[RTTY] Why Send The Exchange In This Manner?

[Ekki Plicht]

Am Sonntag, 16. Februar 2003 00:28 schrieb Bob Wanderer:
[...]
> The question was about the logic of sending a RST and Serial
> # response in the following manner.  This is what I
> received.
> <my call> 599 - 121 - 121 de <his call>
>
> The logic has nothing to do with serial # repetition.  It
> has to do with why the spaces surrounding the hyphens.
> Isn't that wasteful of time?  Consider how many extra FIGS
> and LTRS characters are sent.  

Logic? I don't see any.
To me that looks like somebody does not understand how RTTY works with LTRS 
and FIGS levels... and maybe he has heard a rumor that some pros send hyphens 
between the numbers.
<my call> 599 121 121 de <his call>  makes sense
<my call> 599-121-121 de <his call>  makes sense
<my call> 599 -  121 - 121 de <his call>  is just plain stupid.

> This exchange was received
> from a European station.  Maybe they don't have USOS there?

We do. Most of the equipment and software used here is the same as on your 
side of the pond.

RTTY has become much easier than, say, 10 or 15 years ago. Software like MMTTY 
has brought a wealth of new operators, much to the sake of our hobby. 
Unfortunately is has also brought ops who never have seen (or heard) a 
mechanical TTY, and partially therefore lacking the basic understanding of 
the 5 bit Baudot code and it's limitations to characters possible.

UE,
Ekki, DF4OR