Yesterday, I tweeted:
@kb6nu
I’m no longer going to respond to stations that reply to my CQs with only their callsigns, esp if they send it only once.
What brought this on was a very short QSO I had yesterday on 30m. I called CQ on 10115, sending “CQ” four times and my call three times, and someone replied with just his callsign, as if this were a contest. In contest mode, this is an appropriate reply, but not on 30m on a weekday evening.
I should have know better than to acknowledge the call, but I did, giving him a signal report, my name, and QTH. His reply was a curt, “599 73.” What a waste of time that was! This is not the first time this has happened, and it was equally disappointing then, too. As a result, I’ve decided that I’m just not going to reply to stations that answer my CQs with only their callsigns. If you can’t take the time to at least give me a real signal report, your name, and your QTH, don’t bother answering my CQ.
My tweet prompted several replies about what is the proper operating procedure. In my not so humble opinion, you should, at the very least, send the other station’s callsign at least once and your callsign at least twice:
KB6NU DE W1ABC W1ABC
This lets the other operator know that you’re calling him, and gives him two chances to get your call right. I’ll go even further to say that you should do this only when band conditions are really good, the ham at the other end seems like a skilled operator, and it’s armchair copy both ways.
When band conditions are marginal or noisy, send the other station’s callsign at least twice, and your callsign two or three times. This is not that hard to do, makes things a lot easier for less-skilled operators, and will help you avoid repeats or miscopied calls.
Howard says
The QSO was completed tho, right? Even with his minimalist practices? You got his call, that means you got his QTH and name if you look them up. Not the friendliest practice, perhaps, but I applaud efficient operating. We have well established practices for requesting fills when needed. And for all you know, he was applying your principles. He might have judged you to be an excellent operator, from his end perhaps there wasn’t much noise, therefore there was no reason for repetition or redundancy. Of course, you’re free to respond or not to whomever you wish, but in my opinion, you are the one looking rude if you ignore a clear response to your CQ.
Dan KB6NU says
Sorry, but I don’t buy that. The well-established operating practice is to do what I described above. I did look him up on QRZ.Com, and this guy is an experienced operator, and he should have known better.
When I put out a full CQ, I expect to have more than a “599 73” type contact. Someone who just throws out his callsign, like this guy did, usually does not. That being the case, I’m choosing to not answer those calls in the first place.
TJ says
I have to disagree. Why waste your time sending your call again? You know who you are, and you just finished calling CQ. What are the chances he’s calling someone else at the exact same time that you stop calling CQ? Pretty slim. Now, it would be nice for him to send his call 2x or more, but I’ll admit, sometimes I’ll only send my call once when replying to a CQ, and if someone calls me and replies and I don’t get it all at once, I’ll just send a “?” then they usually repeat it as many times as needed. Maybe I’m more tuned to contest mode where we send the minimum needed and wait for the other station to ask for repeats.
Still, I’d never answer someone calling CQ and not even give them the time of day. If you want to work a contest, then go work a contest. 30m is no place for 599 73 QSOs (unless its DX…)
tom says
Well, suppose the person answering the CQ sent his call sign only, but the person calling CQ was working split, listening up a bit. Or suppose the person answering the CQ did not correctly zerobeat (happens a lot!). If you hear only a call sign waaaay off your frequency do you really think it’s for you?
I had this happen to me recently, and luckily I recognized my call sign, about 900hz off from my freq. I could just barely copy it because the pitch was so high I could barely hear it .
If he had not said my call I’d have ignored it.
Elwood Downey, WB0OEW says
I do not dispute your choice to do as you wish but I’ll answer anyone. The way I look at it, maybe I want to ragchew, maybe he wants my county, who knows, but whatever, we’re both on the air enjoying the magic of radio together.
Dan KB6NU says
Well, such a quick contact is more annoying than enjoyable to me. Sorry to be such a curmudgeon about it. I think I’ll e-mail the guy and ask him what his motivation for doing this and invite him to reply here.
Jeff, KE9V says
I’m afraid I’m with Elwood on this one… you are technically correct. But if no one ever calls you back “properly” are you willing to quit using CW?
It’s probably just a bit of confusion on the part of a noob who has wandered into contests and thinks this is the “right” way to call you back. Is it really such a big deal? Does it precent you from making contact? Will it kill ham radio?
Nah.
Be Young. Have fun. Drink Pepsi.
73, Jeff KE9V
Dan KB6NU says
This guy is far from a noob. In fact, on his QRZ page, he touts that he is the “second VE2 to complete his DXCC Honor Roll #1.” It doesn’t prevent me from making contacts with hams who know proper operating procedure. It is going to prevent me from making contact with this guy again.
Goody, K3NG says
I don’t think it’s improper to send the call once or without the CQing station’s callsign. If it’s a clear frequency and armchair copy, sending one call is probably appropriate. If calling a station that is a 339, their and your call two or three times is probably better. It’s all a matter of reading the conditions and doing what makes sense. I honestly don’t need to hear my call come back when I call CQ. I know my callsign and will assume anyone on the frequency dropping a callsign is answering me.
Mike K8XF says
I agree with you. I have seen the same silly thing a few times myself. I have also noticed that in the last few years people clling cq is different. NO more cq cq cq de k8xf k8xf k8xf, or , cq cq de k8xf k8xf, three separate times…I cant tell you how many weird combinations I have heard calling cq?
Have fun at FD………….
73
Mike K8X
Don says
I have to agree with Dan on this one. If I were calling CQ test or something similar then I would expect the short call, but when calling CQ in a non-contest mode, you are looking for a conversation, not just making a quick contact. This is all due to the poor operators that are not being elmered, and the internet, where it is too easy to just look up a call and get the information you want. When calling CQ you are looking for a QSO, just not to exchange a signal report.
Yohei, N8YQX says
What’s the proper way of calling CQ for a quick contact outside of contest mode? I think quick contacts and rag chews are both valid operating practices.
Dan KB6NU says
I don’t know of a specific calling procedure for a short QSO.
Alan says
in 35 out of the last 100 qsos i made all i got was 5NN and a name. I do not reply to 5NN reports anymore. If someone is too lazy to give a correct report-they probably wouldnt have much else of interest to say. whats the point spending large amounts of money on equipment if you havent anything to say?
Dan KB6NU says
I agree with you 100%, Alan. I honestly wonder why they even bother to get on the air. Fortunately, there are still lots of guys out there who are interesting to talk to. For example, I just had a great QSO with W5APS this evening.
edward kj7cvk says
What is the proper way to respond to “CQ TEST”?
Dan KB6NU says
CQ TEST means that the station calling CQ is participating in a contest. If you would like to give that station a contact, generally all of you have to do is send your callsign. If that station hears you, they will respond with the contest exchange. Of course, at that point, you have to reply with the correct information for them, so you’ll have to determine what contest they are working and then formulate your response.
Jake Jacobsen says
Hello Dan, and everyone else. Oh boy, I guess I have bean using the CW “TEST”
wrong. :-( For that I apologize.
I have been sending out “CQ CQ de KC8BQN KC8BQN TEST” when ever I am trying to see if I am being heard on the RBN. Or, If I am tuning up my PENNTEK TR-45 QRP rig using its built in Z Match tuner.
I had know idea TEST was sent fer CONTEST.
Could you plz let me know how I should send out a CQ to test my radio on the RBN?
Thank you fer your time.
73 Jake KC8BQN
Dan KB6NU says
Hi, Jake… All you really need to do is to send “CQ CQ CQ de KC8BQN KC8BQN KC8BQN”. That should be enough to get you spotted on RBN.