[GreenKeys] RTTY contest this weekend

[Kevin H. Phillips]

On 7/20/2012 11:20 AM, Bill Cromwell wrote:
> ... I was hoping that getting involved with an
> on-air event like a contest would yield some ragchew opportunities
> (maybe late in the contest) besides a chance to see if the equipment is
> all still working.
>
Bill,
I have participated in several contests over the past couple of years 
(in a very minor way) and also monitor the RTTY reflector (or, perhaps, 
"so-called RTTY reflector"  <grin>).  My observation is that extremely 
few if any of the contesters will be interested in ragchewing.  The goal 
appears to be to reduce your transmission to the absolute lowest number 
of nanoseconds possible to make a contact.  Letting your transmission 
drift too many nanoseconds toward a ragchew will probably just get you 
ignored!

Also, since few if any contesters seem to know what CR/LF are for, or 
how to set their software to use them, then a mechanical machine just 
ends up pounding holes in the paper at the end of a line.

But, if you just enjoy the fun of the chase and getting to operate *any* 
radio activity, then the contests *can* be fun.   I think scheds. or 
contests or roundtables or what-have-you for mechanical machines only, 
or those who know what CR/LF are for, would be good ideas.

73
Kevin Phillips
W5TTY