[CQ-Contest] Log what was sent

[James Cain]

I suppose you could go through a long Q and A on SSB but surely not on CW. 
Then again, there really aren't many, or any, "casual" or uninformed (as  to 
the exchange) ops on CW.

 -- K1TN

 ----------------------

> K5TR 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