[CQ-Contest] Thing that drive me nuts

AC0W Bill ac0w at charter.net
Sun Dec 4 15:06:41 EST 2016 

I can tolerate the TEST at the end as long as the space between call and test isn't too long. Some seem to have a long space so I'm dumping my call as they are sending test.

Pet peeve of mine is the guys sending numerous times and call once. Found a DX station last night call CQ with no takers. He would send CQ test 4 to 5 times, call once then CQ Test 2 to 3 more times. With the QSB I was struggling to pull out the call. After several attempts decided to move on. If he would cut down on the CQ's and added the call another time might have been able to get him in the log.

Bill
AC0W

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

cq-contest-request at contesting.com wrote:

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>Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Thing that drive me nuts (Jim Stahl)
>   2. Thing that drive me nuts (Kevan Nason)
>   3. Re: Thing that drive me nuts (S57AD)
>   4. Re: Thing that drive me nuts (Christian Schneider)
>   5. Re: Dimmer Switch RFI (Jim Brown)
>   6. Re: Don't EU stations use the RBN feeds? (Pete Smith N4ZR)
>   7. signing TEST at the end...not so bad (kr2q at optimum.net)
>   8. W3LPL interview posted on qsotoday.com (donovanf at starpower.net)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 09:00:47 -0500
>From: Jim Stahl <jimk8mr at aol.com>
>To: Gerry Treas K8GT <k8gt at mi.rr.com>
>Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Thing that drive me nuts
>Message-ID: <F5F90A42-6715-4738-8052-F98457F6B40B at aol.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
>The use of ?TEST? at the end of a CQ seems to have evolved out of style. I just use the rule that if I hear the callsign twice, it was a CQ.
>
>?Dit-Dit? is now a sort of ?73? after a comment beyond normal QRZ. As in somebody says ?TU JIM? after digging out my super weak 160 signal, I?ll send ?DIT DIT?.
>
>In Sprints and such, I like ?R? as the QSL message. It doesn?t get lost as a single DIT does, and takes half as long as a ?TU?. I don?t use it in a normal QRZ message - TU K8MR is clear, R K8MR gets me confused with a Russian station.
>
>
>
>73  -  Jim  K8MR
>
>
>
>
>> On Dec 2, 2016, at 6:07 PM, Gerry Treas K8GT <k8gt at mi.rr.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I dunno Dave, seems that I always remembered it from when I started contesting in CQWW CW 1989, that most were sendint TEST at the end of a CQ, but I agree with you, I usually also step on it and it throws my timing off.
>> 
>> The DIT DIT is supposedly faster than TU but I find that it gets lost in QRM and QRN especially when conditions are poor like CQWW CW was.  While I prefer TU, it's not a big deal, so whatever floats anyone's boat is fine.
>> 
>> 73, Gerry, K8GT
>> 
>> 
>> On 02-Dec-16 12:54, n1ix at n1ix.com wrote:
>>>  
>>> Speaking of things that drive me nuts:
>>> 
>>> Sending an additional "TEST" at the end of a CQ.  IE "CQ TEST N1IX N1IX
>>> TEST"
>>> 
>>> This seems to be a rather recent phenomenon.  I do mostly S&P and invariably
>>> I send my call on top of the last "TEST".
>>> 
>>> It would be a lot easier if everyone sent a standard "CQ" string.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> Also, what's with the "dit dit"  in response to a successful QSO.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> Dave N1IX
>>> 
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 09:13:38 -0500
>From: Kevan Nason <knason00 at gmail.com>
>To: CQ Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>
>Subject: [CQ-Contest] Thing that drive me nuts
>Message-ID:
>	<CAA6OJLp=HMn5a62oH4bGBwaw=wO0ysXecGXSNjUbgVD9MyQT9w at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>I don't like test at the end of CQ either.  Not only is putting "test' at
>the end of a CQ thought of by some as being the right thing to do, it is
>being promoted as being a best operating practice by the IARU.
>
>ON4UN and ON4WW are the custodians of the "EHICS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES
>FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR". That document is apparently sponsored by the IARU
>since their logo is on it. You can find it at
>www.hamradio-operating-ethics.org.
>
>I have read the one for Region 2. Didn't read the others, but I'm thinking
>they probably say the same. Quote: "An example of a fully efficient contest
>CQ is: 'G3ZZZ golf three zulu zulu zulu contest' ". It goes on to say "Why
>is the word *contest* the last word in your contest CQ? Because by doing
>so, someone who happens to tune across your frequency at the end of the CQ,
>knows there is someone calling CQ contest on that frequency."
>
>I do think there is some very good stuff in the document and have
>referenced it in Ham club meeting and contesting presentations, but I
>disagree with that part of it. When I talk about how to do a contest CQ I
>specifically ask people to NOT put "contest" or "test" at the end.
>
>Kevan
>N4XL
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 18:18:33 +0100
>From: S57AD <mirko.s57ad at gmail.com>
>To: CQ Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>
>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Thing that drive me nuts
>Message-ID:
>	<CA+n4nw2-WJ2twUfMgPs61R+G9OaP0odmWo4eAhze4g8O3m1iNQ at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>I kindly disagree. TEST at the end gives me time to fill your call into
>call window of my logger to see whether it is a dupe. If I call first
>sometimes (quite often) I screw things with your exchange in call window
>and your call in exchange window...
>
>73,  Mirko, S57AD
>
>2016-12-03 15:13 GMT+01:00 Kevan Nason <knason00 at gmail.com>:
>
>> I don't like test at the end of CQ either.  Not only is putting "test' at
>> the end of a CQ thought of by some as being the right thing to do, it is
>> being promoted as being a best operating practice by the IARU.
>>
>> ON4UN and ON4WW are the custodians of the "EHICS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES
>> FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR". That document is apparently sponsored by the IARU
>> since their logo is on it. You can find it at
>> www.hamradio-operating-ethics.org.
>>
>> I have read the one for Region 2. Didn't read the others, but I'm thinking
>> they probably say the same. Quote: "An example of a fully efficient contest
>> CQ is: 'G3ZZZ golf three zulu zulu zulu contest' ". It goes on to say "Why
>> is the word *contest* the last word in your contest CQ? Because by doing
>> so, someone who happens to tune across your frequency at the end of the CQ,
>> knows there is someone calling CQ contest on that frequency."
>>
>> I do think there is some very good stuff in the document and have
>> referenced it in Ham club meeting and contesting presentations, but I
>> disagree with that part of it. When I talk about how to do a contest CQ I
>> specifically ask people to NOT put "contest" or "test" at the end.
>>
>> Kevan
>> N4XL
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
>
>
>
>-- 
>Mirko S57AD
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 19:38:43 +0100
>From: Christian Schneider <prickler.schneider at t-online.de>
>To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Thing that drive me nuts
>Message-ID: <e2b658ce-8353-4c11-978b-e75e79a064e0 at t-online.de>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
>
>
>Am 03.12.2016 um 15:13 Kevan Nason quoted IARU paper:
>> "Why is the word *contest* the last word in your contest CQ? Because by doing
>> so, someone who happens to tune across your frequency at the end of the CQ,
>> knows there is someone calling CQ contest on that frequency."
>What is wrong with this reasoning? If you tune quickly you 
>often/regularly happen to hear only a call (or a suffix distinctive 
>enough to get the call). If there is no "test" at the end of the 
>transmission by a running op he simply saves time at the expense of 
>tuning ops who can either blindly call or have to wait = NOT saving time.
>At least one can argue that leaving out "test" reflects the shrinking 
>number of tuning ops. Time to explain it to RTTY ops, too, to omit "CQ" 
>at the end of their CQs.
>
>And why "dit dit" instead of "tu" when it is for saving time? "Dit" is 
>enough. Why use an old habit from conventional QSOs if it is for time 
>saving.
>
>73 Chris DL8MBS
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 5
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 11:01:05 -0800
>From: Jim Brown <k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com>
>To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Dimmer Switch RFI
>Message-ID:
>	<68e77767-6d3b-43a6-5209-4a9dd606ecd4 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
>Thanks for posting the spectrum, Scott.  With your permission, I'd like 
>to add it to my collection, and probably a presentation.
>
>When you pull the old dimmer out, please pay careful attention to how 
>it's wired, whether the green wire is connected, and try to get an exact 
>model number for it.
>
>Also exact model number for the replacement dimmer. Is it one intended 
>for use with LED lighting?
>
>73, Jim K9YC
>
>On Fri,12/2/2016 1:38 PM, K9MA wrote:
>> Here's what the spectum of a Lutron dimmer switch looks like:
>>
>>
>> http://sdellington.us/hr/RFI161127.jpg
>>
>>
>> There's a long tail upward in frequency for perhaps 70 kHz. Repeats 
>> every 96 kHz, and it's quite stable.  That quiet range is only 20-30 
>> kHz, but I was somewhat lucky last weekend that one fell at the low 
>> end of 20.  The sharp cutoff made it easy to identify with a handheld 
>> receiver.  I mistook it for a switching power supply, but that's sort 
>> of what it is, anyway.  I can see many similar, but weaker, signals 
>> with the same sort of spectrum, no doubt devices of other neighbors in 
>> my urban neighborhood. (Some of these others are switching at 
>> different frequencies, coming from different directions, etc.)
>>
>> I bought the neighbors a replacement dimmer (Levitron), but we'll see 
>> if that solves the problem.  As others have pointed out, it could be 
>> mis-wiring or the LED lamps themselves.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Scott  K9MA
>>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 6
>Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2016 20:37:52 -0500
>From: Pete Smith N4ZR <n4zr at comcast.net>
>To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Don't EU stations use the RBN feeds?
>Message-ID: <56224b2f-6379-e03a-733c-246e84f87466 at comcast.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
>I don't buy it, but an easy extra data-point would be to check how many 
>times you were spotted by RBN nodes in Europe.  Most of the most 
>prolific RBN nodes in the recent CQWW were in Europe, so it would be 
>interesting to know how often you were, in fact, spotted.  I use the 
>Info window in N1MM+ to report all the spots I get, so I can get a sense 
>of how ell I'm heard.  A CQ toward Europe nearly always results in at 
>least a modest pileup
>
>73, Pete N4ZR
>Download the new N1MM Logger+ at
><http://N1MM.hamdocs.com>. Check
>out the Reverse Beacon Network at
><http://reversebeacon.net>, now
>spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
>For spots, please use your favorite
>"retail" DX cluster.
>
>On 11/28/2016 1:47 PM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
>> I was wondering something along the same lines Gerry.  I tuned across some
>> loud EU's both days (vy easily worked), well before SSet and then thought,
>> heck, I'll try CQing.
>>
>> Found a slot, started hammering away, might get one caller in 5 or 6
>> minutes, then I moved as I thought I might be on some UA9's frequency, but
>> just can't hear him,
>>
>> Move, CQ, one caller for every 5 or 6 minutes, gave up and went back to 20m.
>>
>>
>>   
>>
>> I know I am not as loud into EU as K2LE or KC1XX, but with about 700w and a
>> 4-square on the Ridge here, I do "OK"..
>>
>>   
>>
>> It was kinda Bizarro-World to hear 40m open this early.  I wonder if that is
>> normal for this point in the cycle? Anyone comment?  I wasn't contesting HF
>> 11 yrs ago.
>>
>>   
>>
>> Also, back to your question, why WOULDN'T the EU's use an RBN feed? (if
>> memory serves, from some CQ survey, there are even more assisted ops in EU
>> than NA, so it would stand to reason they would)
>>
>>   
>>
>> Mike VE9AA
>>
>>   
>>
>> Europe opened to NA very early on 40m this weekend; it was runable from
>>
>> K2LE by
>>
>> 13:30 local both Saturday and Sunday.
>>
>>   
>>
>> When I would call CQ, the RBN would light up like a Christmas tree from EU
>>
>> skimmers with very good reports.
>>
>>   
>>
>> However, little would call in until I was manually spotted by a caller, and
>>
>> a pile ensued.
>>
>>   
>>
>> BTW, congrats to the RBN team for quickly bringing the system back up after
>>
>> it died!
>>
>> (They exceeded a PHP config threshold)...  Essentially rebooting CQWW!! :-)
>>
>>   
>>
>> 73, Gerry W1VE @ K2LE this weekend
>>
>>   
>>
>> Mike, Coreen & Corey
>>
>> Keswick Ridge, NB
>>
>>   
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 7
>Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2016 01:42:29 GMT
>From: <kr2q at optimum.net>
>To: cq-contest at contesting.com,
>Subject: [CQ-Contest] signing TEST at the end...not so bad
>Message-ID: <e7c9aee85586.58437485 at optonline.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>I don't think signing TEST at the end is necessarily so bad.
>
>If I am calling CQ, I might send: CQ KR2Q TEST or even just KR2Q TEST.
>
>When someone tunes across me and all they hear is KR2Q, how do they know if calling
>someone or if I'm calling CQ?  Adding TEST at the end lets everyone know I'm looking a Q.
>
>No?
>
>And really, saying that it messes up RBN/skimmer...really....that matters?  You're supposed
>to be copying stuff yourself, right?  Maybe that was a joke?
>
>de Doug KR2Q
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 8
>Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2016 02:12:44 -0500 (EST)
>From: donovanf at starpower.net
>To: cq-contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>
>Subject: [CQ-Contest] W3LPL interview posted on qsotoday.com
>Message-ID:
>	<105610349.11663595.1480835564181.JavaMail.root at starpower.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
>
>Early this month it was my pleasure to be interviewed by Eric, Eric, 4Z1UG. Eric has interviewed more than a hundred well 
>known active hams and made them available on his web site. 
>
>
>You will also find interesting interviews of K1DG, NE1RD, 
>W1YL, N3BB, K3LR, K3MD, K4RO, W4ZV, K5ZD, W6OAT, 
>K6XX, K8IA, K9CT, N9RV, N0AX, K0MD, VE7SV and many 
>others on his web site. 
>
>
>http://www.qsotoday.com 
>
>
>Enter the callsign of the interview in the search box in the upper 
>right hand corner of his homepage. 
>
>
>73 
>Frank 
>W3LPL 
>
>------------------------------
>
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