[EIDXA] Contest Operating

[Steve Miller]

Just a couple of quick thoughts on contesting.....

Contesting is the synthesis of about everything you know about radio and 
operating.   Years ago, Wade, W0EJ, was consistently winning the ARRL 
160 Meter contest in Iowa and I wrote to ask him for some tips.   He 
generously shared a lot of good information.  I always looked at 
contesting as a great opportunity to determine what I knew about 
operating and what I needed to learn.   Since I don't live on either 
coast and knew there was little chance of placing among the top 
stations, there was one person I had to compete against....and that was 
me (or us if we were doing a multioperator entry)!  It was always my 
goal to improve over last year's score.   For example, our first year's 
total was a whopping 125 contacts,  the next year it was in the 190s 
then I got an amp and it went to over 400, then 600 and eventually 
somewhere around 1100.   Each year I would examine what I could do to 
improve and that's what I recommend for this contest.   It's been a long 
time since I operated in the ARRL International CW (or SSB) contest and 
I'm looking forward to at least making a couple of hundred contacts 
(assuming condx are okay).

Two primary types of operating:   1.  Calling CQ and letting stations 
come to me,  and 2.  Search and Pounce
Both are good at the right time.

Calling CQ -  the secrets of calling CQ are: 1. to have an open 
frequency (or reasonably open) and 2. to keep the rf flowing from the 
transmitter.   One must remember Wilson's law - "You can't be the 
loudest signal on the band if you aren't transmitting."    When calling 
cq, you don't have to tune around after calling (or very little at the 
most).  A station will be immediately calling you or it's time to call 
cq again.   I've watch some of our local fellows call cq on Field Day 
then sit and listen and listen.   In contesting, the other station is 
there or he/she isn't.   If no one answers, call cq again 
immediately.    My CQ loop is set for 2.7 seconds.  Sometimes even that 
seems too long although you will find some guys who wait and wait for 
you to stop calling so pause occasionally for a little longer time.   If 
you go for a long period of time without an answer,  it's time to stop 
and either find a new place to call or to do some seach and pounce 
operating.

Search & Pounce -  The terms are pretty much self-descriptive.  I'm not 
very good at this so if one of you has a good technique for it, please 
share.  I generally start at one end of the band and work up or down 
depending on the transceiver I'm using.  If you aren't successful in a 
few calls, write down the station's call & frequency then come back to 
it later but try to keep your qso rate as high as possible.

Most of all - have fun!  You're making all kinds of new friends many of  
whom you'll meet in contests down the road.   This helps because you 
recognize calls faster.   CT1BOH is a fantastic contest op.  Jose sits 
down with the contest results from the previous year and goes through 
all of the calls.  It must pay off for he made over 10,000 contacts in 
one contest!!  

Another suggestion -  pay attention to propagation.   As it changes, 
you'll likely need to reorient your beam headings.   One area of the 
world will come, then later another, and even later still another.  It 
generally works from east to west.  You'll be more successful if you 
take advantage of the strong signals from the area the propagation is 
favoring at the time.  (Unless you're at PJ2 where the propagation 
favors everywhere...all the time!!) hi 

Even if you have never participated in a contest, I hope you will enter 
the two ARRL International DX contest weekends.   Feel a little worried 
about making mistakes?  Forget it!  The worst you can do is to lose a 
contact.  We've all made more than our share of mistakes.  Other than 
the serious safety consideration, there are no lasting effects of having 
made a mistake in a contest and you won't improve without trying!! 

Those of you who have participated in contests likely have a lot of 
insights I've overlooked.  Please share them with the reflector.  73 and 
have a great time in the contest.  Steve N0SM