[SESprint] Warm up

[John T. Laney, III]

Several clubs have run warm ups for NA Sprint or NAQP a few nights
before the contest using INT rules.  This enables checking out your rig
and software, but does nothing to take the "edge" off the beginning of
the Sprint.  On the other hand, I doubt it would wise to run a
pre-sprint on 40 and 20 meters.  I'd be afraid I would work some casual
contester, who wouldn't know what was going on and wouldh't work me
again once the real thing starts.  Maybe we could do it on 80 meters for
a half hour before the contest starts.  There are few casual contesters
on 80 at 2330Z.  And no Sprinters start on 80.  We should stop at 5
minutes until 00Z and give everyone a chance to change bands, antennas,
software, etc.

There should be no need for advance claim on a frequency in Spint.  I
heard a well known DL start CQing TEST a full minute before the WAE
started last weekend.  He didn't listen for answers for a whole minute
until the contest actually started.  In my opinion, that was
unsportsmanlike conduct at best.  If you are going to CQ, you should
listen for answers and work someone, not just CQ TEST before the TEST
actually starts.  With the QSY rule, you are probably better off calling
a loud guy who CQs at the begnining rather than starting off with your
own CQ.

I apologize if another copy of this with slightly different wording
comes out on the reflector.  I sent a similar message from the office,
but it is being held for "moderation" since AT&T fooled me into
"upgrading" my AT&T software and it slightly changed by e-mail address
there, so the reflectors don't recognize it.  If I join with that
address also, I will always get two copies of every message, so I don't
want to do that.

73,


John, K4BAI.