[CQ-Contest] Lost leading 'dit' - summary

[VR2BrettGraham]

I had asked: How many folks use PTT on CW?  Where does your PTT line
originate from?  Why do you do it this way?  How would you deal with a radio
which not only goes into transmit mode, but also goes key down when PTT is
asserted?  Would this "feature" put you off purchasing such a radio?

If you write operating software, would you change to accommodate such a rig?

A total of eleven responses were received.  Respondents included folks who we
see in the top score boxes, others who are pretty darn active or 
participate from
multi-ops.  None of the respondents write logging programs.

Of those, nine use PTT for CW - with one significant respondent not using PTT.
All who use PTT for CW get it from their logging program.

Of those who use PTT for CW, seven cited amplifier switching as the reason.
Five also mentioned being able to get transmit "hang" time right between when
sending with paddles & when sending canned messages.  Keeping wear down
on amplifier relays was also mentioned by one, as well as receive antenna
switching by another.

To get around not having PTT on CW in a rig, two would or are using the
logging program to key the amp.  One considered the situation to be absurd
to begin with & another dismissed it as a huge problem.  The remainder didn't
answer this question.  Three also mentioned that with PTT coming from the
logging program, operating in mixed-mode contests may require mucking
about with cables on the fly & this isn't helpful.

One definitely would not buy a rig that didn't have PTT for CW & two believed
they probably would not.  One other said it would not help in his 
considerations,
whilst the rest didn't answer this question.

A large percentage of contesters not only seem to make use of CW PTT on their
radios primarily in order to accommodate amplifiers, but a good portion of 
those
are also using it for SO2R operation for best transmit "hang" time (if 
sending a
message, cut to receive immediately when done; if sending by paddle, add a
bit of delay).  Even in more pedestrian situations - like a 160m contest - just
setting a longer VOX delay, with amp & receive antenna switching, is not a
workaround as you are still in transmit mode when the other guy comes back
to you & by the time you are completely in receive you have missed a good
chunk of what he sent.  Use a shorter delay & although you may have your
amp keyed by the computer, the SO2R op really doesn't want the distraction of
hearing his run rig go into receive whilst he's trying to listen to 
something on
the second radio.

So, other than for older amps, many in the contesting community use CW PTT
for that additional edge it gives in today's competitive SO2R world.  Not being
able to do so would appear to be a problem & interestingly, two of the current
hot radios (Orion & K2) go key down when PTT is asserted in CW & both of
these radios could easily be modified to at least give the option of using PTT
for CW with a firmware change, making them attractive to all in this not
insignificant segment of the amateur equipment market.

73, VR2BrettGraham