[CQ-Contest] Contesting tips and tricks - not

[asciibaron at comcast.net]

> So the second I quit calling CQ someone else can open
> up with a CQ on that frequency because I am not
> transmitting?  How am I supposed to hear any replies?

how long does it take to hear a reply?  i have tried to get strong stations to hear my weak signal between the almost 2 sec gaps of calling CQ.  i end up marking them and hoping the band changes so they can hear me.   

if you are waiting more than 5 seconds to put a signal out, then countless numbers have just spun right past you, including the rare mult you missed last year. 

i have nothing against skilled use of SO2R by ops with a sense of fairplay.  being man/woman enough to concede the frequency if you are caught in a pileup on the other radio is not only fair, it shows respect for all operators.  

do you get the frequency back if you had to run to the bathroom for a minute to answer nature's call?  then why should you expect it when you were answering a call on the 2nd radio?

-steve
KB3KAQ