[RTTY] WHY put CQ at the end?

[john at kk9a.com]

So I am tuning the band and I hear CQ, now I have to wait for another CQ
cycle to hear the guys callsign. I see no advantage to using a different
format than other modes but I do end my RTTY transmissions with CQ just to
keep the standard. Calling "cq contest kilo-kilo-nine-alpha" on SSB and
"CQ TEST KK9A" on CW works fine for me and there is no confusion as to who
I am.  For some reason on RTTY, on occasion, stations call me thinking my
call is callsign of the station that I previously worked. After looking at
the weekend's packet spots this may be a common problem.

John KK9A


To:	"'reflector RTTY'" <rtty at contesting.com>
Subject:	Re: [RTTY] WHY put CQ at the end?
From:	"Don Hill AA5AU" <aa5au at bellsouth.net>
Date:	Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:02:53 -0600


Dave wrote: " But CW contest have been going on for 87 years, and nobody puts
CQ at the end.  There is no confusion."

Many contesters send "TEST" at the end of their CQ message - same thing.

There may not be confusion, but if you come across someone sending their
callsign during a CW contest, you still have to wait and listen to see if
that
station is running or S&P.

73, Don AA5AU

-----Original Message-----
From: RTTY [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dave Hachadorian
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 11:53 AM
To: reflector RTTY
Subject: Re: [RTTY] WHY put CQ at the end?

>My own personal preference is to know who's calling CQ

But CW contest have been going on for 87 years, and nobody puts CQ at the
end.
There is no confusion.

With RTTY skimmers now in the mainstream, and most RTTY contests allowing
Telnet assistance, most S&P operators are going to arrive on your frequency
already knowing who you are.  They want to hear your call sign, or even a
fragment of it, to confirm your identity.  They don’t need to hear CQ.  They
already know someone is CQ’ing here.

The CQ at the end is now more of a hindrance than a help, at least for those
contests that allow Telnet assistance, which is the majority of RTTY
contests.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ