[Elecraft] Is CW a Language? OT

[Bill Coleman]

On Feb 8, 2006, at 9:07 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> IMHO, this practice [dropping DE and K prosigns in contests]
> reflects badly on the contester (on his Morse
> "professionalism," if you will).  Unfortunately, it also becomes  
> for many a
> bad habit carried over into routine operation.  We're only talking  
> about
> taking a *small* additional fraction of a second to send a complete  
> and
> proper exchange.

My point is that the extra prosigns aren't necessary in this case.  
The contesters are already sending exchanges that conform to known  
patterns -- the overhead isn't needed.

>   In reality, most contest time and energy is utilized
> sending unanswered calls over and over and over and over.

But during the time that there are responders to those CQs, working  
the callers quickly and efficiently can make a huge difference in  
score. If several callers are there at the same time, they may not  
stick around if the operator isn't super-efficient.

> It is unfortunate that contest and DX rules in general don't mandate
> complete call sign exchanges by both stations, each containing both  
> station
> call signs along with the proper prosigns.

There are some contests which dictate the sending of both callsigns  
-- the NA Sprint is one.

>   That would certainly be more
> appropriate than the totally perfunctory 599 report usually sent  
> with each
> exchange.

Not all contests use a 599 report. Many have much more interesting  
exchanges. NAQP, for example, uses the Name and State, Province or  
Country.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901