[CQ-Contest] ARRL "endorses" cut numbers

[Georgens, Tom]

I really do not understand this argument.

First of all, thank you to Dave for taking the time to make the position
clear and for his service to the contest community by volunteering to
check logs.

However, I must wonder what is the benefit of enforcing this point.

For the record, I do not send cut serial numbers, but I do send 5NN.  I
mildly prefer that people I work send me cut numbers and I almost always
convert them to numbers before I log them.  Even if I do not, I think
Writelog does it for me. 

The logic of sending cut numbers is to achieve brevity through the use
of unambiguous abbreviations for the numbers.  If the abbreviation is
unambiguous (i. e. its translation is obvious) then why should it be
inaccurate to log it?  Likewise, if it is considered inaccurate to log
cut numbers, then why should it be OK to send them?  Simply put, if it
is OK to send, it should be just as OK to log.  I see no benefit to the
sport, the integrity of the results, or the quality of the operating by
trying to be a stickler on this point.

The example has been brought up to me about, hypothetically, KL7XX
operating from Tennessee in the 10 meter contest.  If he sends 5nn TN,
is he number nine from Alaska or the state of Tennessee?  In this case,
I would contend that the use of cut numbers is not unambiguous and
therefore not a valid contact.  However, I do not think this renders all
logging of cut numbers as inaccurate.

I respect Dave and his commitment to adjudicating the contest.  If it is
too hard to adjudicate with cut numbers, then I think it is reasonable
to restrict their use in the logs.  However, if it is purely a case if
accuracy or legality, I must respectfully contend that there is no
upside to the sport in enforcing this trivial matter.

73, Tom W2SC/8P1A

QSL via 9919  

-----Original Message-----
From: David Pruett [mailto:k8cc at comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 8:20 PM
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] ARRL "endorses" cut numbers

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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> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
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>
>
>   


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