contest-operating

Contest operating: exchange state machine and N3FJP logging

The QSO state machine (Field Day example)

Exchange = class + section (e.g., 2A STX). Substitute your contest's exchange as needed.

CQ:        "CQ FD CQ FD de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> pse k\n"
             ↓ caller heard (their callsign decoded)
EXCHANGE:  "<CALL> de <MYCALL> <MYCALL>\nPse copy 2A 2A STX STX\nde <MYCALL> BK\n"
             ↓ they QSL and give (or already gave) their class+section
TU:        "QSL <their CLASS> <their SECTION> TU <CALL> de <MYCALL> GL FD sk sk\n"
             ↓
LOG:       log to N3FJP (see below), then back to CQ

Rules that improved completion rate during live operation:

• Double everything important. 2A 2A STX STX copies far better than 2A STX through QSB and QRM.
• Echo their exchange back in the TU (QSL 1D AZ TU W7XYZ ...). It lets the other station verify you logged them correctly before you QRZ.
• Never log without a confirmed callsign. Class and section can be inferred from a repeat; the callsign cannot.
• A "CQ" from a station heard mid-loop is not a caller — see QRM below.

Special cases (all encountered live)

Caller sends callsign only, no exchange. Normal. Some operators send just <MYCALL> de <THEIRCALL> and wait. Send your exchange; their class/section arrives in the next over.

They already sent their exchange with the first call. Also normal (K6ABC de W7XYZ 1D AZ 1D AZ pse k). Send your exchange; they reply QSL; go straight to TU.

Caller didn't copy you (repeat, no cpy, AGN). Resend once, in abbreviated form: <CALL> de <MYCALL>\n2A STX 2A STX\nBK\n. If still no response, QRZ once, then return to CQ.

Garbled/partial callsign. Send de <MYCALL> AGN AGN pse k\n, wait one listen window. If the repeat is still unreadable, return to CQ. Budget at most two overs on an undecodable station.

Two stations doubled (called simultaneously). Output looks like two callsigns interleaved with control garbage. Same treatment as garble: one AGN, then CQ. Usually one of them calls again alone.