[Elecraft] Using /QRP in CW contests

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

Since we have so many QRPers on this reflector...

Each to his own in how they want to identify themselves in casual
operation.  But if you use /QRP on the end of your call in a CW
contest you place yourself at an immediate disadvantage beyond your
choice of power levels.

If you are going to call running stations, please don't put /QRP in
your logger's call sign field.  Stick it in your CQ string if you put
it anywhere.  Even though I've made over 2000 40m Q's multiple times
in ARRL and CQ DX tests, and you can't do that if you don't copy 90%
of calls right the first time, I rarely can copy a call sign in the
form <prefix>/<callsign> correctly the first time, even if it is loud.
 My mind is simply NOT EXPECTING it.  I do better with the trailing
form <callsign>/xxx *IF* and only if I cleanly copied the callsign
before the / .  If the signal is in the noise, and I don't have the
front of the call, /QRP is just confusion.

Further, the longer calls are, the harder to copy.  Worse, often a
weak station will be copyable ONLY on the VERY TOP of QSB peaks,
lasting only for a few letters.  Anything you send that isn't your
call sign hurts your chances -- adding spurious P,Q,R to the letter
soup I am trying to construct a call from does NOT help.  And if I
hear a / in there you can bet I'm trying to construct a leading extra
prefix that doesn't exist.  Thank you for your assistance...

EVERY contest there are a few stations where the ONLY part of the
callsign string I got cleanly was "/QRP", and they did NOT go into the
log. I can't send them an email to explain how they hurt themselves
because I don't know who they were....  The only thing I know is that
"/QRP" is part of the reason I didn't copy them.

BTW, note that I do NOT consider QRPers a nuisance to be put up with
in contests, quite the opposite.  I really try hard for the weak
signals.  Those are the ones I work that maybe nobody else can, and
that is score differential.  So bring 'em all on.  Please just don't
send /QRP after your call.

Tell your QRP friends.

73, Guy.