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

[Joe]

YAY!!
Just like I said. I ask them over and over till I get numbers. One guy 
could have made probably 10 more Q's by the time he figured out to send 
a number.

Joe WB9SBD
Sig
The Original Rolling Ball Clock
Idle Tyme
Idle-Tyme.com
http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 12/14/2014 8:34 PM, Tom Osborne wrote:
> Especially when they are sending at 50wpm with over the pole flutter.
>
> I've fond the best thing to do if they are running is just keep asking 
> for repeats until they slow down or send numbers.
>
> After everyone just keeps sending 'agn??' they might get the idea cut 
> number don't work  73
> Tom W7WHY
>
>
> On 12/14/2014 10:34 AM, Bill Hider wrote:
>> Pete,
>>
>> I couldn't agree with you more!
>>
>> I shake my head every time I hear a cut number, before I go into 
>> 'translation mode' to figure out what the heck the actual number was 
>> that was sent.
>>
>> Bill N3RR
>>
>> On Dec 14, 2014 9:50 AM, 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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>>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
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