[CQ-Contest] Unsportsmanlike?

[Dale L Martin]

> My QRSs got ignored too. Gave up on that after about 5 times.
> No one had to tell me to leave though. I was already gone.
>
> What's with the 30++ wpm code? Does it really help rate?
>
> My key stays out of the box.
> I'll learn this hs stuff or go deaf trying!
>
> 73, Don - K4BEV
>

I know what you mean, Don.

I tend to send at around 29-31 unless asked to slow down (happened once this
weekend) or I feel the station calling me at a slower speed needs the slower
speed.

I ran a little test here using this exchange at different speeds:

K5RC 733 Q KG5U 59 STX

15wpm = 18s
20wpm = 14s
25wpm = 12s
30wpm = 10s
35wpm = 8s

While there's not much time difference between sending the exchange at 30
and 25 wpm's, it sure does seem like 25wpm takes forever by listening
comparison.

If I sent every exchange at 25 wpm rather than 30 wpm, that 2 second
difference would really add up over the number of QSO's made during the
contest: 2 * 773 = 1546 seconds = 25.8 minutes.

If a station averages a QSO rate of 60 QSO's an hour (one a minute) during
the contest (not me!), that's 26 QSO's.

There have been placques awarded and top-ten box appearances missed based on
smaller QSO differences than that.

All one needs to do is ask me to QRS and I will.


73,
dale, kg5u