QRL

 Just finished the CQWWCW 2020 contest!

Just awesome!

What' not awesome are some "A HOLES" who think that they are doing the right thing to ask...

QRL and go RIGHT into their CQ test... well... a few jack-asses got the message LOUD and clear this weekend.... 

I took time out of my CQ freq to 'edu-macate' these pig farming wanna be contesters...  

News flash! The above scenario is NOT acceptable under any circumstances.. so here is your morning class on QRL.

Short and sweet!.....

Ask SEVERAL TIMES if the frequency is in use...QRL?...why several times? A LOT of operators are SO2R...(oh...you don't know what that is?) that is problem one.. LOOK IT UP... so 

If an person on another radio or frequency needs 7 more seconds to respond... then give them that courtesy...otherwise you run into world class (ethically speaking) contesters like me who WILL school you ON THE SPOT... SO.. do everyone a favor... ask QRL? like 3 times and if no response...then you can have it...but if you think you are going to show up on a frequency and take it just because your macro says you can.... you better bring more than tribander and 1000 watts.... You gonna need waaay more than that...

So... there you have it sports fans... Read, Learn, and put it in to practice....

Oh yeah, ... and reprogram those macros!!!

73/God Bless

Jose

N4BAA

LoTW vs eQSL

 A fellow ham asked me today, "Why do you do LoTW, eQSL, ClubLog etc"? Why not just pick one?

Well, THAT is a great question, so let me "Splain" it to you Lucy...

If you are fishing for Brim (shell cracker or whatever you call a Brim)... and they like worms, bread, crickets and flies? Which do you use to catch them? ..... Uh... all of them work right? But... on some days they may like one over the other...

Guess what? LoTW or eQSL ... (let's stick to those)... are NOT like fish. There IS a difference...

Your mileage may vary; however, if you do NOT support both, then you are NOT supporting your fellow ham community. 

LoTW AND eQSL both count for awards, but both do not count for ALL awards! 

eQSL does NOT count for ARRL DXCC or WAS  but it DOES count for WAZ. 

So, no matter what you are chasing.... award wise, why would not support both so everyone can get what they need /want.

Consider signing up for both! BOTH are easy to get done!

If you need help, drop me a line and I'll help you get it done!

73

Jose

N4BAA

SSB - "Please Copy" may be acceptable after all... (Read on)...

 First of all, I consider myself an "ALL MODE" operator... I mean ALL of them..BUT... I do not 'like' them all. I despise SSB and always have! Not putting it down...but I just don't care for it. Why? I am not sure....but I get 'irked' by those who do not speak well or clearly and don't care to change it. If ham radio is a 'communication medium' it only makes sense to have 'clear communication' right? So for all concerned, speak clearly, speak with PROPER phonetics, and enjoy.

SO, for years I have been busting out pissed off when I hear SSB operators in a contest start with "PLEASE COPY"... Yikes! ..and I don't have a good reason... However, I have ALWAYS been grateful for the QSO/contact and just shook my head....

BUT wait...  Listen to this.... "I" may have been underinformed about the potential origin of this verbiage. ... 

Scott, KA9FOX, someone who I admire for his integrity and humbleness.... shared some "words of wisdom" from Hans, K0HB and NOW ....even "I" get it!... SO, no more bashing those who use "PLEASE COPY" on SSB... 

Here is the communication from Hans as 'relayed' by Scott.....

That practice comes from good historical stock, and I have a fondness for it.

The Sweepstakes contest has its roots in the traffic handlers of the American Radio Relay League (remember that club?).  Sweepstakes was designed for traffic handlers to test their skill at actually exchanging some information (not just running the “FiE NIGH FOE” tape loop).

As you might expect (given the traffic handler roots)  the contest exchange resembles the heading of a standard message being sent for relay. So phone message handlers preamble their traffic with:

 

“Please copy my message #1, Precedence Alpha, from K0HB, Check 17 (groups), Origin Minnesota”

 

So there you have “the rest of the story”.

 

Copy?

 SO, my friends...there you have it... I do COPY and I get it. 

Now, I will NOT NOT NOT use those words EVER (and if I do CALL ME OUT ON IT AND TELL THE WORLD)... but I understand the roots/genesis of the phrase and I can appreciate those who use it.

73, God Bless, and Stay Safe...

Jose

N4BAA