Some simple talk about QTC's in the WAE CW and SSB contests

By Jamie Dupree NS3T 

If you've done any operating in the WAE CW and SSB contests, you know what a QTC is, or at least you've heard of it.

But maybe the mere mention of it has always sort of scared you away from the contest, since you weren't really sure what to do when someone asked for a QTC.

The first issue is obvious - what is a QTC??

"A QTC is a segment of your WAE log sent to a station in Europe," said Bailey. "Up to ten contacts from your log can be sent to a European station.

"Sending ten contacts is worth the same number of points as making ten QSO's! The Winning European stations will receive more QTC's than they make QSO's," Bailey added.

For information direct from the contest source, go to the DARC web site at http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcw and look at the "Get Ready" tab for audio examples of QTC's.

Bailey laid out this example for radio-sport.net:

"A QTC has a "group" number, like 1/10. This means that this is the FIRST QTC group I am sending and that I will send 10 contacts from my log."

"A European sends "QTC?" or I send "QTC?" and the European stations says yes." DL0WAE: QTC?

VY2MT: QTC 27/10 QRV?

DL0WAE: QRV or R or sometimes just "dit"

VY2MT: 0057 G4BUO 157 (time, callsign worked, serial number received)

DL0WAE: "Dit" or maybe "R"

VY2MT: 0058 HG1S 142

DL0WAE: "Dit"

[...]

VY2MT: 0104 HG6N 203

DL0WAE: QSL QTC 27/10

VY2MT: TU VY2MT

If DL0WAE needs a repeat, he may send "AGN", "Time", "Call", or "NR."

"It is vital that you figure out how your logging software sends QTC's and that you play with the various combinations before the contest," sayd Bailey. "Also, listen to the audio examples on the DARC web site."