[RTTY] RTTY Contest Operating

[Dave Barr]

1.  If runners only want to send a call once, by all means do it at the 
end where is less likely to be garbled by software that misses the first 
one or two characters.

2.  Like Don, I send the serial number 2 times if running, and 3 times 
if S&P-ing.  Unlike Don, I rarely run, since I am running QRP at 5 or 
sometimes 1 watt.

3.  I usually send the running station's call at the head of the 
exchange, but never mine at the end.   I could be talked out of sending 
the running station's call if anyone will confirm that a legal (FCC & 
contest rules) qso occurs without both call signs being sent at least once.

4.  When my call seems to have been sent incorrectly by the running 
station, I have started to repeat my call 3 times with no exchange since 
too many times in the past when my repeated call has been sent with the 
exchange, the confirm shows that the corrected call has been ignored.

5.  I realize that I may be bringing on some of these situations by 
running qrp,  and I'd appreciate comments on that idea.

6. Fear of re-raising the SO2R controversy not withstanding, it is 
really irksome and time consuming (for me) when a 20 over nine SO2R that 
I need for a mult is auto-repeat cq-ing with a 2 or 3 sec pause and is 
obviously just holding onto his QRG while he works someone on another 
band, and takes about ten cycles to answer me.   It's not like I am not 
copyable, since in those cases I send my exchange only once, to see how 
well he does print me.

7.  Several multi- stations seemed to be ignoring the requirement for 
separate serial sequences for each band, as shown by the non-consecutive 
serial numbers sent in successive qsos.

Great contest, interesting conditions.  Can't wait for the next one.

Dave, K2YG



On 2/17/2016 6:33 PM, rtty-request at contesting.com wrote:
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 17:29:34 -0600
> From: "Don Hill AA5AU"<aa5au at bellsouth.net>
> To:<rtty at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [RTTY] RTTY Contest Operating
> Message-ID: <009501d169db$105b2ca0$311185e0$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="utf-8"
>
> I just have a couple comments here.
>
> First on #2 in regards to seeing your callsign at the end of the RUN exchange such as:
>
> AD4TJ 599 001 001 AD4TJ
>
> As Ed mentioned, and I do the same, if I believe it is necessary to put the call at the end, I will. Normally I don't, but at times I will. In last weekend's WPX RTTY contest, I saw at least two RUN stations send me a report like this:
>
> 599 034 034 AA5AU
>
> I thought it was pretty clever actually. It fulfills what David sees as being necessary in his #2 comment. It kind of reminded me of the first time I saw someone put CQ at the end of their CQ message. I don't know if I'm going to change my RUN exchange message to this but I did find it interesting. I like seeing my call at the start of the message because it tells me right away the report is for me. Then again, I'm not so sure that is necessary.
>
> On David's point #3, I send the serial number twice in my RUN exchange message and 3 times in my S&P exchange message:
>
> RUN: AD4TJ 599 001 001
>
> S&P: 599 001 001 001
>
> In the S&P message, there is no need to send the RUN station's callsign. And notice that the S&P report is actually shorter than the RUN report.
>
> 73, Don AA5AU
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RTTY [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David Tanks via RTTY
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 2:29 PM
> To: RTTY Reflector
> Subject: [RTTY] RTTY Contest Operating
>
> Hello all. I have a couple of pet peeves to voice:
> 1. Some operators do not send the RST report that is required of some, not all, contests. I work them anyway, even though they are clearly breaking the rules to save milliseconds off of each contact
>
>
> The 2016 CQ World-Wide WPX RTTY Contest
> February 13-14, 2016
> " IV. CONTEST EXCHANGE: RST report plus a progressive contact serial number starting with 001 for the first contact. Note: Multi-Two and Multi-Unlimited entrants use separate serial number sequences on each band. ".
> 2. Sometimes, there is an extended time period from when I send my call to a running station to the time that he sends my call with the report; before he starts sending the report, I have figured he hasn't heard me and send my call again. When the software finishes, I hear the running station sending a report; however, they have not set up their exchange to send the caller's call at the end of it, so all I see on my screen is " 599  123 123 " . Now, is he replying to me, or has someone snuck in there with me? Who knows? All I can do is stand by until the running station again sends the exchange, with the calling station's call displayed at the beginning. It seems a waste of time to not include the calling stations's call at the end of the exchange. 3. With excellent band conditions and signal strengths, an exchange of " AD4TJ 599 123 " may be sufficient. However, how many timjes does that happen? If just a little something interferes, then the serial number only being sent on
>   ce is not enough. And, at that, sometimes they don't even send my call, just 599 123. Are they answering me, or someone else?
>
> I would appreciate hearing from the experienced RTTY contestors on what they think is proper, concerning these items.
> 73, David AD4TJ
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