[Elecraft] Contest Reflections

[J F]

Sam,

I think there are more than a few who feel the way you
do. Generally, if some one comes back to me slow when
I'm running, I'll drop my speed some, probably above
what they were sending at, but slow enough where I
think they can get the exchange right the first time.

Lately, I've noticed a lot of folks who send quite
slow and I speculate these are first time contesters.
I figure they want to learn the game, but may get
frustrated if blown out of the water. In my mind it's
better to slow down, make a solid contact and let the
other guy feel good about it as well. 

The last few big contests I picked up some nice
multipliers from guys who were sending slow with
pileups on them, not because I was the loudest, but
because I sent at a rate they could copy...
> 
> My cw qso speed is a comfy 13-15wpm.
> I can sorta copy (75%) at about 20-22wpm.
>
> Above that I have to listen to the guy as many times
> as it takes,
> sometime 10 or more, just to get his call and the
> exchange info,
> so when/if I answer him he won't have to deal with
> my requests for repeats.

This is a good way to pick up your speed. Much easier
if the signal is solid, generally one of the
superstations. I'd say the vast majority of contesters
run in the mid 20 WPM to the low 30s... Some of the
Eastern and Southern EU will crank 40+. Some exchanges
are a lot easier to recognize than others at those
rates.
> 
> Is that a fun way to contest? no.

If it's not fun, pass 'em by... Of course, not
everything in a contest is "fun". How you want to play
makes it fun. It's a rush to get a run going and
working smoothly, it's a lot of fun to find a rare one
all by his lonesome. The vast majority of the folks
who play great. Like everything else in life, there
are those who you wish weren't involved.

> I just wonder how many q's they miss out on in doing
> so?

It's an interesting question and would make for an
interesting study. Assuming you could get unbiased
reporting from both sides, it might change the
perspective of some.

Hope to catch you in one of the contests. Don't be
afraid to send QRS if ya need to.

Julius
n2wn