[CQ-Contest] Re: Splqdecripity

[Anthony Rodgers <arodgers@mac.com>]

Hi Bob,

I am a casual contester (perhaps 5-6 outings a year?) and what I have 
found is that I lose my 'ear' for DX calls if I haven't been on the air 
in a while. Admittedly, there are a few that are nigh on impossible to 
get no matter what , but I find that my comprehension improves with 
time, even over the course of a contest.

The one thing that DX stations could do is to vary their phonetics when 
repeating their call so us cloth-eared folks have a couple of chances 
at it - in other words "Victor Alpha Seven India Romeo Lima, Victor 
America Seven Italy Radio London".

On the other topic, have DX stations ever considered listening between 
7050 and 7100 for Canadian mults in ARRL DX SSB? We can transmit there 
and it would  make it easier for both of us...... :-)

73 de VA7IRL,
--
Anthony Rodgers
Email: VA7IRL@rac.ca
MSN/AIM/iChat ID: arodgers@mac.com

On Mar 10, 2004, at 5:49 AM, cq-contest-request@contesting.com wrote:

> Okay, I freely admit to being "out of shape" when it comes to 
> contests.  Have
> been QRT for over 20 years and am just getting back into ham radio.   
> The ARRL
> test was my first contest.  Since I was forced to operate low power 
> into a wimpy
> vertical with no radials, I had to modify the S&P, Search and Pounce, 
> operating
> strategy.  I was operating S&S, Search and Squat.  Find a DX station 
> and keep
> calling him until he comes back.
>
> My problem on numerous occasions was understanding the call of the DX 
> station.
> I stuck with one European station for over 20 minutes trying to get 
> his call.
> Not a language problem, but a speed problem.  I think he was severely 
> OD'd on
> Speed, or had programmed his voice keyer to play back at fast forward. 
>  At least
> that's what it sounded like at my end.  It didn't seem to bother 
> anyone else,
> but I was at a loss until I finally noticed his full call on DX 
> Summit.  If it
> hadn't been for that, I'd still be listening today.
>
> I had similar problems, but not nearly that bad, with stations on 
> certain other
> continents.  I don't want to name names because some very fine 
> operators would
> be offended, and that is not my intent at all.  I recognize that the 
> problem is
> mine, but I was just wondering if anyone else out there is "audibly 
> challenged"
> like me.  And I have no idea if "audibly" is a real word.
>
> Hoping to "hear" from someone with listening tips.
>
> 73, Bob W7BJ
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