[UK-CONTEST] RSGB Contest Committee

[Paul O'Kane]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger G3SXW" <g3sxw at btinternet.com>

> non-island stations with no IOTA reference to send would be
> left too little to send and keep 'shape' to the QSO.

QSOs in major HF contests have a simple shape.
They consist of Callsign + Exchange (when you're
running) or Exchange (when you're not running).

RST is still exchanged only because that's the
way it has always been.  Up to about 40 years
ago it may have had some significance in major
HF contests, just as it still has in VHF contests.
However, we all know, from HF events like the
Sprints, that you don't miss it when you don't
expect it.

All that has to happen is that the rules of
any major HF event change to make the exchange
of 5NN optional and, within two years, we will
wonder why we kept it for so long.  The IOTA
contest is an obvious candidate because it has
a longer exchange than most.

If Roger calls me in IOTA and I reply with
G3SXW 089 EU115, I expect he will deal with it
and that's all he has to type/log.  He knows
that once he hears his call, the important bit
(the exchange) is likely to follow.   When he
replies with 132 EU5 (he's faster than me), I
can deal with it.

When I send my call and exchange to a non-island
station, and hear nothing but 008 or 461 or 2097
in return - it's no problem.  What more is there
to say?

73,
Paul EI5DI