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

[john at kk9a.com]

Ward, I also agree that a running station should send his callsign
frequently.  Frequently does not mean ID after every QSO, if you have a
quick running pileup. Sometimes an op can catch two callsigns at a time and
works one right after the other.  There are many variables involved and a
good op adjusts to these conditions.  The more efficient a running station
is, the more people work him so everyone benefits.  I just do not feel that
it is should be considered unsportsmenlike conduct if you happen to make
more than three QSOs without IDing.  This is too easy to unintentionally
violate especially when rates are high and you're sleep deprived.  I imagine
that the rule is intended for the person sitting on a frequency saying QRZ
for minutes at a time instead if their callsign, if so perhaps it can be
better written.

BTW, how do you know that IDing every QSO did not hurt your score one bit?
Nearby P40L and PJ4A had scores 30-40% higher.

John KK9A



To:cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject:Re: [CQ-Contest] CQ WPX rules, it finally happened
From:Ward Silver <hwardsil at gmail.com>
Date:Fri, 31 Jan 2014 12:30:59 -0600
List-post:<cq-contest at contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com>

Thank you to K0RC and W9WI for getting it right. Contesting - and amateur
radio generally - exists to make contacts and exchange between stations.
Cooperation is required - it is not optional. Not sending one's call sign
frequently defeats the cooperation and consumes the limited contest time of
other stations listening without providing any benefit to them. That pretty
much defines poor sportsmanship in my book.

I don't care how incredibly self-important the running station thinks they
must be that we all have to "wait or go away," it violates the implicit
bargain between stations to cooperate as effectively as possible so that
both maximize their score.

At PJ4Q this past CQ WW CW we gave our call sign after EVERY SINGLE QSO and
placed in the world M2 Top Ten with a handful of small beams and verticals
so it didn't hurt us one bit. Every time we sent the call it acted like a
short CQ and kept the pileups in sync. No other station had to throw away
their contest minutes to wait for our call sign and our dupe rate was
correspondingly low in return - that's called cooperation.
73, Ward N0AX