[RTTY] Makrothen

[Robert Chudek]

Graham,

You don't need to put that flame suit on... this is a perfectly legitimate complaint... and actually I had not considered the possibility that someone might have lost their log in a computer fiasco. But, on the other hand, I always work dupes. On phone I might question the caller if he's showing a dupe, but on CW I just log the contact and move on.

Your message brings up my recent experience in the Pennsylvania QSO Party. I was working stations on CW and came across one "headquarters" station that gave me the dreaded QSO B4 message. Well, I couldn't find him in my log B4, and things were slow at that time so I decided to "play this one out".

I spent about 15 minutes going back and forth with him trying to get a QSO number or time stamp. He gave me a serial number that was 6 QSO's higher than my next number! He then asked for my section, I gave it to him, and never got any response. I'd ask a question, there would be a 1 or 2 minute pause, and then an answer. It became more humorous as each minute ticked by. Eventually, a quarter of an hour was wasted! He finally "just went away" and never put me in his log.

I wasn't a serious contender in this event so I decided to review my log to see if I could figure out the problem. Maybe the problem WAS on my end! Sure enough, I found him in the log.

But... the problem I found was when I worked him 8 hours previous, he was not signing with the "portable M" designator. When I typed the callsign WITH the portable designator the software on my end did not show a dupe.

Lessons learned:

1) Don't change your station callsign during the contest (P5AZ is not the same as P5AZ/M)
2) Work anyone who calls you; a dupe, a zero point QSO, whatever
3) Don't become overconfident the problem is at the "other end"

It's nice to have a contesting refresher course before the "biggies" begin this fall! I hope to have you in my log, even if QSO B4 OM! I can never get enough M5's in my log.

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

http://k0rc.spaces.live.com
http://czudek.spaces.live.com
http://chudek.aberon.net
http://www.pclink.com/~k0rc


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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 17:05:41 GMT
From: Contesting <contesting at m5aav.org.uk>
Subject: [RTTY] Makrothen
To: rtty at contesting.com
Message-ID: <313030303036313547124C6564 at m5aav.org.uk>

It is a well known fact that I will never win a 'big' contest <smile>

However, and I say this with meaning. I sincerely hope that all those
who sent me a very nice QSO B4 will one day realise the error of their
ways, although I very much doubt it.

I had a software problem during this bash and consequently some contacts
were not logged.

I don't mind losing a few points here and there, but it would be nice to
think that among those who used that dreaded macro there is someone for
whom my feeble points actually made the difference between winning and
losing.

My friend - you deserve to lose. Dupes are not penalised - but then
rules are not meant to be read either.

Best 73 - see some of you in JARTS

Graham [complete with flame proof suit]