[WriteLog] Cut numbers

Thu Oct 28 19:06:11 EDT 2004

Personally, I have no problem learning new things and enjoy that aspect of
the hobby.  However, until you know what "cut numbers" are, which is itself
jargon for CW abbreviation, contesting is difficult when you're expecting a
number and get letters in their place.  And having just got started in
contesting, and read all of the rules about whatever contest I've been
doing, its surprising when you can't figure out why the exchange isn't what
is documented in the rules, which was one of my points earlier.  I didn't
even realize what cut numbers were until the ARCI contest when I finally got
to the point I started searching the Internet for possible meanings, and
then I didn't even know they were called cut numbers until this message
thread today.

It would be cool if you could enter the cut number into the numeric field of
WriteLog and have it automatically translated to the numeric equivalent.  If
WriteLog did this, then when I entered 15T3 into it, I would have instantly
known that 15T3 is synonymous with 1503.

In this particular case I forget what I actually entered as the number in my
log, since it wouldn't take letters, and I'm sure at this point, I have the
wrong thing there, and I'm not sure I can ever find it again.  Plus, I
didn't want to tie up the contest operator by asking "what do you mean
15T3?"...  Now that I think of it, I think I just deleted the QSO as
invalid.

While we're on the subject of cut numbers, why don't we (i.e. ham hobbyists)
start some new shortcuts for 2, 3 and 4, like    I, S, and H ???  If you're
expecting a number and get a letter, its easily translated, once you know
the translation.

The other point I was making is, if you're a newcomer in the contest arena,
and are trying to "get involved" and all of a sudden you don't understand
what is going on, i.e. cut numbers, and they aren't documented in the
contest rules, it can be discouraging.  I didn't say anything about becoming
an instant expert on it.  I'm just trying to have fun.  But not even
understanding the simplest exchange, i.e. why does my number have letters in
it, is discouraging, and frustrating.  Fortunately, with the ARCI contest,
and this list, I have finally learned what has been going on in my CW
exchanges for the past 5 months.

About time I got it!

Thanks & 73
Ed - AD4AX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Henderson" <bob at cytanet.com.cy>
To: "M. Edward Wilborne III" <wilborne at mew3.com>
Cc: <writelog at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Cut numbers

> I'll be blunt!
>
> Why do folks think ham radio should be so shallow that they can walk
through
> the door and be experts?
>
> Anything in life that provokes enduring fascinatation and interest, does
so
> because it can't be fully understood and mastered in five minutes.
>
> Cut numbers have been in common use in amateur and professional radio for
> more than fifty years and for good reason.
>
> Let's face it; if we understood everything about anything before we
engaged
> it, then it would likely become intensely boring almost immediately.
>
> Enjoy learning!
>
> Bob
>
> Bob Henderson, 5B4AGN, P3F
> Giolou, Pafos, Cyprus
> Email: bob at cytanet.com.cy
> http://www.5b4agn.net
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "M. Edward Wilborne III" <wilborne at mew3.com>
> Cc: <writelog at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 8:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Cut numbers
>
>
> > Well someone replied to me saying that using "A" for "1" which is
> evidently
> > a standard shortcut (as seen below) is probably a bad idea...:
> >
> > http://www.qsl.net/w3df/cwabbrev.html
> >
> > I think they're all bad ideas...
> >
> > Imagine my surprise after starting contesting for the very first time
and
> > after 4 or 5 contests finally learning that T was zero?
> >
> > Quite frustrating.  No where in any of the "contesting rules" did it say
> > "cut numbers" may be used for serial numbers, or signal reports.  I
> suspect
> > if it did, it should also define what they are.
> >
> > CW shortcuts are fine for people who've been doing it all their life,
but
> it
> > is discouraging to newcomers when they can't make heads or tales out of
> the
> > serial number they just received for example, 15T3.  You send a "?" and
> get
> > back 15T3 again.  I guess I should read that "contesting for dummies"
> > website/book.  ;)
> >
> > On the other hand, if you get an "A" from me in your serial number, or
> other
> > numeric exchange, assume its a "1" (see the link above).
> >
> > 73 - Ed - AD4AX
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "M. Edward Wilborne III" <wilborne at mew3.com>
> > Cc: <writelog at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 1:46 PM
> > Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Cut numbers
> >
> >
> > > I read somewhere on a random Internet page you can use the letter "A"
> for
> > > 1... does anyone do that?  (which could come in handy with my FISTS
> number
> > > of 11144).
> > >
> > > Thanks & 73!
> > >
> > > Ed - AD4AX
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: "Pawel SP7PS" <pawel at sp7ps.pl>
> > > To: "Don Melcher" <don at hfradio.com>
> > > Cc: <writelog at contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 1:35 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Cut numbers
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi Don,
> > > > Just make and put the following topic into the "writelog.ini" file:
> > > >
> > > > [Cut-Numbers]
> > > > 0=t
> > > > 1=1
> > > > 2=2
> > > > 3=3
> > > > 4=4
> > > > 5=5
> > > > 6=6
> > > > 7=7
> > > > 8=8
> > > > 9=n
> > > >
> > > > 73's
> > > > Pawel, SP7PS
> > > > http://sp7ps.pl
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Don Melcher" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > The help file is rather vague on sending cut numbers. Where and
what
> > > > > exactly goes into the .ini file?
> > > > > Tnx
> > > > > Don
> > > > > W6CZ
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > WriteLog mailing list
> > > > WriteLog at contesting.com
> > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/writelog
> > > > WriteLog on the web:  http://www.writelog.com/
> > > >
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > WriteLog mailing list
> > WriteLog at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/writelog
> > WriteLog on the web:  http://www.writelog.com/
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> WriteLog mailing list
> WriteLog at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/writelog
> WriteLog on the web:  http://www.writelog.com/
>