[RTTY] SO2R

[David G3YYD]

As a SO2R operator the CQ call is key. If made too short, for instance CQ M7T, then it does not give enough time for a complete reply to my CQ call on the other radio to be made. The idea is to time it so as soon as one radio has finished it is time to transmit on the other. 

As a consequence I use CQ M7T M7T M7T CQ this gives sufficient time for someone to call me on the other radio with GM3XXX GM3XXX. Then there is no apparent delay in my answer to GM3XXX and it allows me to send GM3XXX 59914 GM3XXX, While someone is calling me on the other radio in response to my CQ call. 

Of course it falls apart if someone calls me after a CQ with M7T M7T de GM3XXX GM3XXX GM3XXX PSE K which unfortunately too many people do. I know my call so please do not send it and de is a total waste of time as for PSE K enough said. If you have a call that is GM3XXX then twice is sufficient if you have a short callsign like my contest call then M7T three times is OK.

Then at the end of the contact I reply GM3XXX TU M7T QRZ again sufficiently long to enable someone to call me on the other radio or send the exchange so I can reply to them without any apparent delay.

I also make use of the ESC key to cut short messages on a radio so I can initiate the reply on the other radio faster. So for instance CQ maybe truncated so it becomes CQ M7T M7T.

By the way if you think SO2R is complex then I also operate the radios second receivers as well when a contest slows up.

73 David G3YYD aka M7T in contests