[RTTY] Self spotting outside of a contest?

[Steve Haines]

> From: "Bill, W6WRT"<dezrat1242 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [RTTY] Self spotting outside of a contest?
> To: rtty at contesting.com
> Message-ID:<qaer17pr5td45idm4m3qatk78r6civvked at 4ax.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Self-spotting (or correcting an erroneous spot) during a contest seems to be
> widely disapproved, but how about self-spotting outside of a contest?
>
> I like to operate 160 meter RTTY and without self-spotting, that can be a
> loonely business, so sometimes I spot myself. When I do, I often get calls right
> away. When I don't, I can go a long time with no activity. People just don't
> normally listen much for 160 meter RTTY.
>
> Is that a proper use of self-spotting? I have been criticized for it by a few
> ops, but to me that is a valid use of telnet. I never self-spot on the other
> bands, only 160. I might do it on six meter RTTY if I ever get around to that
> band, and for the same reasons.
>
> Comments welcome.
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
>
>
I would also like to know what others think of this. For the last few 
months I have been spotting myself when I run RTTY. I limit the spots to 
one per band when I get on to call CQ, and I stay on the band at least 
15 minutes if no calls, and for as long as I can copy if there are callers.

My reasoning is that ZP is kind of rare on RTTY and my signal is really 
puny . . . 90 watts to a fishing rod vertical. I assume my signal is so 
weak as to be invisible or not easily noticed if I don't call attention 
to it. On the other hand if I self-spot, some guys will hunt me in the 
noise because they need ZP.

So far I haven't been dumped on for doing this (at least, I don't THINK 
so), and I have checked the cluster for criticism. What do the list 
members think of this? If the consensus is that it is bad form, I'll 
quit doing it :-)

Steve ZP9EH