[CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?

[Rex Maner]

Bob

I agree 100% with use of 5nn  and  also - - 2 in a serial nr exchange,  and
as you say under condx as we had last weekend , I ask many to QRS and repeat
the SN several times to attempt to get it in the log correct.  I have enough
problem with FAT Finger hi hi.   

Quack  aka:   Rex K7QQ


-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Robert Chudek - K0RC
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 3:38 PM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>

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