Sorry - I wasn't clear. Of course it makes no sense to send "DE" prior to calling anyone if the only thing you're sending is your own call.
I was referring mostly to folks who are calling CQ, especially those with a bad fist, and under poor conditions. I've heard stations with an unusual callsign who call CQ, send their call maybe three times with NO spacing between iterations. If you miss the start of the call, it takes a lot of work to sort out the longstringofpossibilitiesfromthemess. By simply sending "CQ CQ CQ DE ..." the DE acts as a heads-up that "here is the start of my call", which gives one a fighting chance. Under good conditions, it's not a problem. I'm not a contester - ever - though I like chasing DX and actually enjoy trying to work out a strategy for pileups. And no, I never send "DE" under those conditions -- or even my callsign again -- unless I know the DX station has it wrong. 73, Dale WA8SRA > On Mon,12/1/2014 5:52 AM, d...@lightstream.net wrote: >> But PLEASE DO develop the habit of using the characters "DE" to preface >> the sending of your callsign, whether calling CQ or in exchange with >> another station. > > NO, NO, NO! (CAPS added for emphasis). When a contester (or DXpedition) > is running (calling CQ), we EXPECT to hear YOUR callsign, and we start > typing that call in the entry window. Lots of calls begin with D, so > when someone sends DE, we must backspace. DON'T send his call first -- > he knows his call -- only send yours. Same problem with typing. Further, > sending the old CW elements like DE, K, KN, and QSL during a contest are > time-wasters equivalent to "please copy" on SSB. Most good contesters > use "TU" or "R" and end a QSO by sending "TU" followed by their callsign. > > Another rule -- NEVER resend anything that the other station has copied > correctly. If the other station sent your call correctly when he > responded to you, don't send it again. Send it again ONLY if you think > he got it wrong. > > Count me among those who HATE cut numbers other than for 5NN. > > 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
