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How often should a CQing contest station give the station call sign?
Posted: Dec 04, 2010 (194 votes, 16 comments) by VE5ZX

After each QSO
Ever few QSOs
Once a minute
Ever few minutes
Whenever the operator wishes
It doesn't matter
I don't care.
(194 votes, 16 comments)

Survey Results

After each QSO 58% (113)

Ever few QSOs 32% (63)

Once a minute 4% (7)

Ever few minutes 1% (2)

Whenever the operator wishes 5% (9)

It doesn't matter 0% (0)

I don't care. 0% (0)

Survey Comments

After each QSO

When calling CQ...I give my station callsign during the CQ and after each QSO

Posted by K5DXX on December 23, 2010

Varies

I like to I.D. every QSO but there are times that it is not practical, such as when you are working 10 stations per minute. Since rates vary widely during a contest it was not possible for me to select from the above categories. Certainly waiting one minute or more is excessive. Many stations just say QRZ instead of their callsign and this is an inefficient way to run a pileup.

John KK9A / P40A

Posted by kk9a on December 17, 2010

It doesn't depend much

It's every time or no more than every third time. We ran up a very fast 57,000 Qs at PJ6A signing every time. W9RE, N5OT, W4OC and I had the highest DX-side score in the world in ARRL CW two years in a row from PJ4R running M/2, including beating all the M/M scores, by signing no more than every third time. There is more to contesting that your own rate BTW - there is courtesy to the others trying to work you. In the long run it pays off if your pileup management skills are good. If I am operating casual and you are signing once a minute - you are probably not in my log; your loss not mine.
Posted by N4GG on December 17, 2010

As s/he wishes

W2ID nailed it.
Posted by KA2LIM on December 15, 2010

Too many QRS in DX'Ally makes this a must

In the recent 10M ARRL CW contest, I had exceptional run rates and one's that suffered due to the numerous QRS ops in DX'ally- In either case, I ID at the end of each QSO-

Bottom-Line- it is a matter of courtesy- waiting for several QSO's when a station is running without ID, sometimes 10 plus QSO's running, is very frustrating especially when working unassisted-
Posted by n0ah on December 13, 2010

Callsign Repetition While Running

This is a question of optimization.
Variables are: Pile-up depth; length
(clumsyness)of running station's call sign,
friction from pouncing stations, and
efficiency of pouncing stations to identify
dupes.

Piles-up run pretty much exactly according to
Queueing Theory (a great primer is at
Wikipedia-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queueing_theory
)

Pile Up Depth
Signing only adds to pile up depth, so if the
pile-up QRM is high, signing makes it worse,
and the Q rate drops <i>for everyone</i>. The
extreme of this would be a running not
signing at all, until the pile up was gone;
and that's the other (sub) optimal end of the
scale.

Run Call Sign Dexterity
There's a big difference if you're P4Y, or
you're OH8RWQ/M. P4Y with a rising inflection
is as good as QRZ? OH8RWQ/M has to give up
more to sign and I have more sympathy for
them skipping the odd QSO w/o signing.

Pouncers Identifying Dupes
Yes, it's frustrating to wait to hear a call
to learn it's a dupe (I've endured this
heartbreak myself). But: Much more widespread
use of spotting nets and more sophisticated
logging software that remembers worked
stations in call maps diminish this problem.
If runners signed at worst every third QSO and their Q rate is 100+ then the pouncers'
investment in a dupe call is minimal. Runners
could slow their ID frequency early in a
contest (where probability of 'dupes' is
lower b/c we haven't worked that many
stations yet), and higher later in the
contest when dupe probability increases).

Friction From Pouncers
As a Running Station I've experienced this
myself. I limit signing for 2 - 3 QSOs to
control pile-up size and inevitably some
(usually heavily amplified) pouncer starts up
with "What's ur call?", sometimes repeatedly.
In-so-doing the pouncer QRMs the pile up and
slows the Q rate further. Usually, had they
shut up, they'd have got the call sign
quicker. None-the-less, these QRMers are a reality that has to factor in the
optimization mix.

EVERYONE has an interest and stake in higher
Q rates (pouncers and runners are in an
'optimization' pact... a good Q rate for the
runner is by definition a good rate for
runners [Pouncers: how often has an
inefficient runner frustrated you?]). Signing
TOO much (especially if you are OH8RWQ/M (and
especially if already posted on a spot net)
slows the Q rate for pouncing stations too.
The other extreme, too few times increases
pouncing friction and wastes pouncing
stations' efficiency held up only to hear a
dupe sign later (pouncers would do well to
upgrade [for free] to software that helps
store calls worked in a band map).
Posted by ve5cma on December 12, 2010

Depends on rate

I also agree with N1SV. Too often - may cause decreasing your rate, but too rare may be frustrating for the correspondents.
Posted by SP2LNW on December 8, 2010

Every QSO

Listen to CN2R and PJ2T. They don't seem to have an issue ID'ing every QSO and they are always near the top of the results. I bet it helps reduce the number of dupes they experience also.
Posted by kv8q on December 8, 2010

It Depends

If I am running on a frequency and keep having stations call me, I will give my call after every 3 QSOs (or less). If I don't get another call right after the last QSO, I will give my call after every QSO. Bottom line, no matter what, I will give my call after no more than 3 QSOs. I will not wait for a minute or two to hear a call nor would I expect someone else to wait that long for my call.
Posted by w6rtw on December 7, 2010

CQ'ing

After every qso if you want to work me.
I s&p and my rate depends on quick contacts , im not being nasty but with a little pistol station if I don't hear the call sign I don't wait around and you might lose a multiplier you need
Posted by wd5jnc on December 6, 2010

Depends on your rate

For the record, I agree with N1SV
Posted by w2id on December 6, 2010

Depends on your rate

I think this has less to do with the quantity on QSOs and more to do with the time interval between contacts. If my rate is 60/hr every QSO makes sense. But if my rate is above 200/hr every QSO just doesn't make sense. I like to ID every 30-60 seconds.
Posted by N1SV on December 6, 2010

It Depends

It all depends on rate, when rates are (relatively) low, every QSO, when they get up to three or four or more a minute, less often.
Posted by w0uo on December 5, 2010

Please every QSO

Please give the call every QSO. If you want , sign it with highspeed, but sign it. It's one of the most frustrating thing when you have to wait for minutes for the callsign of a station cqing and after that you recognize that you had waited only for a DUPE.

Most of the competitors don't have the posibility to build a big station and with a little station most of the time you have to S&P. And only with fast identification of the next station you can hold your qso-rate up and competitive to that of a cqing station. And that's only possible when you don't need to wait and wait and wait. I for myself, i turn the knob after not more then two qsos without callsign.
Please be considerate of these others, also because that are your adressees, when you CQing. And its also a mark of respect for the "little pistols".
Posted by dl4sdw on December 5, 2010

As s/he wishes

We absolutely do NOT need any regulation in this area. As long as the operator is operating legally within the rules of the governing body of amateur radio in their country, then it is an issue of their personal preference as to how often to identify. Clearly there is disagreement among the contest community as to how often is appropriate, and therefore this becomes an issue of strategy. The strategic decision that the operator makes DOES make a difference in their score. When only a few QSOs can separate the top scoring stations, the decision made here can be a win or lose decision. So it's entirely up to the operator to decide on his or her own strategy. If you don't like the decision that the operator has made, then you don't have to give them a QSO.
Posted by w2id on December 5, 2010

It Depends

Personally, I use the 3 QSO rule. If I have a small pile, I will often string three in a row before signing on the third Q. This is at a typical rate of 120 - 150 an hour. In my opinion, if you are going more than a minute, without signing, you are going too long.
Posted by N1UR on December 5, 2010

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