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11-15 of 15 messages
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RE: SIGNAL REPORTS
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by KG6MZS on May 10, 2009
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>>>>Someone said that it's humorous to listen to two stations struggle to get an exchange across when both signal reports are 59. I would contend: What better reason to standardize reports?<<<<
I said that and I wasn't specifically referring to contests.
Like a lot of things it is pretty much a common sense issue. The transmitting station sets the tone. If they are handing out "fi ni" then that's what they get from me. If I listen around a contest and 99.99% of the calling stations are handing out 59s then when in Rome... Why be a PITA?
As one who dabbles in contests the other thing I find funny are contesters that are trying to go so fast that they actually end up being inefficient by going so fast they need to repeat the exchange more often then they would if they just slowed down a little bit. Taking "efficiency" to the point of inefficiency.
BTW, it wouldn't surprise me if there weren't others like me out there that casually search and pounce and avoid grouchy stations that go too damn fast. It might actually end up being more efficient to go a little slower and take the time and energy to put a smile in your voice. Maybe not.
73 de Eric KG6MZS
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RE: SIGNAL REPORTS
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by K0RS on May 10, 2009
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Hi Eric,
>>I said that and I wasn't specifically referring to contests.<<
Likewise, I wasn't specifically referring to your post. This comment (normally referencing constesting) is almost as common as the original poster's.
>>As one who dabbles in contests the other thing I find funny are contesters that are trying to go so fast that they actually end up being inefficient by going so fast they need to repeat the exchange more often then they would if they just slowed down a little bit. Taking "efficiency" to the point of inefficiency.<<
Exactly. This is so common, especially on CW.
>> It might actually end up being more efficient to go a little slower and take the time and energy to put a smile in your voice. Maybe not.<<
Right again. I have a friend that is a world class contester and even went to the WRTC. He absolutely contended the same thing. He said the key to winning contests was to attract non-contesters and he felt that the best way to do that was to make it sound like you were having so much fun that they couldn't resist wanting to particpate. Great contest psychology.
Good comments, thanks.
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RE: SIGNAL REPORTS
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by KC9ATJ on May 14, 2009
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I don't know if anybody else has ever had this happen, but I remember a contact that I had (I don't remember if it was a contest or not), but they had given me a 57 or so on the air. When I got my QSL card from them, it stated I had a 59.
KC9ATJ
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RE: SIGNAL REPORTS
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by K0OD on May 21, 2009
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Worth reading again:
"He said the key to winning contests was to attract non-contesters and he felt that the best way to do that was to make it sound like you were having so much fun that they couldn't resist wanting to participate. Great contest psychology."
--
Good advice.
The big guns work almost all the other big guns. Winners in DX tests are determined by who snags the most Euro mobiles and Japanese apartment dwellers, plus Canadian ragchew types on the low bands during broad daylight.
When casually operating, I've handed out Qs to guys only because they've sounded friendly and I've ignored stations who came off as frequency-hog jerks. While everyone uses "59 or 599." I suppose a US station can attract a few more Qs by giving some real indication of his contact's signal strength. Fun to hear a DX station say, "K0OD 59... nice signal."
I also tend to work stations who sound dazzlingly competent at contesting!
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RE: SIGNAL REPORTS
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by VE3CX on May 26, 2009
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The one thing that has not been mentioned yet is that most folks do NOT send CW by hand anymore. Rather, their computer sends a preprogrammed string for the exchange. In a contest where a report is required, everyone just programs in 5NN {and the rest of the exchange}. To start sending "real" signal reports, I would either have to send the exchange with a paddle, or manually enter it into the keyboard. More work for no benefit. Rather - it would make for more work, and end up hurting me in the end...
For folks that do SO2R, while the computer is sending your exchange on one radio, you are listening to the other radio. Again, to send "real" reports, it would just add to the operator workload and harm your score.
Contesting is about speed and accuracy. Is it possible to go too fast? Sure. Just crank your keyer up to 40 WPM and see how many callers you get. Instead, speeds seem to hang around the 25-30 WPM mark instead. More QSO's, more points.
The same thing applies to voice contesting as well. If you just mutter something representing the exchange, expect to have to repeat several times. Casual folks hearing this will just keep on dialing past. So much for saving time. The key is to contest with a smile. Its a HOBBY. Have FUN. Even if you are serious, it is important to sounds like you are having fun.
59(9) also acts as a control sequence - "pay attention to what follows". Its important, so pay attention.
The bottom line being - if you want accurate signal reports, and want to try a bunch of different tests - power levels, antenna combinations, etc., find a ragchewer and spend half-an-hour doing tests to your hearts content! I hear the "hi-fi" folks do it quite often.... Just don't expect to find that on a contest weekend!
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