[RTTY] Friend files

[Don Hill AA5AU]

This discussion has been around the block a few times.  But for new contesters,
I feel I need to voice my opinion.

I fully support the use of the FRIEND file in RTTY contests just as Chen has
explained.  I cannot tell you how many times I have not fully seen my callsign
but did see my name in an exchange.  Since the rules do not state that callsigns
need to be copied 100%, seeing my name assures me that the station on the other
end has come back to me (or someone else named Don).

In MANY cases, seeing my name sped up the exchange because I did not have to ask
if the station was coming back to me.

So it's a trade off.  In most cases, I know a station has come back to me by the
sound of the Baudot.  But that is only because of years of hearing my call in
Baudot sent a million times.  Seeing my name double-confirms the station is
coming back to me if I don't see my call.

I don't use the FRIEND file because when operating SO2R, I need my sent
exchanges to be as short as possible.

I don't get upset when someone sends me a long exchange.  Heck, during NAQP I
had a Cuban station send me his whole station file.  But I was glad to work him
just as I'm glad to work everyone who calls me or comes back to me after I call
them.  And that Cuban station was a new multiplier.  I was so happy he called, I
gave him my name (of course) and QTH and even sent a few other things like
"thanks for calling I hope to see you after the contest for a longer QSO", etc.

There is another advantage to stations sending a longer-than-normal exchange.
If you are SO2R and CQ'ing on the other radio while a station is sending you his
long exchange, you can send a 2nd CQ during his exchange or allow a full CQ to
complete without having it cut off with the lockout feature in Writelog "RTTY
Single Tx Lockout - Last one wins".

The bottom line is - use the FRIEND file if you want.  It doesn't hurt anyone
and many times, it actually helps!

73, Don AA5AU



-----Original Message-----
From: rtty-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
Of Kok Chen
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:14 PM
To: rtty-contesting
Cc: roofus
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 :-).

Personally, I have found it quite useful as a "checksum" in case I have only
partially copied the callsign that was sent.

If I received GU-6 TU CHEN TOOAPPQ, I can log the exchange without asking for a
repeat.

This does not work as well if you have a common name.  Although there are more
Chens than Johnsons in this world, they seem to stay away from RTTY contests
:-).

With VY1JA, you hardly even slowed down the exchange , HI.

73
Chen, W7AY
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