[Fists] one more time

[Tim O'Conner]

Been fighting to post this all day. Hope they don't come through all
at once. My apologies if so.
Tim


Hi Cory

Don't let it get you down. Like N8IE said, Maybe the op you called had
some problem, malfunction or whatever. Or maybe the op you called had
a mental malfunction resulting from some moral deficiency. We even
have an unfortunate few of those in Fists.

For that matter, I am far from perfect and still owe some ops some
very late qsl cards. Nobody's perfect and not answering a card is
certainly a downfalling for a ham. If you're out there folks, still
waiting on a card from me, even if it's really old, it's on my list.
I'm an OTR truck driver and your card is in my ever shuffling pile of
stuff I intend to get to at some point. My apologies to anyone I owe a
card. If you see this and I owe you one, it wouldn't hurt to send me
an email reminder. So there's my confession.

Back to the subject at hand. Again, don't let it get you down. Fists
are "courteous at all times" and if the op you called, say, looked you
up and saw you were not a Fists member and decided not to reply to
you, shame on him. Not only does accuracy transcend speed but courtesy
trumps all the other rules because it is what all of them are based
on.

Did you violate a rule? It's a minor concern compared to the lack of
courtesy shown by that guy if he did snub you but yes. For instance,
if I call cq Fists cq Fists de ac5sh, that means I only want to talk
to Fists members. Maybe I am desperately working on an award or for
instance, if I call cq ARTS de ac5sh, that means I want members of
that particular traffic net or at least stations who wish to check
into that net if I am acting as net control or doing a net call at the
direction of the NCS. Sometimes it's an emergency net call and you
really don't want to interfere with such a thing. On the other hand,
if I call cq cq de ac5sh/Fists, then I am giving an open call but
simply identifying myself as a fists member and want any station.

As far as your speed goes, the other stn should have at least answered
you anyway and it is common courtesy to slow to the slower op's speed.
It is advisable to not call ops who are sending beyond your capability
to receive but at the least, he should have answereed you. Funny thing
about this, sometimes when driving, all I have available is a straight
key strapped to my leg. In the big truck, this is what works due to
the rough ride and it slows me considerably. I can easily copy 20 wpm
in good conditions and sometimes faster. It's not uncommon for me to
call a station who is sending way beyond what I can manage with the
straight key/mobile and I'm actually hoping they stay qrq, only to
have them slow to my struggling 15 wpm, 18 wheel interstate motocross
speed. But you can't complain when another op shows you the courtesy
that is the hallmark of a good operator. Again, if the guy snubbed you
based on speed, shame on him.

Oh and here is my pet peeve of the year. Most of us think we are
pretty good on air and even if we don't act on it, there is a little
delight inside at the thought of telling someone else what they oughta
be doing. I wonder if the prosign police are out there on the
reflector list somewhere. I was cruising along one day listening to 30
mtr and there was this fantastic signal calling cq. It was plenty
strong so I knew I could work him from my wimpy mobile station. I
called the guy with (obnoxious op's callsign withheld) de ac5sh AR. I
did it this way in the interest of speed, knowing he would know what I
meant. AR by the way, if the prosign police are out there, can serve
as "over" in casual operation. I know what it means in formal nets and
in traffic work but that was not what was going on here. Perhaps it
was not the best operation but it did not deserve what I got from the
obnoxious op. I had by the way, listened to him call cq repeatedly and
thought I was being kind when (small wonder) no-one else would answer
his booming signal. Upon answering me, the prosign police (not a Fists
member) launched into a very extended, demeaning lecture about what AR
meant. I listened for a bit and signed off. I doubt he heard me sign
off as he was still enjoying giving me and all else on frq the lecture
when I twisted the dial a bit and found a station that actually wanted
a contact. Moral of the story, don't let the dummies get ya down.
There are plenty of us out here who will be happy to work you
regardless of speed or affiliation.

Consider yourself invited to join Fists if you like. Email me and I'll
send info.
Call me if you hear me on air and I'll work you.
73 Tim AC5SH/Fists

Re:

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Hello, (insert your name here)

Could be almost anything. I had to do that to a guy a few years ago.
I was calling CQ, he answered me and started sending all his info, about
than my little 4 year old daughter got sick all over the bathroom.
I had to leave the guy hanging because my baby girl trumps everything else.

So don't take it personal, could have been one of them "life gets in the
way" things.


73
Dan, N8IE

----- Original Message -----
From: kiyoinc at attglobal.net
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:19 pm


 I answered a station calling CQ FISTS this afternoon.

 He came back to me, I gave him a signal report and turned it back
 to him
 but he didn't reply.

 I gather he was expecting FISTS exchange or something but I just
 wanted
 a contact.

 Did I violate some rule?  Also I'm not that great a CW op and went
 back
 to him at 1/2 his calling speed.    I was using a straight key.

 I don't think the band went out.

 de ah6gi/4