The Stew is excellent in cross checking by using the grid for distance
measurements and qualifying rankings in the results. Unfortunately the grid is
found on QRZ.Com.
A contest to separate the men from the boys would be the grid plus serial
number or age of the operator.
But it’s all mostly for fun and a challenge.
My point is the RST is indicative of nothing anymore.
Val
Sent from my iPad
> On Dec 8, 2025, at 7:12 PM, Hugh Valentine <HSVDDS@outlook.com> wrote:
>
> If 99.9% of all signal reports sent are 599, what is that good for?
> A contest QSO at minimum should contain a serial number to cross check
> Signal reports are not genuine anymore and are as significant as teats on a
> boar hog.
> Replace the abused and insignificant 599 with a serial number when a contest
> is established.
> N4RJ
>
> Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
> ________________________________
> From: Topband <topband-bounces+hsvdds=outlook.com@contesting.com> on behalf
> of Tree <tree@kkn.net>
> Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 6:28:31 PM
> To: Wes Stewart <n7ws@yahoo.com>
> Cc: n0jk@hotmail.com <n0jk@hotmail.com>; topband@contesting.com
> <topband@contesting.com>; n0tt1@juno.com <n0tt1@juno.com>
> Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 comments
>
> There were indeed a couple of stations not sending the RST. I won't name
> them here.
>
> I don't believe any of them were contenders, so more likely, they just
> thought it was a good idea or didn't know. If I worked someone who only
> gave me their section, I might send them a note after the contest letting
> them know. We certainly don't want this to become widespread.
>
> EXCEPT for the Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge. Originally, RSTs
> were optional and some people sent them and some didn't. We eventually
> eliminated them as the grid square was hard enough to copy. Mark your
> calendars for December 27th - December 28th. Starts at (let me see if I
> can get this right) 1500Z and goes for 24 hours. Full rules and previous
> results are here - http://kkn.net/stew/<http://kkn.net/stew/>
>
> 73 Tree N6TR / K7RAT
>
>> On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM Wes Stewart via Topband <
>> topband@contesting.com> wrote:
>>
>> From the published rules:
>> "Exchange: W/VE stations send a signal report and their ARRL/RAC Section.
>> DX stations send a signalreport."
>> Seems to me that anyone not sending a report isn't making any contacts.
>> Wes N7WS
>>
>>
>> On Monday, December 8, 2025 at 03:00:31 PM MST, n0tt1@juno.com <
>> n0tt1@juno.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Another trend I noted was people not sending the 599. Several were just
>> sending their section.
>> The "599" is a place filler in the exchange, but not sending it seemed
>> to slow things down."
>>
>> I noticed that too. Other OPs are expecting a certain sequence in the
>> exchange
>> and if that's disrupted then it may cause a problem. Especially if
>> signal strength
>> is marginal.
>>
>> Charlie, N0TT
>>
>> On Mon, 8 Dec 2025 15:36:26 +0000 jon jones <n0jk@hotmail.com> writes:
>>> I missed K7RAT despite looking... I had put up a ¼ wave wire in tall
>>> trees on our farm north of Lawrence. It worked really well. It came
>>> down last week in the snow storm. So to hand out a few Qs used
>>> the rain gutter on our home again.
>>>
>>> Despite a minimal antenna and my old TS-850 at 50 watts, worked many
>>> people "S & P" including PJ2T and KP4AA. And Don, WD8DSB — thanks!
>>>
>>> Conditions seemed down Friday night with east coast stations weak
>>> and unworkable. Better Saturday evening and worked many W2, W3s and
>>> K1KI CT. Copied several W6 but no luck. N7EPD WWA strong but didn't
>>> copy me. High K index didn't help.
>>>
>>> Tree has a point with the exchange issue and timing. Sending the
>>> other station's call helps. Another trend I noted was people not
>>> sending the 599. Several were just sending their section. The "599"
>>> is a place filler in the exchange, but not sending it seemed to slow
>>> things down.
>>>
>>>
>>> *
>>> Jon N0JK
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>>> Conditions have not been so good - although I did manage some East
>>> Coast
>>> QSOs around midnight local time.
>>>
>>> One or two QSOs didn't make it into the log for a reason I would
>>> like to
>>> share. When the band is open to Europe for the East Coast, it is
>>> common
>>> for us West Coast people to end up on their frequency as it is
>>> totally
>>> clear on this end. If an East Coast station sends their call sign -
>>> but
>>> totally out of sync, we pretty much know what is happening.
>>> However, if
>>> the timing is good - then we can feel confident that they are
>>> working us.
>>>
>>> However, when I am low power - it is hard for the East coast station
>>> to
>>> hear me - add in some QSB - and thus the timing might get messed up.
>>> I had
>>> this happen last night (calls changed to protect the guilty):
>>>
>>> CQ TEST K7RAT
>>> K3ZO
>>> K3ZO 5NN OR
>>> <nothing>
>>> K3ZO 5NN OR
>>> <nothing>
>>> K3ZO 5NN OR
>>> <them sending the exchange but out of sync>
>>> <K3ZO 5NN OR>
>>> K3ZO 5NN MDC
>>> <nothing>
>>>
>>> At no time during this am I feeling very confident that I am the one
>>> being
>>> worked. Instead of sending K3ZO again - which I already have -
>>> sending
>>> K7RAT once would really help me understand what is happening.
>>>
>>> Food for thought. Again - if the QSO is well timed, this isn't
>>> necessary -
>>> but if things are difficult due to QSB, sending the "other" guy's
>>> call when
>>> S&Ping really helps.
>>>
>>> Thanks for reading.
>>>
>>> Tree N6TR / K7RAT
>>>
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