[CQ-Contest] The Insanity of Cut Numbers in Serial Number Contests

[Mats Strandberg]

Fully support your opinion.

It has become ridiculous, and it's getting worse.

We can also debate if it is time to omit 599 as such. Reports in contesting
and DX-ing don't matter anymore. I know comments will come that say "the
599 is like a signal to listen carefully for the real information". I don't
buy that statement - anyone working a contest is ready to receive the
serial number, state, zone, IOTA, age, power or whatever.

If we take away 599, the 5NN, ENN will not have any function. Then we can
focus on sending full numbers instead of messing up numbers with letters A,
N, T or whatever "cunning" or "inventive" someone will come up with.

73 de RM2D (SM6LRR), Mats

On Sunday, December 14, 2014, Pete Smith N4ZR <n4zr at contesting.com> wrote:

> Please, please don'tuse cut numbers when transmitting a serial number.
> I've even heard some Es and As today - that's just absurd, and
> counterproductive..
>
> There is good information science behind this plea.  When you really need
> to get a number right, particularly with weak signals, even the most common
> cut numbers, like N and T, are more trouble than they are worth in time
> saving.  Why?  Because each full number has five elements, grouped together
> - that is consecutive dots or dashes.  Your brain can use this fact to copy
> confidently, even if QRM or QSB causes you not to hear a dit or dah,
> because of spacing *between* numbers.  If you send a cut number, you
> deprive the receiving op of this aid - he asks for a fill, and you've lost
> more time than the cut number would save you in 5 QSOs.
>
> --
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
> http://reversebeacon.net,
> blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
> For spots, please go to your favorite
> ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node.
>
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