[CQ-Contest] How to be sure you have 60+ minutes off time

[Hank Greeb]

Thanks Ward, for the education in New Math.

DUMB LID me (self assigned but accurate).  I assumed that 60+ minutes 
was 60+ minutes.

I hadn't read the rules, assumed that a "somewhat standard" 30 minutes 
was the rule for break times. I had a 45 minute break for lunch, but, 
just for the fish (halibut) I decided to check the rules whilst eating 
dinner and found out that about the hour minimum for a break.
So, whilst eating that same dinner, I noted that the last contact in the 
log was22:01::25 That's 22 hours 01 minute and 25 seconds.
I was looking very carefully, and when 23:01::25 came around I made 
another contact which was logged at 23.01::33 in the N1MM Log.

I learned back in grammar school, basic arithmetic,that 1 hour and 6 
seconds was OVER 60 minutes.  But, you tell me that there's some "new 
math" in play.  So, I'm a DUMB LID because I didn't take a course inthis 
"new math."

I'd be ticked off if itactually mattered, but I only operated about 20 
hours.   I conclude that in New Math, a 60minute break actually means 
61minutes.  Thanks for educating me.

72/73 de n8xx DUMB LID Hg
QRP >99.44% of the time

On 7/3/2013 12:00 PM, Ward Silver <hwardsil at gmail.com> wrote:
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 13:49:50 -0500
> From: Ward Silver<hwardsil at gmail.com>
> To:cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] CQ WW Rules for 2013 Announced
>
>
> On 7/2/2013 11:00 AM,cq-contest-request at contesting.com  wrote:
>> Each time you take a break of 60 minutesvor more, the clock stops for the duration of that break, then re-starts when you do.
> It is important to note that "60 minutes" means (as far as I know) 60
> consecutive "empty" clock minutes during which no QSO was logged.
> (Seconds are not considered - again, as far as I know.)
>
> This is a valid 60-minute off time in a log:
> 1358 QSO
> 1359 QSO
>       first empty minute at 1400
>       last empty minute at 1459
> 1500 QSO
> 1501 QSO
>
> This is NOT a valid 60-minute off time in a log:
> 1358 QSO
> 1359 QSO
>       first empty minute at 1400
>       last empty minute at 1458
> 1459 QSO
> 1500 QSO
>
> There must be 60 consecutive "empty" minutes. The "time B minus time A"
> gap of 1459 - 1359 = 60 does not meet the 60-minute test because only 59
> consecutive minutes are actually "empty" - the last "empty" minute is
> 1458, not 1459.
>
> Leaving a gap of 60 "empty" minutes is always the safest way to be sure
> one is in compliance with off-time minimum-break rules since the exact
> requirement is rarely stated exactly, nor are the consequences of a
> violation spelled out.  Be safe and don't lose a big chunk of your log
> because you were one minute too hasty!
>
> If this is incorrect, please educate me, contest sponsors.
>
> 73, Ward N0AX