[CQ-Contest] Signing /QRP In Contests

[Steve Root]

Three things the QRP guys do that aren't good.

Sign /QRP:  That simply wastes time, and there's no time to waste when the
clock is running
Unnecessary repeats:  Again a waste of time.  Don't repeat anything unless
you're asked to.
Calling off frequency:  Learn how to zero beat.  If you're weak, AND on the
edge of the filter skirts you won't be heard.

The guys who are good at QRP, like N0UR, act like they are loud.  They call
once right on frequency and get on with it.

And finally (as long as I'm being a curmudgeon) how much skill does it take
to be weak?    If I pull your call and exchange out of the noise and get you
in the log, now who's the good operator?  At least the Stew recognizes that.

73 Steve K0SR


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Taylor" <ve4xt at mts.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>; "Eric Hilding" <dx35 at hilding.com>
Cc: <k9la at arrl.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 10:22 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Signing /QRP In Contests


> Here's what almost always happens to me copying a weak signal
unnecessarily
> signing /QRP when S&Ping.
>
> me: ...VE4XT test
> QRP: K<static>3<static>/<static>
> me: K3?
> QRP: KB<static>A<static>/<static>
> me: KB3A?
> QRP: <static>B3A<static>RP
> me: KB3ARP, 599 04
> QRP: de K<static>RP
> me: KA3ARP 599 04
> QRP: de KB<static>BC/<static>
> me: KB3ABC/?
> QRP: R R R
> me: KB3ABC/R? ?
>
> you get the idea.
>
> Complete waste of time to add totally unnecessary characters, particularly
> if you KNOW you're not going to be Q5 copy. It's just going to throw the
> other guy off and make him think there's actually something meaningful
> behind the portable designator.
>
> CQing stations can do what they want, but if you're loud enough to CQ...
>
> Be that as it may, Pete might be right about /QRP being worth a few dB in
> added effort by receiving stations.
>
> 73, kelly
> ve4xt
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Eric Hilding" <dx35 at hilding.com>
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Cc: <k9la at arrl.org>
> Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 2:58 PM
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Signing /QRP In Contests
>
>
> > [SIGH...]
> >
> > While I admire those who take on the challenge of 5w in a DX contest (or
> > any other NON-QRP-Specific) event, these are my observations (and
> > FRUSTRATIONS) of working stations that sign "callsign/QRP" instead of
just
> > their calls...especially in the ARRL CW DX Contest as DX in February and
> > most recently in last weekend's 160m contest:
> >
> > *** ADVANTAGES:         Absolutely NONE
> >
> > *** DISADVANTAGES:      MANY (below)
> >
> > 1. The QSOs take longer regardless of signal strength because each side
of
> > the exchange has to send 4 UN-NECESSARY additional characters.
> >
> > 2. If the QRP op's signal is weak, in QRM that means more UN-NECESSARY
> > frustration and wasted time for the receiving op.
> >
> > 3. More UN-NECESSARY characters to type on the keyboard increases the
> > possibilities of missssssstyping errors.
> >
> > 4. For those using TRlog with the Auto Send Character Count set to 5
(and
> > certainly 4), the #&^! (and UN-NECESSARY) "/QRP" extension is the
> > [explicative deleted].
> >
> > *** REALITY CHECKS:
> >
> > 1. Making more QSOs and working more Mults in the allowed time is (or
> > should be) everyone's goal.
> >
> > 2. No one really cares (especially DX stations) if you are QRP.
> >
> > 3. No one really cares (especially DX stations) if you are QRP.
> >
> > 4. No one really cares (especially DX stations) if you are QRP.
> >
> > (Redundancy intentional)
> >
> > I've operated 5w in several "Spartan Sprint" events, but don't recall
> > anyone there every signing "/QRP".  Interesting.
> >
> > IMHO, DX Contest Organizers (even for the SS) should include the
following
> > in published rules:
> >
> > "QRP stations are encouraged NOT to add "/QRP" to their callsigns,
because
> > this serves no purpose other than to slow down everyone's QSO per hour
> > rates, increase errors and the bottom line (especially for DX stations)
is
> > that nobody really cares during the contest."
> >
> > 73...
> >
> > Rick, K6VVA
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >
>
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