Re: [DX-CHAT] Ref: How Would You Respond

[Ward Willats]

Gotta say, I am a new (44 year old) kid that lurks on this reflector 
and have been working on my CW since I got my HF ticket about two 
years ago. I can now poop along in the 15 to 20 WPM range and 
understand what is coming at me at about that speed too, so I'm doing 
OK and slowly getting better.

For the almost the first full year after I was on the HF bands I 
would hang out in the 40 meter novice section and QSO with other slow 
pokes. The thought of going down to 7050 or 7030 was terrifying -- 
and below 7025 was out of the question. Even today, I'm on my "best 
behavior" down in the extra segment and try like crazy not to 
embarrass myself when chasing the odd DX or what-not down there.

So I think it is perfectly fine to expect a reasonable level of 
competency when someone keys in that segment. I also think grossly 
incorrect QSL information is inexcusable and a 4 WPM character speed 
is undecipherable!

True, there may be some handicap there, but general cluelessness is 
the more likely case.

That said, I would not have known what "AS" means either -- it is a 
traffic prosign and I just don't hear it on the air in regular QSO. 
(On the plus side, I know it now!) The FCC only tests on DN, AR, SK 
and BT. I'm also not sure I would have understood T9 either (depends 
on context), though I may well have figured it out -- I would not 
expect _you_ to be telling _me_ about your own tone without more 
explanation than can reasonably be done at 4 WPM.

de, thks, gn, ge, tu, cut numbers, Q-codes -- these your hear a lot 
and figure out quickly. (Well, cut numbers besides "T" threw me the 
first time I contested, but...)

So yes, on these two more obscure behaviors and idioms I think a 
little "ole crusty Extra" is, in fact, showing. Least that's the view 
from these "fresh eyes," FWIW.

73

-- Ward / KG6HAF

P.S. No one ever answered Steve Glibert's, G3OAG, query on 3/26 about 
whether QSL cards for WAS have to indicate 2-way (2X) or not to be 
good for the award. Since I just QSO'd my last state today for WAS 
CW, and I have a "creative" card to two without this specified, I'm 
interested in the answer to this too.
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