I have to agree with K9YC on this one, but with qualifications. Contesting is
about making great use of your time, doing things as efficiently as possible.
Most of the folks I heard doing this were sending very long CQs, something of
the sort: CQ TEST CQ TEST W1AA W1AA TEST. Usually they were sending at maybe 20
wpm. Unless things are very slow (Sunday afternoon), I hear that and I spin the
dial.
The sequence that bothered me in WPX was much simpler. CQ WPX W1AA. Why? It
first sounded like it might be a WP4 sending CQ, so I entered the WP into the
call field, only to have to erase them for the real call. After hearing this a
few times I changed my own CQ to send CQ TEST instead. No need to confuse
others.
73!
Jack, W6FB
> On Jun 1, 2020, at 8:49 AM, Alan M. Eshleman <doctore@well.com> wrote:
>
> Respectively disagree. For starters, the ARRL operating manual presents
> "test" as a legitimate option at the end of a CW contest CQ.
>
> Other variations include (1)ending a CQ with the abbreviated name of the
> contest, e.g. "CQ K6SRZ WPX" or "CQ K6SRZ SS"] or
>
> [2] Simply ending with "CQ" as, for example, "CQ K6SRZ CQ".
>
> All three variations allow the listener to correctly identify a station
> seeking contacts.
>
> Early ham radio events were often called "tests" which may be where this came
> from. It may also be simply a shortened version of "contest". I'll leave
> this to the same scholars who continue trying to verify the origin of "ham".
>
> Bottom line for me is that "test" doesn't disturb my rhythm in CW contesting
> when I hear others using it. When I am running I drop "test" and just send
> "TU K6SRZ".
>
> For me, the major rhythm disturbance in WPX CW is the practice of those EU
> super stations that keep running for minutes at a time without sending their
> calls.
>
> It's a fun hobby. "TEST" doesn't spoil it for me. YMMV
>
> 73, Alan, K6SRZ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jim Brown <k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com>
> To: cq-contest <cq-contest@contesting.com>
> Sent: Sun, 31 May 2020 20:32:35 -0700 (PDT)
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] "Test" At End of CQ
>
> I don't know where this practice came from -- perhaps the guys who came
> up with "Please Copy?" Both are time-wasters, and "test" at the end of a
> CQ completely throws off the rhythm of answering a CQ. If you need that
> "test" to tell you it's time to call, you need to go back to contesting
> school!
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
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