[RTTY] Dashes in Contest Reports

[Bill, W6WRT]

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:01:06 -0500, "Darl Deeds" <na8w at hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>Sorry I was not aware that with modern computers the speed really made much difference any more, Excuse my ignorance. And maybe some software developers should be advised also. Just curious how much time is lost with spaces during say an hour of contesting?? Just curious no flame needed.
>
>Darl  NA8W

REPLY:

The speed of your transmission is not affected by the speed of the
computer. All computers send RTTY at a fixed baud rate: 45.45 baud
(for discussion purposes, this is often rounded to 45 baud).

To answer your other question, if you send 599 123 123 vs 599-123-123
it will take two extra FIGS characters, one each before the 123. The
FIGS character, like all Baudot characters, requires 167 mS, so two of
them requires 334 mS, or 1/3 of a second. 

If you add the 1/3 seconds up over the course of a contest, it could
equal several minutes. You need to decide whether the time saved is
worth the possibility of garbled print at the other end, followed by a
request for a repeat. One request for a repeat can burn up the time
saved by hundreds of dashes. Your choice.

73, Bill W6WRT