----- Original Message -----
From: Mike & Coreen Smith
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2012 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: Patience in ARRL 160 Contest
I would have to agree with Herb 100%, in fact, I believe in this past ARRL
160, Herb got me as "VE9??" and I sent AA AA (maybe I sent AA 3 times, I
don't recall) and he came right back with VE9AA 5NN etc. and we finished
very quickly.
If I'm in S&P mode and the running stn sends to me "VE9A?" or "VE9??" I will
usually reply with "AA AA" or "AA AA VE9AA" or some variation thereof.
If I get a "??" from the running stn, I presume he's confused or doesn't
hardly hear me at all, then I'll go the "VE9AA VE9AA" route.
I would say in the majority of cases though, "AA AA" or "AA AA VE9AA" works.
If I hear VE8?? sent (which I sometimes do) I'll send my full call only.
I know when I am running and I send "WB1??" and I hear this back:
"VE9AA VE9AA de WB1ABC WB1ABC" , I would've rathern heard "ABC ABC ABC
ABC" (or just "ABC ABC"). Better use of time and it's only the suffix that
I needed.
Now, whether that's due to there being so few VE9's in contests and DX
pileups, "super check partial" SCP, or people actually remembering me
(gasp!) I don't know, but most guys get me the 2nd time around, QRM/QSB/QRN
or whatever.
Mike VE9AA
--------------------------
Doung, So many times I just hear the prefix and the suffix drops out or is
covered by noise. It maybe a mental thing as I have no other explanation
where the prefix comes through time and time but the suffix is lost. Since I
know what the correct suffix is, sending only the missing information make
so much sense and saves valuable time. In such cases sending only the
missing data is what I would recommend for stations struggling to get in the
log as the prefix is already confirmed to both of the stations. So many
times DX-peditions will not get my call correctly and butcher a portion of
it...like "KV4Z ur 5NN" to which I immediately reply "FZ...FZ...FZ KV4FZ K"
This procedure works every time especially layers deep in piles up.
Thanks for your remarks,
Herb, KV4FZ
Mike, Coreen & Corey Smith
699 Rte 616 Keswick Ridge
NB
Canada
E6L 1T1
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