It wasn't just you Doug. The problem has been discussed before but it exploded
this weekend like I've never heard it before. I don't know why. I get not
ID'ing after every QSO at times. But going 5 or more contest QSO's or a minute
or more with "TU" or ". ." at the end of every QSO is not an acceptable
practice for anyone. It seemed prevalent in the Caribbean but there were many
others, well known calls and prominent stations who know better but don't seem
to care enough to do something about it.
On a number of occasions I got impatient so I worked the station and asked for
their call at the end of my exchange. More often than not I just got another
"TU." Several times I gave up and didn't log the station. Or, a station would
finally give his call only to be covered up by all of the people calling.
We like to say that our sport is still about copying with your ears and not
blindly accepting what shows up on your monitor if you are operating with
assistance; skill over automation. But seriously guys (and gals), who is going
to take the time to do that and make an extra effort at a clean log, if you
have to put up with some of the operating practices this weekend. Just take
your chances and move on. And for those of us who still like to operate without
assistance, we're in a bigger hole.
Now when you hear a contest station running people and giving their call with
regularity, its like a breath of fresh air rather than being the norm. Wish I
knew what the answer is. To be honest, there where times this weekend when I
felt like turning off the second radio (SO2R) or just running stations as long
as I could in order to avoid the frustration.
Ken K4ZW
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