[Elecraft] Is CW a Language? OT

[Sandy W5TVW]

We've been thru this before gentlemen.

In a VERY busy contest, there ain't no such thing as "a single frequency"
There is signals every 20-50 Hz!  The BIG 160 meter contests are 
examples of this.  If you are a "DXer", how many times have you succeeded
with only a 'single' call in a big pileup?  You may have to send your call
a bunch of times,and/or be running a bunch of power.  If someone calls me
just a single time and I send "QRZ", I expect the other chap to have
enough sense to send his call at least 2-3 times.  Usually because static is the
culprit or two or more callers QRMing each other.  Either way you gotta 
repeat the call. 
In a contest, the highly abbreviated procedures are commonplace,
but I still say it is lazyness or stupidity to apply the same logic to
an answer to an everyday CQ call.  Whoever isn't familiar with
the "protocol", it would behoove him to certainly learn it.
What's the problem with that?  It's just simple manners, like for example;  
Like learning not to pass gas loudly in church or on a crowded bus.
(to cite a rather crude, but typical situation)  If ARRL no longer
teaches good operating skills, find out from an old timer, what they
are.
Sorry for the tirade, but I feel very strongly about this and think it a
VERY large mistake that ARRL saw fit to take this section out of the
"Handbook".  Maybe its because there are more "LIDS" than "A1"
operators in Newington now?
73,
Sandy W5TVW
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Coleman" <aa4lr at arrl.net>
To: "Sandy W5TVW" <ebjr at i-55.com>
Cc: <N2EY at aol.com>; <kk5f at arrl.net>; <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 8:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is CW a Language? OT


| 
| On Feb 8, 2006, at 10:49 AM, Sandy W5TVW wrote:
| 
| > | However, these days, operating zero-beat on a single frequency, the
| > | long call is just a waste of time. You call CQ DE W5TVW K. I'll
| > | answer AA4LR on the same frequency. Where's the confusion?
| >
| >     Perhaps no confusion to you, the sending operator, but a  
| > possible bit
| > of confusion to the operator who called CQ!
| 
| I and many others have THOUSANDS of successful CW QSOs using these  
| techniques.
| 
| >  Firstly, let's assume you have imperfect propagation conditions:  
| > fading, static,
| > whatever.  You might miss my call or get it confused if I sent it  
| > just once.
| 
| On 160m and sometimes 80m, perhaps I'll double the call to AA4LR AA4LR.
| 
| If you only get part of it, you'll send the part you got: 4LR. I'll  
| respond with my full call again: AA4LR AA4LR. The more times we  
| repeat this, the more times I'll repeat my call.
| 
| > Anything else might likely lead to asking
| > you to repeat your callsign, which takes up even more time?
| 
| The point is, especially in a contest, the vast majority of the time,  
| the first call works. And this protocol works well when there are  
| multiple callers, too.
| 
| > Just a one time sent callsign IS bad operating practice and  
| > operating manners.
| 
| Some of the very best operators I know are contesters, and they ALL  
| do this. It can't possibly be a "bad practice".
| 
| >     Contest conditions are usually frantic, crowded and many times  
| > plain RUDE.
| 
| Well, that's true.
| 
| > Such things as sections/states and unique member
| > numbers are exchanged.  In the peak of the QRM/QSB I usually always
| > send State and my number TWICE.
| 
| This is kinda a "QRP" mentality -- "I'm weak and in the noise, I  
| better be redundant." That's not always so. Low power and QRP  
| stations can have formidable and readable signals, given reasonable  
| antennas and fair to good conditions.
| 
| In some cases, such redundancy may be helpful, like on 160m. But,  
| mostly, it just wastes time.
| 
| > Otherwise, you
| > have to ask for a repeat which wastes more time.
| 
| Fills can be done quickly and efficiently, too.
| 
| > | The old "Novice Accent" advice was to do 3x3x3 - CQ CQ CQ DE W1ABC
| > | W1ABC W1ABC repeated three times. Again, that was with a lot of guys
| > | still rock-bound. These days, a single 3x3 with a few seconds of
| > | listening seems more appropriate.
| > |
| >     I agree LOOOOOONG CQ calls or doing a 3 X 3 format three times
| > IS...repeat IS a waste of time and "overkill".  Do the 3 X 3 and wait
| > 15-60 seconds and repeat the call.
| 
| We do agree on this!
| 
| >   We still have a few people who
| > have "vintage" transmitters that are crystal controlled, but sadly
| > very few people who "tune around", even a couple of kHz. with
| > the RIT control.
| 
| Or open up the filter bandwidth, at least.
| 
| >     Anyway, the sum of it is, nobody seems like they are teaching ANY
| > really good operating practices anymore.
| 
| And we agree here, too.
| 
| 
| Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
| Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
|              -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
| 
| 
| 
| -- 
| No virus found in this incoming message.
| Checked by AVG Free Edition.
| Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.1/309 - Release Date: 4/11/2006
| 
|