[RTTY] The dreaded QSO B4 macro (was: RTTY WPX ZC4LI SOSB/20 HP)

[Robert Chudek - K0RC]

Jim,

When this happens to me, I don't log them. It's their loss and their NIL during log checking. Although I suspect many don't even submit a log.

An interesting case in point: Yesterday I received a request for an eQSL from a W6-lander who thought they had a contact with me during the WPX RTTY. I remember this contact vividly. I called him and received a QSO B4 message and no serial number. How in the world I ended up in his log when I didn't send him a report I will never know!

I rejected his eQSL request and included an explanation in the rejection notice. Something like, I did this because you sent me QSO B4 and no serial number. I then asked him to never use the QSO B4 macro again during a contest. I also told him it would have been quicker to simply work me, whether his software thought I was in his log or not.

I have also sent messages to contest station owners when I have been given the "QSO B4" reply. Often these are contest club stations who are tutoring newer, less experienced operators. My messages have always been in a positive, take this as an educational opportunity, tone.

In your case Jim, I would send an email to jf1ryu at jarl.com (his listed qrz.com address) and explain why using the QSO B4 message is a bad idea. Maybe he's just starting out in contesting and could use help from an Elmer.

It has been said before, everyone on this reflector already knows they shouldn't waste a macro with "QSO B4". I think the most effective tool is to provide positive feedback to the station who slaps this response on you during a contest!

I am probably gaining a reputation out there from my QSO B4 actions. I don't know whether it is good or bad! :-)  But if you don't offer feedback, the operators will never know this is the wrong operating procedure and make a change.

That's my $20 take on the situation!

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN


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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:52:51 -0600
From: Jim Rhodes <k0xu at longlines.com>
Subject: Re: [RTTY] RTTY WPX ZC4LI SOSB/20 HP
To: gm4kln at cairn-ltd.co.uk, "'Steve and Judy'"
<hodgson at cytanet.com.cy>
Cc: rtty at contesting.com
Message-ID: <200802131437.m1DEbESH021182 at smtp.longlines.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I think I will have a macro that says something like "OK YOU LOSE THE Q"
Maybe that will get someone's attention.

At 07:42 AM 2/11/2008, Ian GM4KLN wrote:
>Steve
>
>Interesting you should comment on "B4"....even with my ultra-modest
>total/setup I was told by about half a dozen stations "B4" when I know
>perfectly well I had not worked them....I wonder if folk sometimes rely on
>software lists instead of what is seen on the screen?  I thought it was an
>aide, not a replacement :-)
>
>73, Ian GM4KLN
>
>
>
> > Gripes.
> > If I call you you are not in my log. I tried to make a Q with JF1RYU
> > at least 6 times, he persisted in sending ''QSO B4'' I even sent him
> > a msg saying that he was not in my log - to no avail, so JF1RYU is
> > NIL. My philosophy is to work everything dupe or not !!
>
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Jim Rhodes K0XU
jim at rhodesend.net

Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone.