[CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?

George K5KG georgek5kg at aol.com
Fri May 31 21:31:40 EDT 2013


Bob, this is the best explanation of why not to use cut numbers that I have seen.

73, George k5kg

Sent from my iPhone

On May 31, 2013, at 11:38, Robert Chudek - K0RC <k0rc at citlink.net> wrote:

> 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.
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> 
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