[CQ-Contest] Log what was sent

[David Siddall]

Christian,

I took George's point to be that the "log only what you hear" advice is
misleading because the result can be silly (and wrong) if you literally
apply it.

He is saying one should determine the correct exchange by whatever
over-the-air means possible.  If I am in, say, the WAG contest, and I copy
"599 14" from DL8MBS, I do NOT log that as the exchange ("log what you
hear" approach).  Instead, I would query "DOK?" or "X06?" and you would
(hopefully) respond "X06" or "R"; or send your correct DOK if it is not
X06.  Then I would log "599 X06" or your correct DOK.  If you do not send
me anything more in response to my query, I still would NOT log "14", even
though it is what you sent. Instead, you are NIL because you did not send
me a valid exchange for the contest.

George's advice applies to all contests regardless of the actual exchange.
He used CQWW as an example.  In that case, if someone says that they are in
Alaska, they then have given all the information needed for the exchange
and are logged as zone 1, not as "AK".  Same principle -- in whatever
fashion, ensure that you have determined the correct exchange for the
station worked.  The station worked does NOT have to send in magic
formulaic fashion "599 X06" or "599 01".  The response "R" to "X06?" is
fine. I wouldn't log "R" and you never sent me "X06". The intent is to
determine the correct exchange by over-the-air means and then log it in the
approved manner.

73, Dave K3ZJ


On Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 4:25 PM, Christian Schneider <
prickler.schneider at t-online.de> wrote:

> Am 03.10.2016 um 20:51 schrieb George Fremin III:
>
>> 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.
>>
> Almost every contest??? There are more contests out than WWDX with its
> zones.
> Subtract those contests using serial numbers, subtract those contests
> where there is no list (or no reliable list) for the "correct" exchange,
> subtract the contests which require or may require to log what was sent.
>
>> And those of you that keep giving this bad advice - please stop.
>>
> I dare to oppose. Is it favourable to start lengthy discussions during a
> run which exchange the caller has to send? What good is it to press a
> casual to send 001 on and on? Altering a received exchange is courageous,
> to say the least. At least it seems too difficult for generalizing.
> Chris DL8MBS
>
> P.S.: At least in WAG it is not advisable to log what your database
> proposes to you from any "DOK-list" for German calls. Therefore a different
> advice: Better listen.
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>