[TenTec] Just an observation

[Kim Elmore]

I like your call, Jerry! My Dad was W5JHJ, now an SK.

I own and operate a TT O II. There, obligatory TT content inserted. 
That said, I didn't use my O II in FD this year and there were no TT 
rigs at our FD site. I used my originally-purched-by-me-in-1984 
TS-930S with all the W6NL mods in place, a full compliment of INRAD 
IF filters, and a new INRAD roofing filter. It's remarkably 
bullet-proof, now. Far better than it ever was in any other FD 
environment! That, however, is not my point...

My introduction to contesting really was FD on CW back in the '70s. I 
loved the rapid pace and so was hooked. I only contest on CW as I 
honestly can't stand phone contests. That said, no contester worth 
the moniker, phone or CW, will jump on a frequency without listening. 
Period. And, no contester worth the moniker ever holds themselves 
above the "unwashed non-contesting masses."

With that said, there's nothing at all unusual for someone already on 
frequency to run off an interloper that tries to steal the frequency. 
I certainly do that if, during a good run, someone loud starts up 
within my 400 Hz pass band without first checking, I'll simply 
scrunch up closer and closer to them until they leave. A simple "didt 
dit" is all that's needed, to which I'll respond "C."

I think, like others, that part of FD is to learn how to set up 
stations from scratch away from infrastructure and to also learn 
efficient communications technique. I used to enjoy CW traffic nets, 
and I was bothered to learn the protocol. I enjoyed the teamwork and 
efficiency we enjoyed. Part of that comes from avoiding needless 
repeats. If someone says "QSZ 2" then I'll send each word twice. 
Otherwise, it gets sent once and it's up to them to ask for fills.

Unlike some other contests, the nature of the FD exchange is not 
always known in advance. It really has to be copied. It's best to do 
that efficiently so, if someone asks me "nr?" all I send is my number 
and class, once. Likewise, if they ask "sec?" they get only my 
section, once. If they ask again, I'll slow down and send it twice, 
assuming that they have difficult conditions. I'll clip along near 30 
wpm until I hear someone that's lots slower and then I'll slow down 
for them. The point is efficiency in communications. It's always 
better to get it right than it is to repeat. "Accuracy transcends speed."

I never instruct anyone on the air nor do I admonish them. My job in 
the air is to communicate and move on. But I'll make cheerful 
suggestions if I see someone being needlessly inefficient at their 
position. They can ignore me if they want -- I don't take it 
personally. If they are interested in learning to be more efficient, 
great! In a real emergency, efficiency and accuracy are everything.

For example, there was an op at our site on a digital mode who 
routinely repeated everything two or three times, complete with 
unnecessary preambles, repeating both calls twice.  I didn't have a 
chance to suggest he try doing things a bit differently, as someone 
else did so a bit less gently than I would have.

So, I personally see FD as a time to have fun AND learn the merits of 
efficient communication techniques for all modes. Once those two 
things are accomplished, the details take care of themselves.

Kim N5OP

At 05:33 PM 6/25/2012, Jerry Haigwood wrote:
>Jim,
>     I am not doubting you are a good operator.  But, I have seen many
>contesters who think they are better than the non-contest type of operator.
>They start calling "cq contest" or "test de" without ever listening thereby
>crowding non-contesters off the band and making a pompous donkey's butt of
>themselves.  They run full power even when it is not necessary because they
>want to "hold a frequency."  And, then after the contest they start in
>ridiculing the non-contest operator for being a bad operator.  Do you really
>think you can encourage these people to operate in a contest after you "grit
>your teeth" just to work them and then come on a list like this one telling
>everyone what a lid they were.  That doesn't sound like encouragement to me.
>You really should be encouraging the non-contest operator to try one of the
>sprints in some non-threatening way.  Then, they may find they like contests
>and join your group.  But, calling a person a lid because they sent "pse
>copy" before they sent their info is not going to get it done.
>Jerry W5JH