Contest Protocol?

[2RT307]

As a new Tech, I'm not sure how to answer a contest station. I heard V4KW calling for stations last night. TX freq was 28.455 USB, which is within my band plan for Tech. QRZ showed them to be in St. Kitts, which is down around Antigua. What is the protocol for responding to their call? Just RST and my call sign?

73,
RT307

 

[Road Squawker]

As a new Tech, I'm not sure how to answer a contest station. I heard V4KW calling for stations last night. TX freq was 28.455 USB, which is within my band plan for Tech. QRZ showed them to be in St. Kitts, which is down around Antigua. What is the protocol for responding to their call? Just RST and my call sign?

73,
RT307

it depends on which contest it is,.......
some want RST & call,
others want a (self assigned) sequential serial number,
others want your state,.......

just listen a bit and you should hear some one give the expected exchange,...

or, if the contester is NOT getting replies and is calling CQTEST without getting any takers, just give out your call and then (quickly) ask the contester what he needs for the exchange.

enjoy

 

[2RT307]

it depends on which contest it is,.......
some want RST & call,
others want a (self assigned) sequential serial number,
others want your state,.......

just listen a bit and you should hear some one give the expected exchange,...

or, if the contester is NOT getting replies and is calling CQTEST without getting any takers, just give out your call and then (quickly) ask the contester what he needs for the exchange.

enjoy

Road Squawker, thanks for the info. I did not hear any stations coming back to him, and he was not acknowledging any coming back to him (as I have heard in other contests). I didn't hear him say CQTEST either. I'll try your suggestion in the future... just didn't want to jump in and make a newbie fool of myself.

73,
RT307

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Was it really a contest or just a DX station calling?

 

[Mudfoot]

I am not a contester, but when I do make a contact, I just ask them what they need.

 

[2RT307]

Was it really a contest or just a DX station calling?

He was calling CQ Contest. The call sign was not one QRZ locked down... so I assumed it was one of those "all the rich hams go to a nice island to make contacts" kind of things.

73,
RT307

 

[w9cll]

The California QSO party is/was going on so maybe he was calling for that.

 

[dragracer]

Also if you can not find the call on QRZ, try HamCall.net Amateur Radio Products and Services