On Sep 29, 2008, at 9/29 8:19 AM, Bill, W6WRT wrote:
> It is HIGHLY recommended that everybody have USOS turned
> on. USOS is a great invention
Actually, Bill and I disagree on this one (and on FSK vs AFSK too :-).
I think USOS is very nice with text rich messages. I.e., most
characters right after a space is in LTRS shift.
However, its contribution to good print is minimal in FIGS-rich
contest exchanges and might be detrimental. The only reason you
would use it is if most contesters are using it too, not because it
is statistically producing better print or faster transmission time.
USOS has even been "abused" by workarounds. One example is this:
Someone recently asked on this reflector why people are sending
"599-14" instead of the more legible "599 14". Well, one reason is
that under USOS, "599 14" requires an extra FIGS to be transmitted.
If the transmitter is non-USOS, both would take the same number of
characters, and "599 14" would indeed be preferred.
With a USOS transmitter, "599-14" is 14% faster to send than "599 14"
and it can be copied properly by both USOS and non-USOS receivers.
(OK, I admit there are many monkey-see-monkey-do" ops who use 599-14
without knowing that one is faster to send.)
Before everybody and his uncle starts using "599-14," let me add that
in the grand scheme of things, the savings is insignificant since you
are transmitting other things too in a contest exchange besides
599-14. I just mentioned it to show what USOS has caused some people
to do. But you know contesters... always looking for that 2% edge.
As others have mentioned, some CQ stations don't even send a proper
confirmation of an exchange before issuing the next QRZ (they must
think that a "TU " is a significant wasted time or something -- the
only way to change that behavior is not to log them. Over time they
might figure it out :-).
73,
Chen, W7AY
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