Best way to exchange reports, etc in CW...

[KC6ZBE]

Hey everyone,
I was thinking about joining in on the CQ WW CW contest this weekend and was wondering what is the proper method for the exchange?

If I am in Zone 4 would I just do something like this:
KC6ZBE 599 Z04

Im really just curious on the way you exchange zones. Do you need a Z? Do you just do your zone after the report?

Thanks
Dave
KC6ZBE

[K5TR]

If I am in Zone 4 would I just do something like this:
KC6ZBE 599 Z04

Most would send this:  5NN 4

Typical exchange

STN1:  CQ TEST HC8N

STN2: K5TR

STN1: K5TR 5NN 10

STN2 5NN 4

STN1: HC8N

[K0OD]

I used to use 599 04. Or 599 T4.  5NN 4 follows the modern trend of condensing everything.

The Z will just sound like a 7.  No one precedes their zone with a "Z".

"DE" and "K" are almost extinct in contesting.

[KC6ZBE]

Sounds easy enough...Thanks, guys!

Dave

[KQ0C]

Most of us are sending our CW via the computer (and logging program). I think that spaces are as important as content.

Sending "5nn (space) 4" seems smarter than sending "5994".

[K0RS]

Most of us are sending our CW via the computer (and logging program). I think that spaces are as important as content.

Sending "5nn (space) 4" seems smarter than sending "5994".

Good point.  I've used contesting programs that tended to hose up CW spacing, too.  One in particular tended to run together the K and the Ø in my callsign, so I inserted a space.  K (space) ØRS.  Looks funky when typing it out, but it sounded natural when played back.

Personally, I never send 5NN 04, only 5NN 4.  Everyone knows what it means.  Competitive contesting is about increasing efficiency without obscuring meaning.  Watch out for 5NN A4 or 5NN A5 from Europeans, as "A" is the cut version of the numeral 1.  Likewise look for 5NN N from some Zone 9 stations.

Also, don't repeat callsigns unnecessarily.  It's redundant if the other station has copied yours correctly, and he already knows his!  K5TR's example is excellent.

[N3QE]

Personally, I never send 5NN 04, only 5NN 4.  Everyone knows what it means.  Competitive contesting is about increasing efficiency without obscuring meaning.  Watch out for 5NN A4 or 5NN A5 from Europeans, as "A" is the cut version of the numeral 1.  Likewise look for 5NN N from some Zone 9 stations.

I agree sending O4 or 04 seems superfluous. They know you're a US operator to begin with and you have a single digit zone.

I swear this past weekend I was hearing "AS" instead of "A5" from some Europeans. I knew what they meant but... I never knew that S was a cut for 5.

And more commonly they will use "E" as a cut for "5". So 5NN becomes ENN and less often "A5" becomes "AE". Again fine if you know what to expect. But I never would cut my zone from "5" to "E" myself.

Tim.

[W8ASA]

Lately, I have noticed some stations using a single "dit" for a "1", so an RST of 599 would be dit dah-dit dah-dit.