[CQ-Contest] Should contest ops QRS?

[Jim Brown]

On 2/11/2026 10:41 AM, Jeff Blaine wrote:
> I always was taught that if your contest performance was lacking, then 
> it's up to me to take positive action to improve my end of the QSO. 
> Maybe that's working on my max speed.  Or maybe it's a better RX 
> antennas for the low bands.  Or optimizing strategy (e.g. let's try 
> again later when the QSB may be better).  In short, to control the 
> things I can personally control, and treat the rest of the circumstances 
> as "given."  Normally the view that "I wish they would change their 
> behavior to better suite me" is really inviting frustration and that's 
> just something I don't need more of.

I agree with what you were taught, BUT -- we're at a point with SS where 
it's gonna die if we can't attract a LOT of new ops. Which means we've 
got to slow down, at least when things are slow. And this applies to 
"gateway" contests with simple exchanges that are entry points for new 
CW contesters, like CQWW, WPX, RAC, ARRL 10M, FD, and state QSO parties.

AND we've got to slow down when we're trying to work through the auroral 
zone when it's fluttery. And we've got to realize that when conditions 
are difficult, we must be willing to send full numbers, not cut ones. 
When I'm barely copying the other station, I need the time cues that 
full numbers provide. I refuse to accept cut numbers for serial numbers 
beyond T and N.

73, Jim K9YC