ARRL 10 METER CONTEST

[W1CTN]

The letters used in CW are known as "cut numbers".

Cut numbers are widely used by experienced contest ops, especially European and South American contest ops.

5NN is the most popular use of cut numbers.

The use of cut numbers is just another thing to learn in contesting.

Since most casual ops do not use them in regular QSO's they are always a "wake up call" during a contest.

I can tell you from experience that contest ops who use cut numbers , the fast Eastern Europeans in particular, WILL NOT change their exchange for you. To them it's know it or move on because I just lost 4 other QSO's explaining it to you.

Contesting in many parts of the world is known as "RADIO SPORT". It is very competitive and those ops all want to be the best. It's a testosterone thing for them.

73
Dave
W1CTN
Radio Ansonia
203 735 9725