[CQ-Contest] QRL?, ?, etc on phone

[bogus at does.not.exist.com]

"You need to listen a fraction of a millisecond longer on phone than on CW
before asking "Is the frequency in use?" I guess you could say "QRL?" but
the former is much clearer."

--especially if the person on phone doesn't know "QRL"...I've run into a lot
of people that aren't familiar with the CW prosigns (and even confuse such
common ones as QSL and QRZ...the elmer shortage shows itself).  I guess the
? on CW is quicker and less obtrusive, although the ambiguity sometimes
bothers me.  I remember trying to pull out a ZL2 on 160m only to hear a
?...I "guessed" that he was asking QRL and told him it was.  I must have
guessed correctly because the person asked "who?" and sent TU once I gave
the prefix.  If he had been talking to the ZL2, however, I would have become
the problem.  I prefer QRL, like Brett, but can see the merits of the ?.  I
do see the use of "CQ" as being an aggressive tactic (i.e. "I'm taking your
frequency"), however, and don't care for it, especially when looking at the
alternatives.
73,
Bridget, KS4YT
dxcc at dbtech.net




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