[CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?

[Robert Chudek - K0RC]

I don't care for cut numbers other than 5NN, the standard "synch pulse" 
of contest exchanges.

During the WPX last weekend with very poor conditions, those using cut 
numbers hurt themselves and the stations they were working. Of all the 
stations I worked who used cut numbers, at least 75% of them I needed to 
ask for a repeat, if not two or more repeats. Here's why...

The number sequence 0 to 9 (should) always contain 5 'elements'. Sending 
numbers in this manner provides a built-in error checking scheme. If I 
am expecting a serial number and I hear two dits and one dah, I already 
know this will be the number 2. When I hear the remaining two dahs, this 
confirms that I just heard the number two. Likewise, if I hear a dah 
dit, I already know this is the number 6, and the trailing three dits 
confirms that.

Furthermore, when listening to a sequence of four numbers, I am 
expecting four groups of 5-elements with appropriate spacing between the 
groups. This built-in error checking can often survive moderate QRN 
without having to ask for a repeat.

However, when you start throwing cut numbers into the sequence, the 
entire error checking scheme goes out the window and requires a strong, 
noiseless environment. This was not the band conditions I experienced 
last weekend. In addition to QRN, the propagation, auroral flutter, and 
back scatter was severely distorting signals at times. It was tough 
enough receiving the full 5-element numbers, let alone a solo dit or dah 
thrown into the middle of a serial number sequence.

Those of you who use cut numbers should be aware that I will continue to 
ask for a repeat until I am 100% confident I received the correct number 
for the log. I am not about to take a 3X penalty because you believe 
using cut numbers has some kind of advantage.

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

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On 5/31/2013 5:48 AM, Ktfrog007 at aol.com wrote:
> I agree with the comment below.  I do a lot of S&P and always try  to get
> the serial number of the previous QSO if possible.  I still have to  be alert
> when I am are sent a serial number because SO2Rs can jump by more  than one
> if an intervening QSO occurred on another band.  I don't expect  any
> running station to slow down for me unless I ask them to.
>   
> There are stations where I can copy the call sign but not the serial number
>   if they are very fast and using high cut numbers.  I recognize a lot of
> well known calls, plus I may have worked them earlier on another band.  It
> seems that I get older and slower all the time and everyone else is getting
> faster.  After this WPX-CW I added a QRS PSE button to my N1MM.   I expect
> I'll be using it since most likely I'll be older yet next year.
>   
> I don't understand why some speed demons don't slow down or stop cutting
> toward the end of the contest as their numbers get high and they are working
> the  Sunday afternoon and evening casual ops who are just on for fun and to
> give  out a few Qs.  It's rude to blast back at these folks who  are really
> just helping out the high scorers.  Show some gratitude and slow  down, guys.
>   
> 73,
> Kermit, AB1J
>   
>   
> In a message dated 5/30/2013 22:29:12 Coordinated Universal Time,
> john at kk9a.com writes:
>
> If  you
> call someone, they assume that you were already able to copy  their
> callsign and that you would be able to copy the report and recognize  your
> callsign at their speed. You probably already heard the report that  they
> gave to the station before you so you should already have some idea  what
> to expect.
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