Yet another take:
In what radio service do the operators deliberately confuse things by using
cut numbers, especially when there is QRM, QSB, weak signals, etc?. I
thought real "radiomen" would consider the conditions and adjust accordingly
to get the message across accurately. I thought cut numbers were to be used
only when it was safe and appropriate to do so.
I had a friend, W9CG (SK), who was a ship operator in the old days and
that's what he told me.
73,
Ken, AB1J
In a message dated 12/15/2014 17:00:27 GMT Standard Time, w5gn@mxg.com
writes:
At least for the WPX CW contest, N1MM and N1MM+ both decode the cut
number for the serial, so you can type exactly what you hear and
see the transcribed numbers. I was surprised to find the CQ WW does
not decode cut numbers for the zone, but I guess that was a conscious
choice since the zone will normally be populated from the call.
I'm not sure what other contests are similarly decoded.
Of course, for ARRL 10, or any contest where the exchange can
include either serial numbers or text (state/oblast/etc),
cut numbers can't be safely decoded.
And I'll always send 5NN NN from EI/W5GN for the ARRL CW and others
contests that send power; not only because it sounds nice, and seems
to be very well understood - I can't recall every needing to fill
with actual numbers - but also because "99" is the "nick-number" of
my bride, KA5PQD, plus, her Grandmother signed her letters from Texas
in the 1880's with "99 - Peace and Love", which could go along with
73 and 88 on the air!
99,
and
MERRILLY CHRISTMAS,
Barry and Judy Merrill
-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Art Boyars
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 8:40 AM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Cut numbers -- a different take
Well, yes, they are annoying -- especially if I am running (hah!). But...
1. If I am S&P, I usually hear one report before my QSO, so I am ready
for cut numbers. (That's for actual spot-free S&P; might not apply to
skill-free point-and-click.)
2. I think we will eventually learn to copy cut numbers, just like we
learned to love 5NN -- and even ENN -- even at QRQQQ. And I think all the big
guns here in Zone 5 are sending 5NN 5, not even T5 or o5, and certainly
not 05. Who am I to complain if some European wants to send A4 or A5, or if
some Brazilian wants to use AA? It all saves time, and, as the noted
electrical experimenter Ben Franklin (3BF, in the pre-license days) said,
"Time
is QSOs."
3. "Ah," you say, "A4, etc., are zone numbers. We already know those.
We're complaining about Ser No's." Yes, and you have made my point about
CQ WW -- no copying skill req'd; but that's a different topic. But it does
lead me to...
4. ...Point 2, again. The user has to be smart -- what can the copying
station handle -- in this particular QSO? It's just like wise use of code
speed (or phonetics). Right now, I think most of the regular contesters can
decode N=9 and T=0 in a QSO NR. I think E=5 and A=1 will be next. I
don't know if we'll ever get beyond that.
In the end, Darwin (preferring the soft sciences, he was never QRV) will
rule, and what works best will survive. Who want's to go back to .....
----. ----. ----- .....? Or hand keys? Or paper logs? The innovators will
decide what improves their desired results -- whether that be max rates,
max points, or max fun.
(Regarding leading zeros: Those of us who start the 'Test late and are
sending NR<10 when everybody else is >200 find that it helps to send the
leading zero until you have at least two digits, sometimes three. The copying
op often cannot believe that NR 5 is right, and asks for a repeat.
OTOH, many lower-tier op's do, indeed, seem to use it too long, but that
might be based on their own experience.)
And if you are sitting there grumping while everybody else is increasing
their rate by 1% or 2%, I sincerely hope you are having fun.
73, Art K3KU
"Tune for maximum fun"
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