[CQ-Contest] [RTTY] Secrets of RTTY Sprinting

[Kai]

Ken
Perhaps sending the call sign at the end of a QSO might be an 
over-interpretation of the FCC rule to send one's call sign at the end of a QSO?
Thanks for the good tips for the first timer.
73
Kai, KE4PT

On 3/11/2014 6:52 PM, Ken Keeler wrote:
> Fellow RTTY contest enthusiasts, especially first-time participants:
>
> First, thanks to all of you who participated in the NA RTTY Sprint this past 
> weekend.
> Sprint format is the most challenging and rewarding form of contesting on any 
> mode,
> but it takes some learning and practice.  We hope you join us in the next 
> Sprint in October.
>
> My following comments are from the perspective of a SERIOUS CONTESTER for 62 
> years, 44 years as a sprinter on CW and SSB.
> I got into RTTY contesting three years ago, and  I am not an expert in the 
> technical aspects of RTTY,
> MMTTY, 2TONE, N1MM, WRITELOG, etc..  But, with coaching from experts, I have 
> learned to use what I can handle, and PRACTICE all I can.
> Sprinting is a different cat in contesting.  In the sprint, forget the other 
> conventions you may use in either casual RTTY or other RTTY contests.
>
>  In the interest of helping you be more efficient and successful in this 
> contest, here are some observations and recommendations:
>
> 1.  OBSERVATIONS:
>
> The predominant 'problem' I encountered in the sprint last Saturday, was 
> stations sending their call at the wrong time:
>
>  Situation 1:  You have called CQ and you complete a QSO.  Your message should 
> end with only your
> QTH (state, province, NA country).  If you send your call, that will trigger 
> experienced contesters to call you,
> when you are required to vacate the frequency  (QSY), per sprint rules.  If 
> you send the call of the station you just
> worked, you will trigger calls to that station.  Chaos happens in either 
> event.  The only time you send your
> call at the end of an exchange is when you inherit the frequency after 
> responding to someone who CQ'd.
> See sample sequences down the page.
>
> Situation 2:  You have logged a station and have 'inherited' the frequency.  
> You placed your callsign at the end
> of the exchange, and received a TU from the guy vacating the freq.  If no one 
> calls you then, you are entitled to
> CQ.  Hopefully someone will respond and you get what we call a 'Couplet" of 
> QSOs. (two for the price of one).
> When you complete this second QSO, you must now QSY to another freq. to CQ, or 
> tune for stations to call and get another couplet.
>
> Contest exchanges are meant to be efficient, with no un-needed nor un-wanted 
> information.
>  DO NOT send: "Thank you xxxxx for the QSO",  599 - not required by the 
> contest, PSE COPY....., PSE K, DE (your call).
> Most contesters would think you are in Delaware - OMIT "DE"....
> Save your courtesy or friendly chat for casual or non-contest QSOs.
>
> If you do not get a full exchange from a station the first time you think you 
> got him, do not hesitate to call him again later.
> Experienced contesters know that logging a station a second time will most 
> likely validate an earlier  QSO and prevent NOT-IN LOG penalty.
> I called an active contester (with an AA7 prefix) about a dozen times because 
> he was not in my log.  He evidently thought he
> had logged me before (NOT).  If he submits his log with a QSO with me, he will 
> loose the QSO, and incur a penalty.
> You DO NOT KNOW WHY  the other station attempts or refuses to dupe.
> Bottom line? LOG ALL DUPES!!!!! This applies to CW and SSB contesting also.
>
> SUGGESTIONS:
> Sprint format suggests (not by rule, but efficient flow) that exchanges be 
> sent in different sequence.  Most logging programs allow
> you to set up macros for the two modes using the keyboard function keys:  CQ 
> (running),  and S&P (Search and pounce).
>
> Assuming you already are using a logging program which will send MACRO 
> messages,  below is a suggested sequence of QSOs:
> (If you are not using a logger in contests, please get one. I use N1MM, as it 
> is closely integrated with MMTTY and other decoders, as are WRITELOG and maybe 
> other loggers.)
>
> N6RO sends: CQ N6RO N6RO NA
> W0YK sends: W0YK
> N6RO sends: W0YK N6RO 123 KEN CA
> W0YK sends: N6RO 582 ED CA W0YK
> N6RO sends: TU
> (N6RO must now QSY)
> W6OAT sends: W6OAT
> W0YK sends: W6OAT W0YK 583 ED CA
> W6OAT sends: W0YK 115 RUSTY CA W6OAT
> W0YK sends: TU
> (W0YK must now QSY)
> W6OAT sends: CQ W6OAT W6OAT NA
> ...
>
> Several logging programs automate the sequence of exchanges, and transfer 
> exchange info received to the logging window, using mouse clicks.
> If you are using N1MM, I would be glad to send you my F-key macros.  I'm sure 
> W0YK would share his WRITELOG macros with you - just ask!
> A top scorer in any contest is usually willing to share his SECRETS with 
> you.   Why?  Because it may increase HIS SCORE and YOURS!
>
> Other tips:
> Put a space before and at the end of each macro message to separate it from 
> the noise prints.
> Use 'leading zeros' in your QSO number, so it is easier to click on with the 
> mouse.  (NEVER use leading zeros on CW)
>
> SO2R:  (single operator, two radios)
> If you wondered why some stations are sending very large QSO numbers, they are 
> probably
> using SO2R.  While copying an exchange on one band, they are CQing or S&Ping
> on another.  This increases scores by 10 to 40%, depending on the contest 
> rules and activity in a given contest.
> Details on SO2R would be the subject of another discussion.  First, let's work 
> on the basics of Sprint.
>
> Like any other activity you would like to become proficient in, sprinting 
> requires PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
> For this purpose, NCCC (Northern California Contest Club) sponsors a weekly 
> practice session.
> We invite you to practice the sprint format on Thursday evenings in North 
> America, 0200-0225Z Friday,
> on 15, 20, 40, 80m, the usual 80-90 khz up from bottom of band.
> We use the Sprint message format, but the rules/scoring is different:  mults 
> count on each band, 100 watts max.
> Most loggers have formats for the NCCC Sprints, esp. N1MM.
>
> I have just scratched the surface of this most challenging art-form in radio 
> contesting.
> Please give me your feedback, recommendations for helping others to learn how 
> to SPRINT.
>
> Thanks for reading my long-winded rant.  I suspect that I am "preaching to the 
> choir",
> as most of the guys who I'm trying to address, do not subscribe to any 
> reflector discussing contesting.
> Please pass the word to those who might listen.
>
> We may make the substance of this thing available on the NCCC Sprint web-page 
> for future reference for Newbies.
> CU on Thursday nights...
>
> N6RO
> kenkeeler at jazznut.com
>
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