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Sending Signal Reports in Contests

by Scot, K9JY

MiannThere are some stations not sending the signal report as part of the contest exchange in the CQ WW Prefix contest this weekend — just the serial number. Some people aren’t happy about it since sending the signal report is part of the rules.

But, in every contest I’ve been in, the signal report is the same: 59 for SSB Contests and 599 for CW/RTTY Contests. Of course, in the thousands of contacts I’ve made as a contester, there have been a handful of operators who gave something different for the signal report. But only a handful.

In addition, all of the contest logging programs automatically default to the 59/599 signal report for the field in the exchange.

And I haven’t heard of anyone getting disqualified for not providing the signal report; it will be interesting to see if this happens from this contest.

Should Contest Sponsors eliminate the signal report as part of the contest exchange?
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Is it time to eliminate the signal report from the contest exchange?

Scot, K9JY

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    • 2 comments

    1 Jeff, KE9V { 03.30.08 at 4:47 pm }

    I voted to dump it. The RST system may provide some relative value in a different context, but as you have pointed out, in a contest the guy on the other end couldn’t care less how well you are receiving him — only that you are receiving him. Besides, the filters are cranked tight and no one has a properly calibrated S-meter anyway — so what’s the point?

    73 de Jeff

    2 Jeff { 03.31.08 at 12:43 pm }

    Scot,

    Thanks for the comment on my blog. Until something worthwhile can be devised to replace a meaningless exchange, I would vote to dump it. However since the rules state to use it, I will continue to do so. I also believe that knowingly violating the rules strays from the intent…no matter how flawed the rules might be. Lobby the sponsor of the contest is a better way to handle this. Just my 2 cents.

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