[CQ-Contest] 10M NAQP Weirdness

[Jim Cain]

Re W7RN's echo experience, I don't get all this tooth grinding over solar system distances and conspiracy theories. Isn't this really a metaphysical question?

To wit: A valid contact is a 2-way contact. While some so-called "purists" might argue that a contact with yourself is not 2-way, well, one signal goes out and one comes back in. I say that's 2-way.

Others would argue that it can't be a 2-way contact because it's the same signal. Wrong-o, Einstein! Say, as an independent observer, I listen to the "contact." I hear "W7RN" outgoing and Tom hears "W7RN" incoming. They can't be the same signal because we hear them at different times. 

And what if W7RN works me on his outgoing signal and then works himself on his own incoming signal? This could blow up a contact rate meter. It might, however, require some sort of diversity reception (which is, of course, two signals arriving at different times).

As for Contesting, Tom must hear himself for a valid contact to be achieved. While Tom has great ears, let's say he misses the return call sign (we are in the world of Exchange Lite now, remember). So Tom, needing the call sign, must send QRZ? ("Who is calling me?").  

In other words, "Who am I?"

I ask myself this question a hundred times a day but have yet to get an answer. Maybe it's on the way back from Saturn.

jim cain, K1TN