[PaQSO] RTTY vote...explained

[Al Zelna]

Thanks Bill, K8SYH, for keepin' score.  Please continue to do so.  

No matter if the YES or NO wins this pretend vote, this shows a number of
PQP participants are interested in "Digital Modes".  Please pardon my
ignorance for not including PSK in my original message.  I'm not sure the
activity of other digital modes, so toss 'em in as well and confuse the
issue.

What I am sure of is the results from past PQP's.  They speak for
themselves.  What wins a category is Multipliers and CW!  If you "do CW" and
"do QRO", then you "do WIN".  I am not saying a station needs to be CW only,
I am saying a station needs a heavy weighting of CW contacts.  Factor that
with over 140 Mults and you win almost every time!  Very rarely does a
station win a category SSB only, even if they are QRO.  

Now, think of a PQP with "Digital Modes" weighted in the same way as CW.
Some stations could use this as their weapon to success and create a whole
new ball game in the category competition.  I really don't think RTTY/PSK
could offset another stations Amp.  Nevertheless, I will go out on a limb
and say some Big Guns would implement "Digital Modes" for fear of loosing
their edge.

Is this why some want to put Digital in the same MODE as CW?  I hope not.

This concept alone sparks activity.  Not to mention the activity that comes
from being able to work PA counties on another mode and all the little
pistols who don't "do CW".  Factor that with DX having another way to make
PA contacts under less than stellar conditions, and PQP activity increases
even more.

Since, I got my taxes done early year I am going into cyberland this weekend
to check other state QSO Party rules and see who allows Digital Modes and
who they do it.  The number of states allowing this may be smaller than I
think.  I'll report back.


My two cents... Lock and Load


Al Zelna, N3KAE