[CQ-Contest] SS CW question

Tue Nov 9 04:45:18 PST 2010

Don't send "CK" before the actual number, we all know what that number is and it breaks up the exchange rhythm.

I like to repeat the serial number the other guy sent IF we've been struggling with it... sending an "R" or two seems to work well in response.

One could tell who was new, at times, with a "599" included in the exchange, but most breezed right along.

Heard a few folks landing on top of another operation calling "CQ", I'm guessing SO2R ops who missed the "right" button. VY1EI seemed to bear the brunt of these on Sunday...

73 
Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html
http://groups.google.com/group/tcg1?hl=en

Tennessee QSO Party
http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2     #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366
Elecraft K3/100 #1875

--- On Mon, 11/8/10, Jimk8mr at aol.com <Jimk8mr at aol.com> wrote:

> From: Jimk8mr at aol.com <Jimk8mr at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SS CW question
> To: rb at austin.rr.com, cq-contest at contesting.com
> Date: Monday, November 8, 2010, 8:09 PM
> A couple more observations:
>  
> 1.  Skipping your call in the SS exchange is also bad
> because what  
> immediately follows is another number - which then has to
> be determined if that  
> number is a new one (the CK) or a repeat of the old
> one.  How do you parse  a 
> high power VE7 sending 64 B 64 B...  ?
>  
> 2.  If you are just sending an S&P exchange
> starting with a  naked serial 
> number (no other guy call, TU, or NR... ) please wait at
> least a  fraction of 
> a second before you start sending.  I had at least a
> few fills  needed 
> because someone started so quickly that the first dot or
> two were missed  before 
> my relays and AGC got all settled in.
>  
> 3.  (For all contests!) If you are going to say TU or
> the like, do it  at 
> the beginning of the exchange, not the end. I hate punching
> the enter key (  
> or whatever) only to hear the first few milliseconds of
> something else 
> coming at  me.  I don't know that you are done,
> repeating something, or what, so 
> I  then have to rush to hit the escape key to stop
> sending, and then try to 
> get all  back in sync. So, please make it TU 5NN OH,
> not 5NN OH TU !
>  
> 4.  I disagree with K5PI on first correcting your
> call. That  emphasizes 
> that a correction will be needed. I'd rather start working
> on it, or  shifting 
> my mind into correcting it, a few seconds before the rest
> of the  exchange 
> comes at me. 
>  
> 5.  If you are a somewhat slower op who is asked for a
> correction, but  
> aren't quite sure just what it was you were asked to
> correct, just send the  
> whole exchange again (just once!). That is over time
> quicker for all than  
> guessing what you were asked for, sending the wrong thing,
> and having to be  
> asked again.
>  
>  
> 73  -  Jim  K8MR
>  
>  
>  
>  
> In a message dated 11/8/2010 5:03:41 P.M. Eastern Standard
> Time,  
> rb at austin.rr.com
> writes:
> 
> I had  probably 8-10 guys omit their call from the
> exchange.  If  you're
> expecting it as a "sync bit" (like "5NN") it really throws
> you  off.
> 
> So, we're all in the choir on this reflector, right? 
> But if  I ever were to
> offer some operating tips to an SS participant, here's
> my  top ten peeve 
> list
> for CW contests:
> 
> 10.  Pleasantries -- I  quick "GL" or something
> is okay, but please keep it
> short.
> 
> 9.   Correcting your call before sending the
> exchange -- I need to know I  
> got
> your call wrong.  But in SS, if I botch your call,
> I'll get it  right when
> you send it in the exchange.  
> 
> 8.  My call --  Unless you're specifically
> concerned at that moment that a
> guy who's close  to me might think you're working him,
> I'd prefer you not
> send my  call.  
> 
> 7.  Sending by hand -- No computer? No CW
> interface?  Even if you send the
> serial number by hand, a memory keyer for the rest 
> would make it easier on
> both of us. If you do send by hand, please don't 
> hurry. Shortened spacing
> isn't really faster and really makes it hard to  copy
> 
> 6.  Portable, mobile, or QRP indicators -- In a
> contest, I'd  prefer you
> shorten your call as much as allowed by law.
> 
> 5.   Non-standard exchange -- If the rules
> say you must send your own call
> (or  signal report), or send the exchange in a
> particular sequence, please  
> do
> so.  Odds are, I'm multi-tasking (looking at the rate
> meter,  opening a 
> soda,
> and thinking about a band change, etc.), so please
> don't  hand me a square
> peg.
> 
> 4.  Cut numbers -- It sounds like a good  idea,
> but it's just not standard
> practice except for signal reports and  power levels
> in ARRL DX.  If you 
> send
> "ANT4" as a serial number,  you'll get a resounding
> "Huh?" from me.  Also, 
> in
> marginal conditions,  cut numbers provide fewer error
> checking bits. 
> 
> 3.  Leading zeros  -- It slows things down. 
> And in marginal conditions, it
> can confuse  things.  "Was that a 1, or a leading
> zero?"
> 
> 2.  Changing what  you send in a fill -- If I'm
> struggling to get a fill,
> please keep sending  it the same way.  I may be
> 90% certain I've got it.  If
> you  change "MI" to "MICH" and I only get "CH" that
> time, I'm back to zero. 
>   
> 
> And number one . . .
> 
> 1.  Repeats -- The SS exchange is  long enough,
> and there's a snarling pack
> of other ops ready to steal my run  frequency. 
> So please just send things
> once.  It's faster, and I  might well get
> it.  If I don't get it, I'll ask
> for a repeat and we  can go back and forth as
> needed.  That keeps my loud
> signal on the air  and helps me hold my frequency.
> 
> BTW, dupes only makes honorable mention  on my SS
> list.  Sure it would be
> nice if everyone looked up the rules,  but SS is rare
> in allowing only one
> QSO on any band.
> 
> Robert  K5PI
> 
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