For me that brought a tinge of sadness. I used to love the conversational approach adopted during the 2m CW QSOs that I used to have with Reg G3WPF. Others such as Frank G3RMD used to go outside the standard format, adding the odd comment. Now it all seems to be more rushed. That’s why at the very least I like to include the activator’s name when chasing and receiving my own name when activating - it makes me smile. Sometimes though I distinctly feel that I am taking too much time executing the QSO… even repeating the report seems to be wasteful. I wonder whether others feel the same way
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Like wise Gerald, I know most of the regular activators names (the PC Logger32 helps) and as I am a regular chaser, they also know mine. The added advantage of giving names in the exchange both ways is if the long callers have obliterated the first part of “G4OBK GM Phil 599 de G4OIG BK” there is a good chance I will have hear the Phil part of the exchange and not the G4OBK part at the start, so I can confdiently return with my report and log the QSO.
One of the favourite activators I like to work is regular Kurt HB9AFI/P - he always comes back to me first or second call, he operates full break in. By the time I drop my key to listen (with a 100mS break in time) he is sending the 2nd or 3rd character of my callsign, this happens every time I work Kurt, such an amazing operator he is to do this…
73 Phil G4OBK
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I think that’s fine until you are spotted, then some chasers call and call even if they can’t hear you calling/replying to them.
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As others are saying, don’t despair. There are lids in every corner of amateur radio, but I’m finding that SOTA is easily the most lid-free corner I’ve looked at so far. I’ve been using SOTA to re-learn CW (after some covid-related brain damage; yippee) and it’s been awesome, at least here in the US West. Every activator has been patient and supportive, and many have contacted me via email to add encouragement.
I won’t take part in SSB contests at all any longer; I hate what is considered “normal” contest practice. I lead 5-10 voice nets weekly and have ways of dealing with the ones who think they’re clever (tail-enders, suffix only, etc.). They all make the end of the log.
Ham radio has always had its lids-look at how old the term itself is. They’re just a part of life. All we can do is try our best not to be one, and enjoy the contacts with the good operators.
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One of the Australian visitors to my home summit was activating using CW with me watching. I had no clue he didn’t know CW. His equipment was sending CW and he was using a reader. Eventually, the reader had trouble with N4EX, and I jumped in to help. Amazing.
Elliott, K6EL
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