grid squares

[Robert Neece]

Several postings have touted grid squares as (a) adding
"meaning" to the contest exchange, and (b) increasing
the challenge of copying the exchange correctly.

Is it far-fetched to imagine that, should use of grid
squares become commonplace in HF contesting, a data 
base that correlates callsigns with grid squares would
become available?
  
With the benefit of such a data base, the task of
copying and logging the grid square would be reduced
to confirming that a particular station did not change
squares since the last revision of the data base.

I recognize that we are a mobile population.  But not mobile
enough to prevent the grid square from eventually becoming 
rather perfunctory in the majority of QSOs.

--
73 de Bob, K0KR

>From Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH at TGV.COM>  Sat Jul 30 00:16:52 1994
From: Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH at TGV.COM> (Trey Garlough)
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 16:16:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: UNSUBSCRIBE/SIGNOFF
Message-ID: <775523812.154097.GARLOUGH at TGV.COM>

Just to set the record straight, sending a message to cq-contest-request
that says UNSUBSCRIBE will have the same effect as sending one that says
SIGNOFF.

--Trey, WN4KKN/6

>From barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner)  Fri Jul 29 21:13:01 1994
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 94 20:13:01 GMT
Subject: Grid Square Thoughts
Message-ID: <eko9Pc2w165w at w2up.wells.com>

KR2J at aol.com writes:

> What do you folks think ?
> 
> 73,
> Bob Naumann
> KR2J at AOL.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

Bob - While I am not against changing the exchange, I don't like grid 
squares. Grid squares are just another meaningless, made-up designator. 
Yes, zones are also that way, but there are a lot less of them. If we use 
grid squares, then every contest will be like WPX where almost every QSO
is a mult. But, just because the exchange changes, doesn't mean we need
to change the multiplier is determined.
I am in favor of some kind of "real world" data as a mult - such as name, 
age, power, year first licensed, etc. No, none of these are original, but 
when you work a guy who you've worked 1000 times in one of the "little" 
contests that require age or name, don't you sometimes think to yourself, 
gee he's pretty good for being so young (or old!), or something along 
those lines. Breaks up the monotony a little bit...
73 Barry


--

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Usenet/Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >K2TW (FRC)
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