[Elecraft] Use of Abbreviations (OT?)

[Sandy]

| 
| I don't think this is OT, but it may be.  However, I think it will be of 
| sufficient interest to post.
| 
    The term: "73s" is kind of corruption of "73".  Most people ignore the grammatical
err or implication of it and go on.

| I don't wish to be a horse's patootey, but this is a pet peeve of mine.  The 
| term "73" translates to "best regards", so expressing it as "73's" or 
| "seventy-thirds" is inappropriate.  That would translate to "best regardses".
| 
| Also, I'm still searching for a definitive answer to the question of whether 
| it is appropriate to use Q-signals in phone transmissions.  For example, is it 
| really appropriate to say "QRZ? this is K5XXX".  Or would it be correct to 
| say "Who is calling me, this is K5XXX"?  Of course, using a Q-signal by 
| reference would be appropriate, such as "The QRN level is very high today".  Or is it?
| 
| And it seems silly to me to say "HI, HI" instead of just laughing.  Should 
| this term be used on phone?
| 

  The use of "Q" signals on radiotelephone IS BAD operating practice!  It seems even sillier
that some people who abhor the Morse code, which the "Q" signals were designed for,
delight is using them on "phone"!
    I have also noted operating practices in general have deteriorated in the last 10-15 years
quite a bit, a lot of the "newbies" ignoring protocol or they are ignorant of same.
One is no doubt a hangover from "contest/DX practice".  That is when someone calls CQ
on CW, an answering station merely sends his call sign!  This gripes me to no end!
It is like someone shouting his first name in a crowded mall!  Who is he calling?
If you want to answer my CQ, PLEASE have the courtesy of sending my call at least ONCE
the "DE" your call.
    Reminds me of the old "Rotten Radio" stories that used to appear in QST years ago
written by "The Old Man".  I can understand brevity and even some rudeness in the 
heat of contest activity, but not as a matter of everyday operating practices.  People
teaching "ham classes" should SURELY include a few sessions of Operating Protocol
and proper operating practices in the curriculum.

73 to all (72 to my fellow QRP types!)

Sandy W5TVW