[CQ-Contest] Use of di-di-dah-dah-di-dit in CW Contest

[Mike DeChristopher, K1KAA]

Hi Bob,
    Getting "?" doesn't bother me.  I usually do about the same (hit 
F4).  If it happens too often, I re-record F1 to be sure of the 
clarity.  I have no problem!  I do know it bothers others for whatever 
reason.  Personally, I tend to wait, but thats just preference/habit.

de K0RC:
"On the other hand, if I'm in S&P mode and tune to a station as he is 
finishing "test", if I don't hear anyone calling him, I'll drop a "?" on 
freq. If he comes back with a "?", I figure he is not interested in rate 
so I just tune on down the band. His loss."

Well, that depends on how much he's worth!  Might be your loss if he's a 
mult and you can't wait (especially later in the test).  Something tells 
me the DX won't miss another zone 4.

-- 

Mike DeChristopher, K1KAA
k1kaa at arrl.net
http://k1kaa.413ma.org
AR-Cluster node telnet://dx.413ma.org



Robert Chudek - K0RC wrote:

> That's another good contesting nuance you brought up Mike.
>
> If I am running and I get a "?" after my CQ, I immediately press the 
> F4 key (my call). That is, if no one else is calling me. Why would you 
> make the S&P station wait around for your CQ timer to trip off another 
> round in 10 seconds or so. You've got a "customer" waiting right now.
>
> If I don't get an immediate reply from the "?" station after my F4, 
> the other fellow has determined I am already in his log and has moved 
> on. There's nothing I need to do but press the F1 again to start 
> another CQ sequence.
>
> On the other hand, if I'm in S&P mode and tune to a station as he is 
> finishing "test", if I don't hear anyone calling him, I'll drop a "?" 
> on freq. If he comes back with a "?", I figure he is not interested in 
> rate so I just tune on down the band. His loss.
>
> If there's a "?" sent and an immediate F4 returned, that's time saved 
> on both ends. And time saved equals a higher rate.
>
> I don't understand what there is to get frustrated about. What has I 
> missed?
>
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike DeChristopher, K1KAA" 
> <k1kaa at arrl.net>
> To: "CQ-Contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 9:09 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Use of di-di-dah-dah-di-dit in CW Contest
>
>
> Some people get very frustrated when S&P'ers send a "?" after their CQ.
> You'll get the callsign in a second or two; I don't think it will kill
> the rate.  In fact, sending "?" and waiting for him to send his call may
> take just as long.  Same with phone weekends: saying "YOUR CALL?"
> usually makes the running op angry.  There's a situation for everything,
> though.
>
> Or maybe "the other guy" only caught part of SQ5M's ..--.. and figured
> he heard a call.  Either way, the problem would have been avoided if he
> just listened to the next CQ.  RX first.
>