[Elecraft] Sweepstakes

[Stephen W. Kercel]

Bob:

You raise a question that I've thought a lot about. My experience of 
contesting with a good 100 watt rig and a decent antenna is quite 
similar to yours. Using a strict "search and pounce" strategy and 
being very economical about the number of steps that I take for 
logging (I do not use a computerized log) I can maintain a pretty 
consistent QSO rate of about 30 per hour, but try as I might I cannot 
do much better. In a 24 hour contest that works out to 720 QSOs, 
respectable but not seriously competitive in high/medium power class.

Obviously, the big boys are doing something different if they can 
consistently make 60-100 CW contacts per hour. Please be aware that 
I'm not knocking them or their strategy, I'm merely looking at what 
they do differently. The substantive difference between their 
strategy and yours and mine is that they create a pileup around 
themselves. The way they do that involves several specifics: 1) They 
use a computerized log integrated with the rig and keyer so that as 
much data as possible (e.g., time and frequency) are copied directly 
from the hardware, and the operate/log procedure has been perfected 
to work with the minimum number of keystrokes and no duplication of 
entries. 2) They use the maximum legal power for their class of 
competition. For example, using 100 Watts in a class that permits 200 
watts is only a 3 dB disadvantage, and is just perceptibly weaker for 
any given QSO. However, across 1000 attempted QSOs, the extra punch 
of 3 dB will produce more consistent results. 3) They do not use 
respectable antennas; they use spectacularly big and expensive antennas.

The point is that they put out a dominant signal, call CQ, and work 
off the pileup. They have the steps of making and logging the QSO 
worked out so that they can get into a rhythm that enables them to 
work stations just as fast as they hear them. They also have one 
indispensable skill: Given several simultaneous callers, they are 
consistently able to identify at least one callsign out of the 
cacophony of stations trying to call them.

Obviously the indispensable key to the strategy is the big antenna 
that produces the big signal. That is out of reach for most of us, 
and is the reason why you see a cluster of a few big leaders followed 
by a very distant pack.

Nevertheless, there is a way for us ordinary guys to get a place at 
the winners table. Go QRP. In my experience, even with a dipole 
antenna, I can usually sustain a rate a bit above 20 QSOs per hour 
with QRP, as opposed to 30 per hour with 100 Watts. Sometimes that is 
enough to win. For example, I won the plaque for US high score in the 
1983 ARRL CW DX contest in the QRP class. Even if I don't win, I'll 
often end up in the top 3 in my class of competition. The reason why 
the strategy works is that we're competing for relative standing only 
against other QRPers, and with the very rare exception, QRPers do not 
put up "big gun" antennas. Think of it as Christians vs. tabby cats.

73,

Steve Kercel
AA4AK




At 11:47 AM 11/4/2007, Bob Fish wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>
>I, like probably alot of you, have been doing some casual contesting 
>this weekend. Once again, I am amazed at how bad of a contester I 
>am. It isn't my rig or antenna. I have a K2/100 and a decent 
>antenna. When I call someone they almost always respond after the 
>first call. My cw skills are pretty good I can exchange contest info 
>at around 30wpm if I have to, although I run between 22 and 25wpm 
>most of the time. I try not to get distracted, another words I try 
>to stay in front of the radio. So I feel as if I should be, at 
>least, competitive. But, it happens every time. I sit down, eagerly 
>awaiting the start of the contest, ready to do battle, and get 
>slaughtered. Within an hour or so I am hopelessly behind. After 4 or 
>5 hours it is a joke. after 8 or 10 hours every station I work has 
>600 contacts! Some of these guys are averaging a contact a minute 
>OVER 8 HOURS! I'm not mad, I am just amazed. My best contact rate 
>was about 30 an hour and that was only for a couple of hours.I 
>usually run a contact every 3 or 4 minutes. So after a while I get 
>discouraged and start getting up and watching football for a few 
>minutes or something else and then I really fall behind.  I don't 
>mind not winning, but I am getting clobbered by every one I work by 
>a factor of 7 or 8. I have to wonder, am I really that bad? The 
>funny thing is, by the time the next contest rolls around. I am 
>sitting in front of the radio, eagerly ready to do battle.......The 
>lions and Christians come to mind except the Christian weren't 
>willing participants.
>
>73,
>
>Bob  K6GGO
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