[CQ-Contest] ARRL "endorses" cut numbers

[David Pruett]

I would like to remind everyone that "using" cut numbers is not the same 
thing as "logging" cut numbers.

I check the logs for the ARRL 10M contest, where DX stations send RST & 
serial numbers for their exchange.  If the station sends you a number 
with cut digits, it is *your* responsibility to turn those into numeric 
digits in your log.  QSO numbers containing alphabetic digits will be 
scored as non-valid (no penalties, but you lose the QSO).  This 
direction was concurred to by the ARRL Contest Department.

I'm sure someone will claim "but I just copied what was sent".  No 
matter - the rules say a QSO *number* must be received and logged, so it 
is the entrant's responsibility to make the translation, not the log 
checkers.  The entrant is the person present when the QSO is made; if 
there is any doubt as to what the number is, they are the only ones who 
can ask for a fill and remove all doubt.

Again, it's not my intent to deter the use of cut numbers (although I 
personally will not), but I want to make it clear that the log (at least 
for ARRL 10M) must show actual numbers for the QSO to be valid.

Dave/K8CC


Steve Harrison wrote:
> At 11:22 PM 6/4/2007 +0000, kr2q at optonline.net wrote:
>   
>> Sorry...couldn't resist.
>>
>> See the section titled "Work the Experts" - this is an intro 
>> for newbies who "can copy and send Morse code at 5 to 10 WPM."
>> http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/10/21/1/
>>     
>
> Oh, brother..... I really didn't need to read that  ;o(((((((
>
> It's been several decades since I did a SS and maybe things have sorta
> "evolved" in the meantime......  So I haven't the vaguest idea whether, for
> example, during the 2006 SS, A was often used by the faster ops for 1.
>
>   
>> Even QRPers get it.
>> See "The 'Secret' Language of the Exchange"
>> http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2002/10/21/1/
>>     
>
> I can see that, considering the QRPers are a pretty tight-knit and close
> group. When I was doing high-speed meteor scatter, we also had a few
> shortcuts we'd sometimes take that could completely bamboozle a newbie.
>
> Steve, K0XP
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