What I often do during a phone contest exchange is omit the signal report and only give out the section, serial number, etc. Very few operators request the signal report and when they do I reply 'my report to you is already in your logging program, there is no use in repeating it.' I could say a lot more but it would be deemed 'not politically correct.' Have we hit bottom yet? Doug
I wasn't born in Saskatchewan, but I got here as soon as I could. -----Original Message----- I completely agree with Don on this. the incessant and utterly meaningless "599" or "59" because it is programmed in and the operator too lazy to think about a real signal report makes the minimal value of contests sink to zero. They have become nothing more than a vehicle to keep the ham radio economy running and the "play" part, after consumer hams have done the plugging. 73 Rob K5UJ <<<But that brings up a problem with most contesters these days, the fact that your RST is likely to be "599" regardless, even when the other op can just barely dig you out of the noise. Same with contests on other bands, both phone and CW. That nonsensical practice has eliminated what was erstwhile perhaps the most useful function of contesting, and IMHO, diminishes the worthiness of contests altogether. Back when the signal report was a real part of the exchange and contesters tended to exchange honest reports, a major contest could be an opportunity to determine how well your station got out, and into what localities you put the best and worst signal strength, providing some insight to improvements you might wish make to your transmitter and antenna system. >>> _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
