As a matter of curiosity, I checked the claimed scores that I had
collected for NA Sprint CW against the preliminary results. Apparently
none of us had a "Golden Log." As a matter of interest, here is what I
came up with: I haven't checked the rules, but assume that the
difference also represents penalties as well as bad QSOs that were
removed. I think we did really well.
Call Claimed Score Allowed Score Point Difference % Difference
K4BAI 12,900 12,814 86 0.67
W4MR (AA4NC) 12,126 11,997 120 1.0
W4NZ 11,802 11,634 168 1.4
NA4K 10,332 10,290 42 0.4
KU8E 10,320 10,000 320 3.2
N4PN 10,492 9,847 645 6.1
K1ZZI 9,020 8,528 492 5.45
W4AU 8,362 8,214 148 1.77
K4NO 8,120 7,960 160 1.97
NA4BW 4,810 4,662 148 3.08
N5VI 4,686 4.554 132 2.9
Hope I did those right. What can we learn from this? The most likely
reason for a bigger than average change is that a mistake caused the
loss of a multiplier. We lose credit for QSOs (and mults if we don't
work another station in that section) when we log incorrect information
or when we don't appear in the other station's submitted log. It is
important to be sure that the other station confirms receipt of our
information (and isn't underneath the pile of callers sending NR??).
And that we acknowledge receipt of the other station's information. If
some guys don't hear a "R" or "TU" or a dit from us, they may call us
and then delete us from the log. There are a few guys who get in such a
big hurry or who get busy on the second radio and don't give us an
acknowledgment. Then we have to make a judgment. Did he copy it OK and
we didn't hear the acknowledgment or did he move on without realizing
that we had answered him? I think use of full QSK gives us some help in
knowing what is happening on our frequency. However, I realize that
full QSK is very distracting for the SO2R ops, so it may be a trade off
in favor of SO2R with a slightly increased error rate becoming possible.
These observations are offered only in a constructive way. Not too many
of us are participating in Sprint Contests, but it is a fun way to
contest and the Thursday night practices that I mention each week are a
good way to build up abilities in s shorter number of months or years
than would be possible only operating one or two actual sprints a year.
Be sure to promptly submit your claimed score and Cabrillo log to the
NCJ sponsor (not just the score to 3830) within seven days after each
sprint. Adn join us on Thursday nights when you can.
73, John, K4BAI.
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