[RTTY] Friend files

[John Fleming]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kok Chen" <chen at mac.com>
To: "rtty-contesting" <rtty at contesting.com>
Cc: "roofus" <roofus at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: [RTTY] Friend files


>
> On Jul 20, 2004, at 5:46 PM, roofus wrote:
>
> > I have not gotten around to playing with them yet but most contests
> > seem to
> > be aimed at speed and saying HI DICK would slow things down.  Are they
> > used
> > for contesting or considered bad manners?
>
> I think you are going to get a variety of replies to this one :-).

No kidding!  For newcomers, they are one way of sort of learning who
everyone is, but it does slow things down.  I prefer the "select" approach -
Program a special F-key using the Friend file and only use it for "special
people", and have their call preprogrammed with a "special" message just for
them - e.g. W7AY=APPLEMAN used with the appropriate macro prints as W7AY
APPLEMAN 599-01.  A few of these can add some FUN to the contest!  Do what
you want - If you use the friend file, a [precious] few will grumble, but
they will still be thankful to work you.  ;-)  73 - John, WA9ALS