[CW] Re: CW testers

[George, W5YR]

I never knew this was so complicated.

When I call CQ and some station on my frequency sends his call one time, I
always assume that he is calling me and go back to him. I can recall but
very few times when this did not result in a QSO with no accompanying
confusion.

Granted, in the old days, when calling a station who has just called CQ the
FCC would have us call the station 3 times and then sign our call 3 times
followed by K. This was "good amateur operating practice." If no response,
then repeat the whole 3x3 procedure.

But those were also the days when you called CQ on your crystal frequency
and then tuned "around" looking for a response. So it made sense for a
caller to send both calls several times.

Today, virtually all CW operation - set aside the splits in DX and contests
which are only a small percentage of total time - takes place on the same
frequency so there is no longer any need for long calls. A single callsign
from the calling station is all that it takes to initiate a QSO.

This is one of the major operating changes that I have observed over the
years: seldom if ever giving the callsign of the station being called and
the calling station giving his callsign only once or twice.

Progress?

72/73/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas         
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe   
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6 SOC 262 COG 8 FPQRP 404 TEN-X 11771
Icom IC-756PRO #02121  Kachina #91900556  IC-765 #02437

All outgoing email virus-checked by Norton Anti-Virus 2002


Richard Phillips wrote:
> 
> In my post re: "CW testers" I did mention 12/10m........
> 
> To clarify, I was using the example of split DX operation, where you may ask
> if the "receiving" QRG is clear but no one will hear you because they are
> listening 2khz or even more down!! I offered this as an additional point by
> way of explaining or making excuses for the station that is giving his call
> only. I dont see why I should have to tune +/- 2-3khz and listen to make a
> casual ragchew!!!! To be fair, most of these "one shot wonders" are DX and
> I'm wondering if this might be another example of some international ops'
> dislike of the current NA political climate/foreign policy....Before anyone
> dismiss this point in an offhanded way, I've actually run into this type of
> situation----------although it doesn't happen very often.