[RTTY] NA RTTY Sprint This Saturday [Hints on Getting Started in Sprint]

[groupsrichart at gmail.com]

Thanks to everyone that shared hints with me about how to work the NA 
RTTY Sprint tonight as well as to those that shared your macro files for 
the contest. And my apologies to the few of you that worked this poor 
operator tonight if I slowed down your rate or sent the wrong response 
on occasion! It took me a little while to get the hang of everything 
LOL. I did manage to make 21 contacts before I had to shut down for the 
night. The bands were very noisy here near Atlanta but I did have fun. 
Now I will have to keep watch for the next Sprint and participate again.

73,

Tim WS4V

On 3/8/2018 11:29 PM, Ed Muns wrote:
> Hi, Tim, and thanks for giving Sprint a try.  The special QSY rule of Sprint
> can be simultaneously exciting and frustrating.  What some people don't
> realize, though, is that it is not necessary to work "couplets".
>
> That is, the "normal" Sprint routine is to find a CQing station and call
> them.  If they come back to you, then they QSY after the QSO and you stay on
> the frequency for one more QSO.  Thus, you've worked two QSOs on the same
> frequency and we lovingly call that a "couplet".
>
> Then you have to QSY.  One problem with this is that you may not win the
> "jump ball", the insiders' name for the first CQ.  Another station may beat
> you out.  Worse, you may stick around to work the station who beat you when
> they are ready for their second QSO on the frequency, and get beat out
> again!  Or, you may tune away, find another CQing station and lose that jump
> ball.  Too much of this can be frustrating.
>
> However, the rules don't require the "normal" Sprint routine of working
> couplets.  The rules only require a QSY after a QSO in which you were
> called.  A little known fact is that the CW Sprint was won once by a station
> that ONLY called CQ for every QSO they made during the 4-hour event.  He
> alternated between 20 and 40 meters, only calling CQ.  One could do the same
> thing on one band.  Just tune to a clear spot and drop a CQ in.  Sometimes
> this is a great way to relieve frustration and run a pretty good rate.
>
> Once you get comfortable with the constant CQ approach, try answering some
> CQs (jump balls) but if it is not too successful, just tune off to a clear
> frequency and call CQ again.  Unlike other contests where big guns sit on
> one frequency and "run" for hours on end, the Sprint format defeats that and
> gives every station the ability to CQ successfully.  Especially as a band
> gets worked out, a little gun CQing will often have several big guns calling
> them who need the new call for their log.
>
> Back to your original question, you will find in the rules two example
> exchange messages that are recommended for whether you are the CQing station
> or the responding station.  The only difference is the order of information,
> specifically where your call sign is located in the exchange string.  That
> location is a clue to anyone just tuning across the QSO as to what phase the
> QSO is in and which station is staying on the frequency.  This protocol
> allows one to instantly know exactly what is happening on the frequency and
> the precise timing.
>
> Accordingly, unlike most contests, you will want two different exchange
> messages and develop the skill/habit of sending the "correct" one depending
> on whether you are the CQing or responding station.  Beyond this, your
> messages can be similar to what you are used to for other contests.
>
> I go a step further and map all my messages to very specific locations on
> the keyboard which minimizes my hitting the wrong key.  That level of detail
> is beyond this posting and also very subjective and personal--each operator
> will have their preference for what works best for them.
>
> Ed W0YK
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RTTY [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> groupsrichart at gmail.com
> Sent: 08 March, 2018 19:54
> To: rtty at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [RTTY] NA RTTY Sprint This Saturday
>
> Would anyone be willing to share their N1MM Logger+ macro file for this
> contest? (Or even WriteLog, as I could adapt it). I have never operated
> the Sprint and I am trying to wrap my head around how to before Saturday.
>
> 73,
>
> Tim WS4V
>
> On 3/5/2018 3:51 PM, Ed Muns wrote:
>> The NCJ NA RTTY Sprint is this Saturday evening from 00-04z Sunday on 20,
> 40
>> and 80 meters.  It's a lot of fun and doesn't take much out of your
> weekend.
>> The Sprint format can be challenging and which helps improve operating
> skill
>> at any level.
>>
>> Rules: http://ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf
>>
>> Team registration: http://ncjweb.com/rttysprintteamreg/
>>
>> Log submittal: http://ncjweb.com/sprintlogsubmit/
>>
>> Practice: Friday evening, 0200-0230z Saturday
>>
>> 73,
>> Ed W0YK
>>
>>
>>
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