[DX-CHAT] Ref: How Would You Respond

2004-04-05 Thread Larry, K4WLS
From: Ward Willats [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [DX-CHAT] Ref: How Would You Respond

---

Ward,

You brought up a great point about being careful to be on our
best behavior. This is certainly applicable to the Extra bands
but all as well. If we all tried very, very hard to be on our BEST
BEHAVIOR, i.e. pretent Big Brother, the FCC is listening in,
and knows all our call signs, just think:

(1)  We would always ask QRL ?? a few times before plopping
   down and calling CQ.
(2)   When we heard a DX station working a string of stations,
we would always tune up to see if there are stations calling
him up frequency to see if he was working split. There
would be no stas calling the DX on his QRG when he
working split, no QRM to others, and no need for Traffic
Cops who cause additional QRM with the Ups.
(3)With no QRM on the DX QRG, the Real Crusty Extras
 would not be sending Lids on the DX QRG, or laying
 down a carrier to express their disgust.
(4)If there are no Real Crusty Extras sending Lids on
 the DX QRG, there would be no other helpful souls
 trying the stop the Real Crusty Extras, and no dogfights
 on the DX QRG.
(5)If you had a new rig and wanted a check of your audio on
 SSB, you could send a polite Break Please to two
 strong stations engaged in a QSO without a Get F-d
 in return. If your audio was bad, they would say OM,
 your audio is very distorted instead of Throw it in the
 Sh-t Can.
(6)Well..one could go on and on...but wouldn't it be
 very, very pleasurable operating if we all tried very hard
 to be on our very best behavior...I think the key here
 is to always be very mindful of what we are doing, and
 to always be considerate of other Hams...think before
 you hit the key or mic switch.and always keep in mind
 how you would like to be treated by others on the bands.
(7)Think we just went back to that Golden Rule again  :-)

73,   K4WLS



  [Snip, Snip]

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

2004-04-04 Thread 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.
Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems 
http://njdxa.org/dx-chat

To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED]

This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA 
http://njdxa.org