Topband: ARRL 160

[kq2m at kq2m.com]

Hi Ron,

The wrong call sign spotting and "run of dupes" happens a few times a 
year to me.  The tipoff is that a bunch of guys that you worked within 
the past hour try to work you again on the same band.  And no matter how 
many times you call CQ while correctly sending your call, they STILL 
call you; which confirms that the persistent callers are NOT Listening.

An opr. should ALWAYS copy the information. NO exceptions!

But you can't force people to actually do that any more than you can 
force them to wash their hands after they use the bathroom.


Bob, KQ2M


On 2022-12-05 09:55, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:
> Re Packet and the contest      
> 
> 
> May not be of interest to everyone. 
> 
> 
> 
> Sat evening around 0010 or so, had been running with a nice rate. Then
> a dupe. And another. And yet another. This continued for around 15
> minutes until I finally QSY'd to escape. 
> 
> 
> 
> My guess of what happened: someone spotted me but with an incorrect
> call. On all those using packet, a new call popped up. They clicked on
> it, dumped in their call. Typically I work all dupes and,  for the
> first few did but, as the volume grew, I replied with their call, mine
> and "B4". Most went away but a few insisted on a Q. 
> 
> 
> 
> In addition to showing how far our hobby has sunk, isn't it the
> responsibility of the calling station to actually copy the call sign?
> Many of the stations that duped me were very recognizable stations.
> Again, guessing, they were running SO2R, clicked on the spot, called
> and expected a quick Q. NEVER bothering to check accuracy of packet
> spot. Is it a valid contact if you don't copy the actual call sign?
> Even if the call was correct on packet. Or are we moving towards
> letting the computer do most of the work? 
> 
> 
> 
> Sure would be interesting if more contests were like the Stew Perry
> where no spotting assistance is allowed. You have to actually copy the
> information...... Yes, I know. A radical idea.
> 
> 
> 
> Ron
> 
> N4XD