[CQ-Contest] Re: Logging Stateside QSOs

[Bruce Horn]

Hi,

I have strong opinions regarding the issue of whether to log zero-point
stateside QSOs in a DX contest, such as CQWW.

In every DX contest I work some statesiders because I need the zone or
country mult on each band. I answer CQs of stateside contesters in this
case only when they've CQed several times without a reply. I never call
contesters in the middle of a run.

My expectation is that if you complete the contest exchange with me, then
you've logged my QSO, as I have yours. If you tell me "DX only" or ignore
me, then obviously we didn't complete the QSO, and I have nothing to log.

As a low power left coast contester, I probably don't have as much trouble
with statesiders calling me when I'm CQing as the big multi-multis.
However, I've certainly had statesiders answer my CQs in DX contests. I
complete the contest exchange, log them and resume CQing. I've even had ops
at big East coast multi-multis call me in the middle of a JA run in the
last hours of the contest when they suddenly realize they need a zone 3 or
U.S. mult on that band. If I work them, I log them. If you feel things are
getting out of hand and you're attracting a pileup of statesiders, then
announce that you're looking for DX only and continue CQing.

I view this problem as the price a contester pays for occupying a frequency
for CQing. Whether you choose to work statesiders is up to you. But if you
work them, then log them. I don't know of any fool proof method of
determining who plans on submitting a log following the contest and who is
just trying to "help you out." Those of us who submit logs are not going to
be happy campers when the log checkers tell us those stateside mults were
not in the log.

73 de Bruce, WA7BNM   (bhorn at hornucopia.com)



 -
 ---
CQ-Contest on WWW:        http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
Administrative requests:  cq-contest-REQUEST at contesting.com