[CQ-Contest] Log what was sent

[Kelly Taylor]

Sensible advice, as always, George.

How is this any different than talking a guy through the SS exchange? Just because the guy doesn’t rapid-fire back the exchange like a seasoned pro doesn’t mean you can’t use the contact, if you get the correct information over the air.

73, kelly, ve4xt 

> On Oct 3, 2016, at 1:51 PM, George Fremin III <geoiii at kkn.net> wrote:
> 
> On Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 01:44:34PM -0400, Joe Fischer wrote:
> 
>> Based on my readings, it is quite clear: LOG WHAT THE OTHER OP SENDS!
> 
> In this forum and other places I have heard this advice given out "log
> what they send".  In most contests this is not good advice.  If what
> they send does not make sense you need to figure out how to make it
> make sense. You need to effectively communicate with the other station
> to determine their correct information.
> 
> In the CQ WW DX contests the exchange is CQ zone.  Your log must
> contain one of these zones. The only valid entries are 1 through 40.
> If the other station sends 59(9) 54 what should you do?
> 
> You could log the zone as 54 - but you will likely loose credit for
> this contact when the logs are checked.
> 
> You need to figure out the correct zone.
> 
> Ask.  
> 
> Maybe he sent it incorrectly.
> 
> Maybe he is sending his age because he thinks this is what you wanted.
> 
> Maybe he is guessing that you needed a serial number.
> 
> Ask them for their CQ Zone - many people know their zone.
> 
> But what if the station does not know his zone?
> 
> Ask them for their location. You can almost always quickly figure out
> their zone from their location. There are a few that will require a
> bit more probing.
> 
> You might say "but I do not know where all the zones are" - there are
> maps and lists - have them handy and use them.  As you gain more
> experience you will learn them - so when a KL7 in Alaska calls in and
> sends 54 to you you can ask him if he is in Alaska and thus CQ zone
> 1. And even if he does not send zone 1 you should log it as zone
> 1. Once he tells you he is in Alaska you can log zone 1 since that is
> his correct zone.
> 
> This is true for almost every contest. 
> 
> N5KO made this post a few years ago regarding the ARRL Sweepstakes:
> 
> http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/CQ-Contest/1999-04/msg00262.html
> 
> And those of you that keep giving this bad advice - please stop.
> 
> -- 
> George Fremin III - K5TR
> geoiii at kkn.net
> http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr
> 
> 
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