[Elecraft] Contest Reflections

[J F]

> Hi Julius,
> 
> Perhaps some of the people who keep the speed down
> could work at 40wpm, but 
> are experienced in the effects of propagation on
> paths where multipliers 
> might be lurking. A good example of this can be
> found on the 40m short path 
> (0500 Z ish) from here to the West Coast. During the
> WPX there were many CA 
> stations heard at good strength, those running at
> high speed were difficult 
> if not impossible to copy because of the usual echo
> and auroral zone flutter 
> which runs characters together, but those running at
> slow speed allowed for 
> good copy.

The longer one plays in CW contests, particularly the
majors, the easier it is to copy high speed code. Your
observation is another example of a good reason to be
flexible when it comes to speed. I just find it
humorous when I'm doing S&P to listen to some guys
cranking HSC and repeating the exchange 5 or 6 times
before either the QSO is made, or one or the other
gives up in frustration. It's a judgment call fer
sure.

I guess "winning" to me includes not discouraging
newbies or scaring away folks who may not be so
anti-contest if someone takes a little more time with
them. Maybe I can afford to do this as a LP or QRP
operator, certainly contesting is stratified, and
folks have different perspectives and objectives...

I'm getting way too long winded on this Geoff! ;o)

Cheers,

Julius
n2wn