[PaQSO] N3WAV/M-R.I.P.?

[MORSENUT@aol.com]

First, we should thank Bob for his FB Mobile class effort.  I QSOed him while 
he was in ARM and really needed that county.

Last year, I placed 3rd in the mobile class with around 102,000 points.  
Looking back, I did a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong, at least 
as far as really trying to win the mobile class.

I think part of Bob's problem in getting the minimum 10 QSOs needed for the 
county bonus points quickly lies in that he was relying completely on SSB.  I 
never had to wait very long to get my "needed 10" once surfacing in any 
county on CW.  CW simply gets through where SSB doesn't...and the CW ops are 
always hungry for a new station to work since there are fewer ops on CW to 
begin with.  Of course, having a driver makes things a lot easier regarding 
CW operation.

My game plan for future mobile efforts (this year's was dashed by a traffic 
accident that still has my truck in "re-hab") is to use CW to get the needed 
ten and then switch to phone when and if the the CW pile-up dies and to 
remember to look for multipliers while keeping in mind  "what band is best to 
the greatest number of PAQP contestants at this time of day/night?   Next 
time out, I should have computer logging but keeping track of my overall 
mults (seperate log file for each county) is still not easy as a 
mobile..although I am hoping someone will write a program just for PAQP 
mobiliers that will keep track of the TOTAL score and and aggregate mults.

Anyway...I maintain that the object of the mobile class is to "get your ten" 
and hightail it to the next county as fast as possible....but all the while 
trying to keep the rate up AND to pay attention to overall mults.   If I had 
just searched and pounced
a little on 40 and 80 phone back in the 2001 PAQP, I may have done a lot 
better with the mults (I only worked 55 counties and several of the needed 
ones would have been easy on phone,,not to mention some of the section mults 
as well).

I should also note this:  You get no extra points for going to "rare" 
out-of-the-way counties in the mobile class.  Going far out of your way to 
activate a remote county is not the best way to a high mobile class score in 
my opinion (it IS for the rover class I think).    Quite to the contrary, you 
want to find yourself situated in places where 3 or 4 county lines are close 
together OR plan a route than will allow for mostly highway (65!) speeds 
allowing you to cover a lot of ground quickly so you can cover the maximum 
number of counties in the shortest time (again, a driver is best 
here....although Hal, W3USA manages it solo.....but I am not Hal!  LOL).

AGAIN....ask yourself  "How can I cover the most counties in the shortest 
length of time...i.e., get my "ten needed" and then find the quickest route 
to the next county?"
This is done either by using backroads (NOT my thing) ot staying on the well 
traveled interstates whereby you can really cover a lot of ground at highway 
speeds (driver needed!   Its also nice to know that there is always a 
bathroom, restaurant, and a motel nearby!).   

In between getting the the "Ten Needed" and the next county.....work for 
rate...GO WHERE THE POINTS ARE....if they are not answering you on 40 CW QSY 
to 80 CW or 40 Phone...if they are not answering your CQ, search and pounce!  
 Just get that rig producing Qs SOMEHOW....get to some FRESH GROUND.  

In 2001, this is the mistake I made....I stayed mostly on 40 CW....even when 
it stopped producing Qs at at least one a minute...big mistake!   Next time, 
I will have the experience to know when to QSY.  I should have gone to 80 
Meters much earlier Saturday night than I did, for instance, and I should 
have tried it first thing Sunday Morning.  I have to think:   What band is 
most likely to produce the highest rate at this time of day with me operating 
mobile?   How can I get my "needed ten" for the county bonus and then what do 
I do?   If they are not coming in fast enough  QSY to another band and/or 
mode and get something going.

My goal for 2003 in the mobile class is to do what I set out to do in 2001:   
Make it from my QTH in PHI out to ALL, stay the night, and come back on from 
ALL to PHI on 76 and make it back to PHI in time for the end of the contest.  
 This would cover around 38 counties I think (with a few SHORT detours).  If 
I keep my rate up, QSY when needed, watch for the mults, and all that, then I 
should do quite well.

Its just a learning thing Bob,,you did fine and now you know some of the ups 
and down of the PAQP mobile class...easily one of the most competitive state 
Q Party
mobile classes in the country..hang in there!


73!

Tim
N8LXR


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