[CQ-Contest] CQ WW zero Point Qs

Rob Locher W7GH rob at idiompress.com
Tue Jul 10 13:12:32 EDT 2007


Hi Ed,

The 2006 running of CQ WW CW was my first; I made a few zero-point QSOs  
because I'm still chasing WAS.  For each zero-point QSO I waited until the  
other op had a couple CQs go unanswered, so I don't think that I cost  
anybody any points.  I am happy to say that the other ops all logged me,  
and replied to my QSL card and SASE.  (To those of you who worked me in  
the contest for zero points: thank you!)

I fail to see why the big guns on this reflector debate the reasons why  
there are so many zero-point QSOs in CQ WW.  The serious contesters need  
the casual contesters, or else contests wouldn't be any fun.  If serious  
contesters were to treat casual contesters as a nuisance for making  
zero-point QSOs or requesting QSL cards, then casual contesters might not  
come out and play any more.

Shouldn't all contesters treat things like zero-point QSOs as part of the  
cost of doing business, whatever the other parties' motivations, so as to  
not make casual contesters feel not wanted?

73,
- Rob W7GH
(Casual Contester)

P.S.  For what it's worth, I'm not buying the theory either that  
zero-point QSOs in CQ WW mainly come from people who don't know the rules  
and just want to help out.  If somebody spent the time to figure out what  
the exchange is, then surely he spent another couple minutes reading up on  
the general idea of the contest.  Surely he knew roughly what was going  
on, and wanted something from the QSO for his own reasons, whatever they  
were.  Of course, my opinion and $4 will get you a cup of coffee at  
Starbucks...





On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:27:27 -0700, Ed Sawyer <sawyered at earthlink.net>  
wrote:

> I personally do not buy the "most guys think they are just helping out"
> argument.  Why?  The same guys would be "helping out" in ARRL DX but the
> fraction of zero pointers there is way way less.  Since the "helper  
> outers"
> don't know the rules in either of the contests...they should be just as
> helpful in both.  No...the vast vast majority of the zero point Qs in CQ  
> WW
> are people chasing the mult (like me).  Eliminate the need...and the  
> problem
> is basically gone.



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