Activators: pse exchange reports in S2S-QSOs

On the Bands Operating Procedures
1

During my activation of DM/BM-165 last sunday I had a number of S2S contacts. In two cases I experienced an annoying habit which seems to get more and more common: The other activator does not give a signal report but only his summit reference. In some cases even the summit reference is omitted.
When working regular chasers not on a summit these activators do give signal reports. But working S2S they don’t.
Some activators even explicitely ask for my summit reference and finish the QSO without exchanging signal reports.
Fellow activators please note: Without exchanged signal reports the QSO is not valid! General Rules 3.7.1 clause 8. clearly states “QSOs must comprise an exchange of callsigns and signal reports, …”
So please ensure, also in S2S QSOs, you give a signal report and the other station has copied it.

Fineprint at the end:

  • This refers to SSB.
  • I know, the SOTA database does not (edit 30.9.21 7:58) require entering signal reports. But still they are required part of a valid QSO.

73 de Michael, DB7MM

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I’m guessing that’s because voice mode QSOs are often less structured than CW ones. All the SOTA CW QSOs I hear are more contest-like [with a few extra pleasantries like gm Fabio, 73 thrown in] and the exchange of RST comes early in the CW QSO]. I find particularly that 2m FM QSOs are more relaxed and I occasional need to request my report [or the other guy asks me when I forget, especially when he starts with a question].

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