[CQ-Contest] How frequent to ID? Every QSO? No way!

[Steve Maki]

Jose,

I think ZD8Z is a bad example for you, because he ends QSOs with his
call ONLY, so unless the ZD8Z clone ends his QSOs with silence, your
math falls apart.

73,

Steve K8LX


CT1BOH wrote:

> The importance for a contester, how frequent to ID, is of paramount
> importance to his final score.
>
> When people say, a contest DX station should sign every QSO, they should
> know better.
>
> Let's imagine the following situation:
>
> ZD8Z from Ascension during CQWW CW contest does 8000 QSO's, at a 166,77 hour
> QSO rate, signing his callsign every QSO. He works 170 zones, 550 countries
> with a 2,97 average QSO point for a final score of 17,107,200 points.
>
> In the same contest there are four ZD8Z clones:
>
> ZD8Z clone#1 signs his call every two QSO's (1,0,1,0,..)
>
> ZD8Z clone#2 signs his call every three QSO's (1,0,0,1,0,0,1,.)
>
> ZD8Z clone#3 signs his call every four QSO's (1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,.)
>
> ZD8Z clone#4 signs his call every five QSO's (1,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,.)
>
> With the help of an audio spectrum analyzer, it is known that ZD8Z @ 40 WPM
> lasts exactly 1,655 seconds.
>
> Let's determine how much time each operator spends in a 48-hour contest
> transmitting his call:
>
> ZD8Z               1,655*8000=13240 seconds = 3,68 hours
>
> ZD8Z clone#1 1,655*4000=6620 seconds = 1,84 hours, i.e. saves 1,84 hours
>
> ZD8Z clone#2 1,655*2667=4414 seconds = 1,23 hours, i.e. saves 2,45 hours
>
> ZD8Z clone#3 1,655*2000=3310 seconds = 0,92 hours, i.e. saves 2,76 hours
>
> ZD8Z clone#4 1,655*1600=2648 seconds = 0,74 hours, i.e. saves 2,94 hours
>
>
>
> ZD8Z is working at a 166,67 hour rate (8000/48), the same rate as the
> clones.
>
> But the clones, because of the time they saved, not signing every QSO, will
> work more QSO's in the 48 hour period:
>
>
>
> ZD8Z                         8000 QSO's
>
> ZD8Z clone#1            8000+306 QSO's
>
> ZD8Z clone#2            8000+409 QSO's
>
> ZD8Z clone#3            8000+460 QSO's
>
> ZD8Z clone#4            8000+490 QSO's
>
>
>
> So the final score will be:
>
>
>
> ZD8Z clone#4              18.155.808 (8490/2,97/170/550)
>
> ZD8Z clone#3              18.090.270
>
> ZD8Z clone#2              17.980.985
>
> ZD8Z clone#1              17.762.580
>
> ZD8Z                           17.170.200
>
>
>
> ZD8Z can be admired for signing every QSO, but the clones will beat him
> anytime. And clone# 4 will defeat ZD8Z with 1.000.000 points!
>
>
>
> Impressive, isn't it!
>
>
>
> The decision making process how frequent to ID has some variables:
>
>
>
>   1.. How long since last ID
>   2.. The instant rate
>   3.. The number of stations calling in the pile-up
>   4.. The number of stations coming to the pile-up
>
>
> The combination of these four variables will give the contest operator all
> the information he needs, when to ID next.
>
>
>
> Signing every QSO can be the worse decision and the best decision, depending
> on the situation. From a DX location, with constant pile-ups for 48 hours,
> signing every QSO is poor operating practice: not only it will reduce the
> contest DX station score but it will prevent the DX contest station to work
> more contest stations. Of course being for very long periods of time without
> ID is also poor operating practice, and the contest DX station will face
> aditional dupes, pile-up disruption, NIL's of dusgruntled unsportmanship
> operators ;-) etc.
>
>
>
> It is my experience that IDing at least every minute of until someone sends
> "?" is a good way to balance the needs of the contest DX station and the
> needs of those arriving to the pile-up and unaware of the DX contest station
> callsign.
>
>
>
> 73
>
> José Nunes
>
> CT1BOH
>
> www.qsl.net/ct1boh
>
>
>
> PS: This post is dedicated to my very good friend Jim Neiger. My inspiration
> and the reaon why I went into contesting.
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>