[CQ-Contest] CQ WPX rules, it finally happened

[Toivo Hallikivi]

If this is really true then, IMO, this is just about the dumbest rule ever!

Every decent operator can figure out what is the right strategy for maximizing the rate & score in a certain situation. Sometimes it’s ID-ing after every QSO, sometimes after 3 QSO’s, occasionally perhaps after 4 or 5 QOS’s. Do we really need to regulate this by rules? 

What if a good op works 4 QSO’s in a pile-up in 30-40 seconds and only ID-s after the 4th one? Unsportsmanlike, disqualify? Indeed – you had to wait for half a minute to find out his call sign. At the same time another op who’s not that fast ID-s every 3 QSO’s according to the rules but it takes him 2 minutes to work those 3 QSO’s. Now what – you had to wait at least twice as long to get his call sign – disqualify him for being slow? What if the fast guy obeys the rules and ID-s after every 3 QSO’s but does it so fast (on CW) that you can’t copy the call sign - make another rule that forces everyone ID at 10 WPM?

How do you think this new rule is going to impact the QRP’ers and small pistols with weak signals? Imagine a situation when there are 4 callers, one of them being a QRP-guy. The DX-op would normally work the 4 guys without ID-ing, including the QRP-guy. With that new rule the DX is forced to ID after the 3rd QSO even though he knows there was a weak guy calling him as well. As a result a new set of (louder) callers will appear and the QRP-guy will never work the DX. Makes sense?

Just my 2 c,

Toivo, ES2RR