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RSGB
80m Sprint QSO Format The
Sprint format requires stations to QSY if a contact was solicited on a
frequency, and means that different skills and operating style are
needed
compared with a traditional contest. To
reduce the risk of confusion between stations because of
the QSY element, the contact exchange consists of both callsigns. A
serial
number and first name or nickname are also exchanged, and as a
departure from
the norm, no RS(T) exchange is required.
The contest exchange and scoring is the
same as the popular EUSprint
contest, which is supported by SD, N1MM, Writelog, and WinTest amongst
others
already. The
preferred order of the
exchange is also different depending on whether you solicited the
contact or
not. See the examples below.
The fun of the
sprint format is that numerous stations will
use and call CQ on the same frequency in a short amount of time. A
criticism of
traditional contests with limited available bandwidth is that those
with the
strongest signals, or those who get on air first, occupy the
frequencies for
calling CQ. Here, a relatively weak station can call a ‘big
gun’ and, after
their QSO, immediately claim the frequency as their own to call CQ. Of
course,
that same frequency must then be given up following the next QSO on the
frequency.
A
common practice is to call CQ for a first contact, then
QSY, search for someone else calling CQ, and work them for a second
contact.
Then you can call CQ on that frequency for a third QSO, before
searching again
for a fourth.
You could still
entirely work Search and Pounce and never
call CQ. For a domestic contest with many similar signal strengths and
a high
band occupancy, a tactic of trying to only call CQ, maybe on
alternating
frequencies, is not likely to be very successful.
Example
SSB QSOs: (Use
of
phonetic alphabet needed in real life on-air)
3715 kHz:
M0AAA: “CQ Contest M0AAA M0AAA
Contest”
G4ZZZ:
“G4ZZZ”
M0AAA: “G4ZZZ, M0AAA 001
TOM”
G4ZZZ: “M0AAA,
002, BILL, from G4ZZZ”
(Note the different order that the contact
information is given in. If you
solicit the QSO, you should give your callsign immediately after your
QSO
partner. If you are responding to a CQ, you should give your callsign
at the
end. This enables anyone else who tunes across the QSO in progress to
know
which station will take the frequency and make the next QSO. This
lowers the
risk of confusion and frustration when searching for new stations. When
done
efficiently, the next station can call in without a QRZ? or CQ call
being
needed to identify who has taken the frequency, improving the QSO rate
as well.)
M0AAA: “QSL. Good Luck”
(M0AAA needs to now QSY up or down at least
2 kHz to call another station, or to start calling CQ himself. G4ZZZ can now
call CQ on
the now vacant 3715, if no-one calls immediately.)
G4ZZZ: “CQ
Contest, G4ZZZ”
2E0YYY: “2E0YYY” etc.
Example CW QSOs:
3525 kHz:
M0AAA: “CQ TEST M0AAA M0AAA
TEST”
G4ZZZ:
“G4ZZZ”
M0AAA: “G4ZZZ M0AAA. 001
TOM”
G4ZZZ: “M0AAA
002 BILL G4ZZZ”
M0AAA: “TU”
(M0AAA needs to now QSY up or down at least
2 kHz to call another station, or to start calling CQ himself. G4ZZZ can now
call CQ on
the now vacant 3525.)
G4ZZZ: “CQ
TEST G4ZZZ”
2E0YYY: “2E0YYY” etc.
With so much
changing of frequencies, some accidental QRM is
unavoidable. Please remember to be considerate and polite, and to ask
if the
frequency in use, or send QRL? before calling CQ.
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