[DX] last 2 and CW

[Christian Buenger]

At 14:56 31.10.2002, you wrote:
>Im sorry, I really dont know why some folks have such a terror of hearing 
>last two calls.  If you listen to a pile-up and can hear the DX, as well 
>as those calling, you will quite often hear someone (for instance N7DC) 
>giving their full call.  Then you might hear the DX station saying "DC? go 
>ahead".    Possibly the pile was all talking at the beginning, and cleared 
>up just in time for the DX to heard "DC".  Thats all of the call the DX 
>heard.  Is he suppose to ignore it?

No... He should not ignore it, *but* there are a few reasons to use your 
full callsign (despite identifying)

- if your are loud then the DX might get your full callsign. If he would 
have only called with your "last two" then this he has to ask for your full 
call ... this is wasting half a qso. if you multiply this by thousends then 
you get significant numbers.

- if the DX operator is *good* and he is moving (and not just a few hertz 
... this way he is shifting the whole pile... no chance for 
"weak"  stations) around in the pile then he even hears complete calls even 
if the whole crowd is calling on one frequency. This works even if you are 
weak. Again this is time saving. [but he should not operate *totally* 
random... only a few times within e.g. 3 minutes or so... but he should do 
it... there are always calling people on the opposite side of the pile... 
maybe the weak ones... this even works in CW]

- If there is no pile up (e.g. normal contest stations), then there is no 
reason to call with your "last two". If you do that, this is again a waste 
of time. Again multiply this by thousand and you get some significant numbers.

I agree on your comment regarding operating split... But this is easy 
again. If the DX gives *clear* instructions and if he observes his own 
instructions I think the pile is good... if he breaks his own rules 
(whatever they are) then it is no wonder that the pile up is unruly.

73
Christian, DL6KAC
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