Sending your call at the end of a QSO in a sprint is simply a message to others
that you are able to receive calls on the current frequency. Ending with name
+ QTH means you are moving. These are contest conventions rather than an FCC
rule.
73,
Alan/K6SRZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kai" <k.siwiak@ieee.org>
To: "Ken Keeler" <kenkeeler@jazznut.com>
Cc: nccc@contesting.com, cq-contest@contesting.com, nccc-blue@kkn.net,
rtty@contesting.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 5:03:07 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] [RTTY] Secrets of RTTY Sprinting
Ken
Perhaps sending the call sign at the end of a QSO might be an
over-interpretation of the FCC rule to send one's call sign at the end of a QSO?
Thanks for the good tips for the first timer.
73
Kai, KE4PT
On 3/11/2014 6:52 PM, Ken Keeler wrote:
> Fellow RTTY contest enthusiasts, especially first-time participants:
>
> First, thanks to all of you who participated in the NA RTTY Sprint this past
> weekend.
> Sprint format is the most challenging and rewarding form of contesting on any
> mode,
> but it takes some learning and practice. We hope you join us in the next
> Sprint in October.
>
> My following comments are from the perspective of a SERIOUS CONTESTER for 62
> years, 44 years as a sprinter on CW and SSB.
> I got into RTTY contesting three years ago, and I am not an expert in the
> technical aspects of RTTY,
> MMTTY, 2TONE, N1MM, WRITELOG, etc.. But, with coaching from experts, I have
> learned to use what I can handle, and PRACTICE all I can.
> Sprinting is a different cat in contesting. In the sprint, forget the other
> conventions you may use in either casual RTTY or other RTTY contests.
>
> In the interest of helping you be more efficient and successful in this
> contest, here are some observations and recommendations:
>
> 1. OBSERVATIONS:
>
> The predominant 'problem' I encountered in the sprint last Saturday, was
> stations sending their call at the wrong time:
>
> Situation 1: You have called CQ and you complete a QSO. Your message
> should
> end with only your
> QTH (state, province, NA country). If you send your call, that will trigger
> experienced contesters to call you,
> when you are required to vacate the frequency (QSY), per sprint rules. If
> you send the call of the station you just
> worked, you will trigger calls to that station. Chaos happens in either
> event. The only time you send your
> call at the end of an exchange is when you inherit the frequency after
> responding to someone who CQ'd.
> See sample sequences down the page.
>
> Situation 2: You have logged a station and have 'inherited' the frequency.
> You placed your callsign at the end
> of the exchange, and received a TU from the guy vacating the freq. If no one
> calls you then, you are entitled to
> CQ. Hopefully someone will respond and you get what we call a 'Couplet" of
> QSOs. (two for the price of one).
> When you complete this second QSO, you must now QSY to another freq. to CQ,
> or
> tune for stations to call and get another couplet.
>
> Contest exchanges are meant to be efficient, with no un-needed nor un-wanted
> information.
> DO NOT send: "Thank you xxxxx for the QSO", 599 - not required by the
> contest, PSE COPY....., PSE K, DE (your call).
> Most contesters would think you are in Delaware - OMIT "DE"....
> Save your courtesy or friendly chat for casual or non-contest QSOs.
>
> If you do not get a full exchange from a station the first time you think you
> got him, do not hesitate to call him again later.
> Experienced contesters know that logging a station a second time will most
> likely validate an earlier QSO and prevent NOT-IN LOG penalty.
> I called an active contester (with an AA7 prefix) about a dozen times because
> he was not in my log. He evidently thought he
> had logged me before (NOT). If he submits his log with a QSO with me, he
> will
> loose the QSO, and incur a penalty.
> You DO NOT KNOW WHY the other station attempts or refuses to dupe.
> Bottom line? LOG ALL DUPES!!!!! This applies to CW and SSB contesting also.
>
> SUGGESTIONS:
> Sprint format suggests (not by rule, but efficient flow) that exchanges be
> sent in different sequence. Most logging programs allow
> you to set up macros for the two modes using the keyboard function keys: CQ
> (running), and S&P (Search and pounce).
>
> Assuming you already are using a logging program which will send MACRO
> messages, below is a suggested sequence of QSOs:
> (If you are not using a logger in contests, please get one. I use N1MM, as it
> is closely integrated with MMTTY and other decoders, as are WRITELOG and
> maybe
> other loggers.)
>
> N6RO sends: CQ N6RO N6RO NA
> W0YK sends: W0YK
> N6RO sends: W0YK N6RO 123 KEN CA
> W0YK sends: N6RO 582 ED CA W0YK
> N6RO sends: TU
> (N6RO must now QSY)
> W6OAT sends: W6OAT
> W0YK sends: W6OAT W0YK 583 ED CA
> W6OAT sends: W0YK 115 RUSTY CA W6OAT
> W0YK sends: TU
> (W0YK must now QSY)
> W6OAT sends: CQ W6OAT W6OAT NA
> ...
>
> Several logging programs automate the sequence of exchanges, and transfer
> exchange info received to the logging window, using mouse clicks.
> If you are using N1MM, I would be glad to send you my F-key macros. I'm sure
> W0YK would share his WRITELOG macros with you - just ask!
> A top scorer in any contest is usually willing to share his SECRETS with
> you. Why? Because it may increase HIS SCORE and YOURS!
>
> Other tips:
> Put a space before and at the end of each macro message to separate it from
> the noise prints.
> Use 'leading zeros' in your QSO number, so it is easier to click on with the
> mouse. (NEVER use leading zeros on CW)
>
> SO2R: (single operator, two radios)
> If you wondered why some stations are sending very large QSO numbers, they
> are
> probably
> using SO2R. While copying an exchange on one band, they are CQing or S&Ping
> on another. This increases scores by 10 to 40%, depending on the contest
> rules and activity in a given contest.
> Details on SO2R would be the subject of another discussion. First, let's
> work
> on the basics of Sprint.
>
> Like any other activity you would like to become proficient in, sprinting
> requires PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
> For this purpose, NCCC (Northern California Contest Club) sponsors a weekly
> practice session.
> We invite you to practice the sprint format on Thursday evenings in North
> America, 0200-0225Z Friday,
> on 15, 20, 40, 80m, the usual 80-90 khz up from bottom of band.
> We use the Sprint message format, but the rules/scoring is different: mults
> count on each band, 100 watts max.
> Most loggers have formats for the NCCC Sprints, esp. N1MM.
>
> I have just scratched the surface of this most challenging art-form in radio
> contesting.
> Please give me your feedback, recommendations for helping others to learn how
> to SPRINT.
>
> Thanks for reading my long-winded rant. I suspect that I am "preaching to
> the
> choir",
> as most of the guys who I'm trying to address, do not subscribe to any
> reflector discussing contesting.
> Please pass the word to those who might listen.
>
> We may make the substance of this thing available on the NCCC Sprint web-page
> for future reference for Newbies.
> CU on Thursday nights...
>
> N6RO
> kenkeeler@jazznut.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> RTTY mailing list
> RTTY@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty
>
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