[CQ-Contest] Post-contest review

[Allan and Bridget]

I for some reason saw post-contesting changes outside the obvious as being
outside the rules (maybe it was my own code of ethics).  I kind of "let the
chips fall where they may" and just send the thing in, unless there is a
mistake that I note during the contest (as others have said) and write it
down for a slower time in which I can correct the mistake.  I found at least
2 mistakes in my IARU log thanks to some QSL cards that came in shortly
after the contest was over.  I didn't feel like I should have changed the
exchange in my official log, but I knew that the people deserved their cards
because they had indeed worked me, and wrote out a correction beside the
printout.  Perhaps I was wrong, because this hurt them as well as me...I
don't know.

As to those who will verify contacts via other sources, I have personal
experience with this.  While doing VHF contesting there are a lot of people
that move around from their fixed locations (I was in EM 53 this weekend,
not my usual EM 63).  We get very frustrated when a person can't hear us but
they have a CD ROM available that shows us (my husband, me, and the frog in
my pocket) to be in EM63.  The only problem is that we aren't in EM63.  This
is like the guest op problem.  After trying to correct the problem, we will
finally move on and let them take any penalty received for faulty logging
(and not being willing to listen to the operator instead of a database).
Sometimes databases are wrong, and in this case, I think the log checking
powers-that-be will only fault the other op because your correct information
is noted in the information sent to the officials.  In other words, as long
as you've done your part of receive and send the correct information
(including trying to correct someone) I don't worry about it anymore.

I also agree that this has gone on quite a long time and it's time for a new
subject.  As one who has just written an article explaining logging and UTC
(we have a lot of newbies who aren't even up to contest level newness yet in
our club) for our local HAM newsletter, I should be able to come up with a
topic, but unfortunately, I can't think of anything provocative, so I'll
leave it to someone else...maybe someone starring in the Contest Cowboys
film?
73/88,
Bridget, KS4YT :0)


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