[CQ-Contest] 3 and 4 letter contesting callsigns

[Bob Shohet, KQ2M]

The first time that I heard the 1 x 1 I figured that I missed a letter or two. But then it was confirmed and I thought, ok, either that’s the only call like that, or the licensing authority changed the rules and lots of other contesters will take advantage of it; which of course is what happened.

Most experienced contesters have seen similar changes before and we very quickly adapt. 

I like the 1 x 1 – much easier to get the whole call, less time in the pileup listening to them call and much quicker in rate – which is why Carib/SA/MiddleEast etc. can work the US at rates approaching 500 per hour in the afternoons on 10 – 20 when signals are loud.  It’s because of our short(er) calls.

I especially like the shorter calls in high qrm, high qrn and/or high qsb conditions where one obliterated letter can wind up taking 1 – 2 minutes to get correct.  It’s a very high price to pay for an extra character that takes a fraction of a second to send.  My rates to JA would easily double or triple if they went to 1 x 1 calls and I didn’t have to constantly ask for repeats.  

When the Russians switched from 2 x 3 calls to 1 x 1, 1 x 2 and 2 x 1 calls many years ago, rates on the East coast shot up significantly for obvious reasons and so did contest scores on both sides.

Many years ago CT1BOH did an analysis on the length of callsigns (in dots and dashes) of US contesters and Jose conclusively showed how longer calls like KQ2M, sent many thousands of times during the weekend, actually in many fewer cq’s and lower rates because it takes longer to send it each time.

The 1 x 1 guys know it too.  Easier to say, faster to say, better rate and higher scores.  We’ll adapt and grow to like it.  That’s what contesters do.

73

Bob, KQ2M


From: Jim George 
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 7:39 AM
To: ko7ss at yahoo.com ; Reflector Cq-contest 
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] 3 and 4 letter contesting callsigns

Gotta agree with Randy. Bill's analysis here confirms it to me that a one 
by two is the way to go. My software is set up to automatically start 
sending a call after four characters. With the one by ones, nothing happens 
and then I realize that I have to hit the "enter" bar, and that for sure 
takes longer than seven-tenths of a second. For my money, a one by two or 
an easy two by one is the better way to go.,
Jim N3BB

At 01:27 AM 2/18/2020 +0000, ko7ss--- via CQ-Contest wrote:
>The difference between a 1X1 call sent twice and a 2X3 sent once is only 
>0.72 seconds:
>
>http://dwestbrook.net/projects/ham/rtty-length/?msg=K1A+K1A%0D%0AWB4ABC%0D%0A&mode=CW
>
>This is assuming both stations are sending at the same speed. If the 1X1 
>station is sending at 38 WPM
>and the 2X3 station is sending at 30 WPM the 1X1 station is the more 
>efficient and is avoiding any
>confusion as to whether he has a 1X1 call (less common) or a character is 
>being dropped from a 1X2
>call.
>
>73, Bill KO7SS