[Fists] USING THE Q-SIGNAL QRL? DUMMY LOADS ANYONE?

[Jozef Hand-Boniakowski, Ph.D.]

Folks:

This has been bothering me for some time.  I have noticed that it is
common practice for CW ops today, many FISTS,  to send either QRL? or
the CW character for "repeat" dit-dit-dah-dah-dit-dit when checking to
see if a frequency is busy.  I contend that this is poor operating
practice.  First, it is an unidentified transmission (if not followed by
a callsign).  Second, it already has caused unnecessary QRM if the
answer to the question is "yes".  Third, would one expect to receive a
reply of "no"?  It is akin to going on a repeater and asking "is the
frequency in use?"  Listening would reveal that.  A good CW op will
listen, and then, they will listen again.  And, then again, listen.  Not
just for 10 seconds.  Or a minute.  But, a good number of minutes, at
least as long as one typical transmission that a CW station in a QSO
would make.  FISTS is a good group, and it should be spreading good
operating practices.  I do not believe that sending QRL? in the blind is
a good operating practice.  The other good operating practice I would
like to suggest is using a dummy load to tune up the rig.  If that is
not possible (not owning a dummy load), how about at least moving off of
a busy frequency and tuning up on a clear frequency as determined by
listening as per above (taking as little time as possible), and then,
identifying?.

Jozef WB2MIC
Wells VT