[CQ-Contest] Contest CQ format?

[Dale Martin]

> Somewhat distressing and frustrating, I have found in recent 
> contests that many Europeans call their CQs in this format on 
> CW:  DD9DD DD9DD TEST AA (using this station as an example 
> and All Asia at the test).  As I tune by the frequency, I am 
> waiting for more, like the call at the end of the CQ.
> Unless I have it backward :>).
> 

Many NA stations do it, too, Al. 

While I still "CQ" in contests, I do mix it up with "kg5u kg5u test" 'CQs'.
I can't yet say one is more effective in netting QSO's than the other--being
QRP makes it tough to make any sort of assessments like that.  But, I do
like the simplicity of 'kg5u kg5u test'.  

99% of the people on the air in that part of the band (I'm thinking CW and a
major contest) are in the contest.  A good percentage of them are S&P'ing.  

Including CQ once or twice in the transmission only eats up more time, time
better spent giving more pertinent and important information; like my call.


Sending "test" at the end of my transmission tells listeners that I'm
soliciting contest QSO's and not calling a station which had been CQ'ing.
To me, 'test' IS the 'cq'. 

On the flip side, as a frequent S&P'er, I find 'call call test' (or even
'call test') to be just the QSO solicitation format I need:  I don't want to
have to sit through 1,2,3, ad nauseum, CQ's before hearing the callsign and
determining whether or not he is a dupe.  I know right away.  If he's
calling a station, then the absence of 'test' tells me to ESC (clear the
callsign field) and move on.

I like it. :-)

      
73,
Dale, kg5u