[SMCARA] Contest Strategies Pt. 3

[Tom Shelton]

Today we'll continue to discuss contest strategies, with the emphasis on the ARRL 10 meter contest, coming up this weekend.  Today's topics are the Contest Exchange and Scoring.  As in the previous e-mail, anything with a number in front of it is straight from the official rules and my comments follow.  Full rules can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/10-meter

4. Contest Exchange: 
4.1. W/VE stations (including Hawaii and Alaska) send RS(T) and state or province (District of Columbia stations send signal report and DC).
4.2. DX stations (including KH2, KP4, etc) send RS(T) & sequential serial number starting with 001.
4.3. Mexican stations transmit RS(T) and their state.
4.4. Maritime mobile stations send RS(T) and ITU Region (R1, R2 or R3).

You're exchange to other stations is pretty straightforward.  You'll send a signal report and your state.  Many ARRL contests want you to send your ARRL section (which for us is Maryland-DC - abbreviated MDC), but for this contest they want your State, so Maryland or MD.  DC is a separate multiplier.  Thus, you would send: on phone "59 Maryland," and on CW "5NN MD."  Note that the number nine is shortened to the letter N for CW.  Speaking of shortened stuff - unlike during a rag-chew QSO, a contest QSO is short and rapid.  You want to provide the minimum amount of information in the shortest period of time.  There is no need to repeat anything unless the other station requests a repeat.  Since everyone is a 59 or 5NN, you may be asked to repeat your State.  Under this circumstance it is allowable to repeat, for example, "Maryland Maryland Mike Delta."

What you can expect from other States, DX, Canadian, and Mexican station is a bit different.  U.S. stations will be sending you a signal report (59/5NN) and their State.  Canadian stations will be sending you a signal report and their province.  Mexican stations will be sending you a signal report and their state.  A full list of Canadian Provinces and Mexican States is included in the full rules referenced above.

Here are a few examples of how a contest exchange would go:

You are calling CQ (Running a frequency):

YOU: CQ 10 Meter CQ K3TAM Contest
Them: AA6MZ
YOU: AA6MZ 59 Maryland
Them: TU 59 California
YOU: Thanks QRZ K3TAM
(total exchange under 10 seconds)

The same exchange on CW (repeat requested):

YOU: CQ K3TAM CQ TEST
Them: AA6MZ
YOU: AA6MZ 5NN MD
Them: ST?
YOU: MD MD MD
Them: K3TAM R 5NN CA
YOU: TU QRZ K3TAM TEST
(total exchange about 35 seconds at 20 WPM - even with the repeat)

Note: if you are in Search and Pounce mode - just reverse the calls above.

Some exchanges you'll receive from Non-U.S. stations.

From DX:

EA3FAB: 59 86
DL2JJB: 5NN 488

From Canada/Mexico:

VE3INI: 59 QC (Quebec)
XE3OLN: 5NN JAL (Jalisco)

If in doubt, listen for a bit before jumping in.  Most experienced contesters are very tolerant of inexperienced operators and will slow their CW speed down to match yours or will talk you through a contact.  Don't be afraid to make a mistake - we've all been there - just be sure to learn from your mistakes.
 
5. Scoring: 
5.1. QSO points:
5.1.1. Two points for each complete two-way phone QSO.
5.1.2. Four points for each two-way CW QSO.

5.2. Multipliers: (counted once on phone and once on CW).
5.2.1. Each US state and the District of Columbia.
5.2.2. Canada: 14 provinces - See Appendix A at bottom for complete list.                   
5.2.3. Mexico: 32 states - see Appendix B at bottom for complete list.
5.2.4. DXCC countries (except US, Canada and Mexico).
5.2.4.1. KH6 and KL7 participate and count as US states, not DXCC Entities.
5.2.5. ITU regions (maritime mobiles only).

5.3. Final Score: Multiply QSO points by total multipliers (the sum of states/VE provinces/Mexican states/DXCC countries/ITU regions per mode).
 
This is pretty straightforward, and if you're using a software logging program, it will do all the work for you.  Phone is worth 2 points for every QSO and CW is worth 4 points.  Phone is certainly more popular than CW, but with all the programs that are available to work CW, it is a mode that is really open to everyone.  Monday's e-mail discussed Entry categories, and if it fits in your strategy, I'd encourage you to try some phone and some CW (Mixed category). 
Multipliers are counted once per mode, so you could work Spain on CW and on Phone and earn 6 points for the contacts (4 on CW, 2 on phone) and 2 multipliers.  If you just work them on phone you'll earn 2 points and 1 multiplier.  See where I'm going with this?

In the next installment, I'll discuss how to submit your log to the ARRL and toss in a few general tips for contest operations.  I'm hoping you're enjoying the effort so far.

Tom, AB3IC

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry