[3830] RTTY Roundup K7IA Single Op HP

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                    ARRL RTTY Roundup

Call: K7IA
Operator(s): K7IA
Station: K7IA

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: NM
Operating Time (hrs): 14.43

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
   80:  143
   40:  169
   20:  327
   15:  279
   10:   25
------------
Total:  943  State/Prov = 54  Countries = 38  Total Score = 86,756

Club: 

Comments:

Last summer, I began writing a Primer whose purpose was to acquaint RTTY 

contesters, both new and "experienced" with the basics of Baudot Radioteletype


(RTTY) and how to employ it in contesting.  After extensive review by worldwide


RTTY contesters and neophytes alike, I made the paper available via email 

request.  Many have asked for copies, and all of their subsequent feedback has


overwhelmingly been more than positive.  Alas, the number of operators flooding


into the ranks of RTTY contesting exceeds the number of requests for the
Primer, 

and the result, for me, is a precipitous decline in my interest in battling the


average RTTY op for a "clean" and satisfying contest QSO.

I therefore offer a copy of my paper to anyone who asks for it.  It is in .pdf


format, 40 pages long, and packed with descriptions of how "teletype" works,
why 

radioteletype is completely unlike the more modern digital modes (other than 

they all use QWERTY keyboards), how the radioteletype operator can at least 

minimize the effects of garbles caused by atmospherics and QRM, and a host of 

other lore and tips useful to the contester.

To whet your appetite, read the paper and learn:

1.  Learn that there is far more to "5-level" Baudot Code-driven radioteletype


than simply interfacing some computer software to a radio and getting on the 

air.  RTTY is considerably unlike the modern digital modes, none of which were


originally based upon mechanical keyboard/printing machines.  If you are
willing 

to simply "plug and play" without knowing anything about the communications
mode 

you are using, then you may as well be a phone operator who contributes to the


QRM, splatter, and loose exchange procedures.

2.  Learn that Baudot RTTY is not error correcting and is so susceptible to 

garbled printing characters and control functions that the good RTTY operator 

must think and consider the operator at the other end more than he thinks of 

himself.

3.  Learn that the "5-level" Baudot Code, used by the Teletype machine (and 

computer emulators) can encode no more than 32 distinct combinations--far too 

many to transmit or receive 26 letters, plus 10 numerals, plus essential 

punctuation characters.  Learn how the designers of the TTY machine worked 

around that obstacle, even though it caused garbles to go hand in hand with 

radioteletype communication.

  In other words, when you press a keyboard key, learn why its corresponding 

character may NOT "print" on the other operator's screen.  Learn some maneuvers


that will at least minimize such misprints that will help the other contester 

log your QSO accurately.

4.  Learn how computer logging software (and the operator's eye) "parses" 

incoming contest callsigns and exchange data and how you can improve parsing
for 

the other operator.

5.  Understand that the more characters and numerals that are sent in a 

radioteletype circuit the greater is the chance of a garble destroying the 

fidelity of one or many subsequent characters.  Then learn how to construct 

contest exchanges that are not only faster to send but also minimize the number


and effects of natural garbles.  Learn also that quick and efficient contest 

exchanges minimize QRM in pileups, improve QSO rates for all operators, and 

improve logging accuracy.

6.  Learn why, for example, while sending RST as "5NN" makes perfect sense in
CW 

contests, it make absolutely no sense at all in a RTTY contest.  It not only 

takes more time, but it also increases the risk of garbles.  Similarly, learn 

why it makes no sense to send, in the RTTY RU contest, an exchange in the
format 

"599 -- NM -- NM" or similar.  Just as a surgeon "signs" his work, an operator


who uses constructs like these demonstrates his lack of knowledge of his chosen


mode.

7.  Understand why adding a lot of superflous information to the required 

contest exchange, which I term "fluff," not only adds nothing useful, but it 

worsens the chance of garbles, QRMs the Running frequency, and slows things
down 

for all of the operators.  Examples of "fluff" are Q-signals (as in asking the


other op "QSL?"  It goes without saying that the other op will either 

acknowledge or ask you to repeat.); prosigns ("K"  "KN"  "SK"  and "DE" which 

really isn't a prosign.  In amateur RTTY, everyone knows when it's his turn to


transmit--just listen to the other guy, and when his mark tone disappears, then


it's our turn.  The only ops who should send "DE" or "SK" are those living in 

Delaware or Saskatchewan!); greetings ("GL"  "73"  etc., and worse, sending my


name to me.  I already know my name!  Just send whatever is needed and no
more); 

etc.  You get the idea.

8.  Regarding contesting lore, learn and understand the difference between 

Running Mode and Search and Pounce Mode, how and why they are different, and
how 

the QSO gets bogged down when one or the other forgets who is who (usually it's


the S&P op who is the culprit).

9.  Learn some tricks that will help you work the Running Op in a pileup--even
a 

RTTY pileup.

10.  And much more.

For you experienced RTTY ops, as I'm certain most of you who read 3830 posts 

are, I hope you will help yourselves to a copy, too.  It isn't copyrighted, so


you may feel free to share it with your club and others you may be Elmering.  

You may also do as I have done--jot down the callsigns of ops you encounter in


contests and email a copy to them.  They may reply to you (or to me).  I have 

yet to receive a negative response.  On the contrary, the replies are along the


lines of "thanks for the help," indicating that ops really want to do better if


there were just a way to learn how.  You can help them, too!

To get a copy, just drop me an email:  k7ia at arrl.net and use a reply email 

address that doesn't require me to sign in to something.  I'm retired, the wx 

has been too cold for antenna work here, and I'm getting over a cold, so you 

won't wait very long for my reply!

73, dan k7ia


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