
keeps even the smartest code readers missing the first few numbers as it
re-times from 70 down to 40.

I copied the "cut numbers" as letters and plan to send in a log that way.
When will ops begin to use cut numbers inside their call signs too?... I
used E2E, and guess I could have signed EAE.
Also, when my friend can win his category for Asia and not know code,
really, something is wrong with contesting and respect for and satisfaction
with human achievement.

Oh, have my smart phone tell me when the next contest is over and how my
new, 80wpm, fully automated station did in scores.   73,



--

.............................
. Robert F. Teitel, W3IDT   .
.                           .
. W3IDT@arrl.net            .
. W3IDT@comcast.net         .
.............................                                   
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