[CQ-Contest] Cabrillo Records beginning with X

Sun Mar 2 11:22:20 EST 2014

X-QSO indicates the qso doesn't count for my log, but may be used for
checking the other guy's log.

It works that way in CQWW-CW, CQWW-SSB, CQWW-RTTY,
CQWW-WPX-CW, CQWW-WPX-SSB, CQWW-WPX-RTTY, ARRL-RTTY-ROUNDUP,
ARRL-DX-CW, ARRL-DX-SSB and all ARRL-VHF contests.

- Ken K1EA

On Sat, Mar 1, 2014 at 12:48 AM, David Pruett <k8cc at comcast.net> wrote:

> Paul,
>
> Speaking as the log-checker of the ARRL 10M contest, and the ARRL 160M
> contest (which is checked using the same software), you are not completely
> correct.
>
> An "X" at the beginning of a Cabrillo line doesn't mean that line is
> necessarily "ignored by the robot and any checking software".  My
> understanding is that a line beginning with an "X" is simply not part of
> the official Cabrillo specification. It may be disregarded by the robot or
> checking software, or it may not.  Most of the lines that I've seen in
> files for the ARRL 10M & 160M Contests beginning with "X" are specialized
> items added by the robot for special uses by ARRL HQ (at least for ARRL
> contests; I can't speak for the others).
>
> But there is one "X" keyword which I think is important. A normal Cabrillo
> QSO line starts with "QSO:";recently, people wanted to be able to mark a
> QSO as "unclaimed", in cases where they are unsure of their log entry and
> did not want to risk penalties for a NIL or busted QSO.  For an unclaimed
> QSO, the Cabrillo line starts with "X-QSO:", which I think means "don't
> check this QSO", not "this QSO may be gibberish, so ignore it".  So while
> we won't score an X-QSO for or against an entrant's score, if possible we
> will try to use the information to verify the QSO for the station they
> claimed to have worked, but with no losses or penalties imposed if the
> X-QSO data is bad.
>
> Again, I'm only speaking for the ARRL 10M & 160M contests in that we
> support X-QSO.  I can't speak for the other ARRL contests.
>
> Your comments sound to me like you're trying to justify the presence of
> erroneous or poorly-formatted data in any line beginning with an "X".  As a
> software author, I'm puzzled why you would take this position?  If it's
> some unique X-line you invented for the purposes of your software, it's
> probably not a problem.  But please format any "X-QSO" lines just like a
> "QSO" line for that particular contest.  Any excuse not to is lazy
> programming...
>
> 73, Dave/K8CC
> ARRL 10M Contest Logchecking Team
>
> On 2/28/2014 8:07 AM, Paul O'Kane wrote:
>
>>
>> My understanding, as a software author, is that any
>> Cabrillo line beginning with X, regardless of its
>> location in the log, will be ignored by the robot
>> and any checking software.  It has been this way
>> for many years.
>>
>> If a line begins with X, there should be no need
>> for further syntax checking.  If there happens to
>> be a need, then I ask "why?"
>>
>> 73,
>> Paul EI5DI
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 28/02/2014 12:05, Randy Thompson K5ZD wrote:
>>
>>> The correct syntax for CQWW and CQWPX is "X-QSO".  I am not aware of any
>>> other contests that support this concept of marking QSOs that are not to
>>> be
>>> claimed for scoring.
>>>
>>> Randy, K5ZD
>>>
>>>  -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
>>>> Of
>>>> Robert Chudek - K0RC
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 7:12 AM
>>>> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>>>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] (no subject)
>>>>
>>>> "Next time, I'm going with XQSO."
>>>>
>>>> I would be careful with that. Not all contest sponsors support XQSO: in
>>>> their Cabrillo file. I believe CQ allows it, but I'd verify this before
>>>> using it in any Cabrillo file.
>>>>
>>>> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2/24/2014 11:32 AM, Tim Shoppa wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> A station came back to me, but I could not copy his state among the
>>>>>> static crashes, so I asked for a repeat. The op comes back:
>>>>>>
>>>>> "Okay,
>>>>>
>>>>>> thanks, Eric, for Maine." Well, two problems here: (1) I had not
>>>>>> given him his report yet (and never did), and (2) I never use my
>>>>>> given name on or
>>>>>>
>>>>> off
>>>>>
>>>>>> the air - I go by "Rick." The logical conclusion here is that he had
>>>>>> his logger set to look up on the Internet stations he was working,
>>>>>> and he got
>>>>>>
>>>>> my
>>>>>
>>>>>> given name AND my exchange info from a call sign database.
>>>>>> I don't expect to log more than a few dozen Qs in this event, but his
>>>>>> will not be among the ones I submit, even though it was a needed mult.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Most likely he had pre-fills preloaded.
>>>>>
>>>>> Isn't this what "XQSO:" in Cabrillo was set up for? "I might be in the
>>>>> other guys log but I don't feel it was a qualifying QSO and don't want
>>>>> credit and contest organizers might want to look carefully for
>>>>> patterns of this".
>>>>>
>>>>> Not to be confused with "I walked this non-contester into a contest
>>>>> exchange" which is completely legit.
>>>>>
>>>>> I remember one prominent island station in IOTA contest who was not
>>>>> sending his IOTA number. I asked several times and he wasn't giving it
>>>>> to anyone. I send in my IOTA log with his IOTA left blank, send a note
>>>>> to the contest manager, and even then I get dinged. It was a mistake
>>>>> for me to put in as a QSO. Next time, I'm going with XQSO.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tim N3QE
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>>>>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>>>>
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