[PPRAANet] Preparing for a contest

[DickT-W0RAA]

The following is from the "ARRL Contest Update of Feb. 17, 2010."  I hope
you contesters find it interesting as well as helpful.

I have contacted the ARRL to ascertain if I would be infringing on any
copyright laws and they gave me permission to send it out without any worry
of copyright law infringement.

It includes some good advise and worth sharing.

Dick
W0RAA

___________________________________________

This issue's tip is a lengthy one - a checklist, actually, by Jack WAØRJY,
written for little pistols and medium guns in major contests such as this
weekend's ARRL DX CW. Food for thought in the contest seasons to come.

___________________________________________

Contesting Checklist

One Month prior to the contest
- Join your local contest club
- Talk to other local contesters
- Determine class of operation
- Set goals
- Install any temporary antennas

One Week prior to the contest
- Inform family, do additional chores, clear weekend schedule
- Check out rig
- Check out backup rig
- Check out computer and computer software - be sure to have the most
up-to-date country list and have any contest-specific features ready
- Check antenna SWR on all bands for mode of operation
- Buy food and drink for contest
- Locate backup keying cable, computer cable, etc. and be sure they work
- Check over the operating position for comfort - chair, clock, computer
screen
- Cruise the Internet for info and inspiration

Two Days prior to the contest
- Read the rules of the contest (even if you know them by heart)
- Print out propagation predictions
- Print out list of DX-peditions that will be active
- Make band plan (when do you plan to operate on each band)
- Practice with contest simulator
- Get plenty of sleep - adjust your pattern to match your operating

Four Hours before the contest
- Arrange food and drink
- Say goodbye to spouse and children
- Synchronize the computer clock to WWV
- Check your computer logging program to be sure it has the correct UTC time
and date
- Take a nap
- Check out the bands to see if your band plan is on target and you have
selected the correct starting band

During the contest
- Maximize points
- Stay at the rig!
- Stay fresh
- Follow your band plan
- Pass up easy multipliers on the first day of the contest
- Fight for essential multipliers