[TVARC] Today’s Question

[Frank M]

What is a valid contact?
According to the ARRL, you must not only exchange calls but also must exchange signal reports. A 73 is not required. (For confirmation you need time, date and freq). 
Issue: FT-8 contacts have the auto log window pop up when you send a 73. (Either RR73 or 73). 
But there are times when the other station does not send a 73 (either by choice or band change). You received his confirmation of your report to him, but you have not received a confirmation that he received yours!!
Most people enter the contact in the log when the window comes up. This is a cause for “not in log” issues with online loggers and errors in LoTW. 
The question, is it a contact or not?
My position: you got all the information for a valid contact. You just did not get a confirmation from the other station. Enter it in your log! In many cases, you just did not receive his 73 or he chose not to send it. 
Comments???

Frank KA1AF 

Sent from my iPhone