[CQ-Contest] Signing /QRP In Contests

[Mike Clarson]

I remember an old friend, Jim, K2OJL (SK), who used to go off on a rant
everytime he worked someone signing QRP. He'd go on and on on how HE should
get the extra points because he is the one doing all the work digging the
QRP station out of the noise and QRM.  He has a point. --Mike, WV2ZOW

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Eric Hilding
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 3:59 PM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Cc: k9la at arrl.org
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