Transcript Slide 1
Improve operator skill, capability, & efficiency
Earn various awards – DX, states, grids
Learn more about the science of radio
◦ Propagation, antenna theory, receiver principles
Camaraderie with other contesters
Players
Rules
Method to determine winners (scoring)
Strategy
Winning / records
Peer recognition
Full-time operation
Enjoy the challenge
Chasing personal goals
Use time available
Make contacts
Improve skills
Help others
Have FUN !
Competitors
Enthusiasts
Participants
Geographic
Modes
Bands
Power
International
◦ ARRL International DX, CQ World Wide
Domestic
◦ Primarily W/VE, NAQP, Field Day, ARRL Sweepstakes
Regional
◦ State QSO parties
CW
◦ CQWW CW, NAQP, ARRL 160M, ARRL SS, WPX CW
Phone
◦ CQWW SSB, NAQP, ARRL SS, ARRL Int’l DX, WPX SSB
RTTY
◦ CQWW RTTY, NAQP, RTTY Roundup, WPX RTTY
Mixed
◦ ARRL 10M, Field Day, State QSO parties
Other digital modes
◦ PSK31 contests, Feld-Hell Turkey Shoot
HF – may or may not include 160M
VHF/UHF – CQWW VHF, ARRL VHF SS, 10 GHz
and up
Never WARC bands – 12M, 17M, and 30M
May choose single band in multi-band contest
Only one “contest” with both HF and VHF/UHF
◦ Field Day
High Power (>100 watts up to 1500 watts)
Low Power (mostly 100 watts) – NAQP
QRP (5 watts or less) – many QRP contests
Invest in antennas
◦ Effectiveness
◦ Flexibility – “two antennas are better than one”
Station Configuration
◦ Everything within easy reach
◦ Comfortable chair
Reliability
◦ Do things right
◦ Have spares
WB4YDL Short tower – Force 12 XR-5 stack
Covers 20M through 10M (WARC 12/17M included)
Other antennas for 6M, 2M, 440 MHz
Even a simple dipole or commercial vertical
will get you in the game.
Multiple yagi antennas are not typical !
WBøYEA
WB4YDL Station
Corner design with central monitor
Radio #1 – Elecraft K3
Radio #2 – Yaesu FT-1000MP MkV
Interface radio(s) to computer(s)
◦ Frequency control
Use all the control outputs available to you
◦
◦
◦
◦
CW output
PTT output to key radios
Sound card (or voice keyer) control
Band data for antenna and filter selection
Select a category
◦
◦
◦
◦
All band or single band ?
Power – High, Low, QRP ?
Assisted or non-assisted ?
Multi-operator ? – M1, M2, MM
Set a goal
◦ Have fun ?
◦ Win a certificate ?
◦ Set a record ?
Point for each QSO ?
◦ Per mode ?
◦ Per continent ?
◦ Per band ?
What is a multiplier ?
◦
◦
◦
◦
Section ?
Zone ?
Country ?
Prefix ?
Constantly evaluate actions against final score
You have 1000 QSO’s, 100 zones, 250
countries or about 980,000 points
Which is more valuable ?
◦ Getting the 40th zone on 20M ?
◦ Working 10 more contacts ?
You have 1000 QSO’s, 100 zones, 250
countries or about 980,000 points
Which is more valuable ?
◦ Getting the 40th zone on 20M ?
◦ Working 10 more contacts ?
1001 x 351 = 983,782 points
1010 x 350 = 989,800 points
You have 1000 QSO’s, 100 zones, 250
countries or about 980,000 points
Which is more valuable ?
◦ Getting the 40th zone on 20M ?
◦ Working 10 more contacts ?
1001 x 351 = 983,782 points
1010 x 350 = 989,800 points
That multiplier is only worth 2.8 QSO’s !
You have 1000 QSO’s, 100 zones, 250
countries or about 980,000 points
Which is more valuable ?
◦ Getting the 40th zone on 20M ?
◦ Working 10 more contacts ?
1001 x 351 = 983,782 points
1010 x 350 = 989,800 points
That multiplier is only worth 2.8 QSO’s !
@ 60 QSO’s/hour – 4 minutes
@ 30 QSO’s/hour – 7 minutes
Where do the QSO’s come from ?
Do activity patterns repeat ?
What hours to be on the air ?
Expect opening times for each band
When to “run” and when to “search and
pounce” ?
Know the flow
◦ Contest QSO’s have a rhythm and sequence
◦ Good operator’s habits require less thinking and
less energy
Know the flow
◦ Contest QSO’s have a rhythm and sequence
◦ Good operator’s habits require less thinking and
less energy
Driving a car
◦ Had to think about everything at first
◦ With experience, able to focus on other things
Know the flow
◦ Contest QSO’s have a rhythm and sequence
◦ Good operator’s habits require less thinking and
less energy
Driving a car
◦ Had to think about everything at first
◦ With experience, able to focus on other things
Learn to type !
◦ Contesting requires a lot of typing without room for
errors
Breathe !
Consistency and Efficiency
◦ Find a rhythm that suits the conditions/rate
◦ Learn not to say, “Uh”, “Please copy”, “Roger the
5914, you are …”, “QSL QRZ ?”
◦ Say your call often – almost every QSO
Answer guys with the phonetics they use
Speak clearly
◦ Go slow to go faster
Be consistent and be ACCURATE
Let the computer send
Sending speed depends on conditions
Cut numbers
◦ Sometimes OK, sometimes not
Practice
◦ CW is a learned skill that improves with practice
RUN
When you can
SEARCH & POUNCE
When you can’t run
When you need mult’s
When looking for a new run
frequency
There is no magic formula for when to run vs. S&P
Decision based on log analysis, scoring formula, band conditions,
a “feeling”
Timing
◦ Be the first or last on a band
Don’t fight with giants – move !
◦ High in the band is perfectly OK !
◦ Position yourself where you can be heard
Be aware of your “surroundings”
Get whole calls the first time
Know your rate goal and thresholds
Think “opportunity cost”
Assess the worth of the target
Assess the size of the pileup
Is propagation improving or decaying ?
Smart beats loud
◦ Avoid zero beat
◦ Varying timing
Tune in a station on either VFO
Set VFO A = VFO B
Tune in another station and switch VFO’s
Assess, call, switch … repeat
When one is worked, switch & equalize VFO’s
Leapfrog your way across the band
No other single thing will help you more to
improve your score
It only works if you spend your time making
QSO’s !
Plan your life to meet your contest goal
◦ Work, family, food, rest, station repairs
Part time ?
◦ BIC for the best rate or at different times each day
Have a goal !
You can not train for lack of sleep
You can not store sleep
Under sleep deprivation, highly practiced
skills will deteriorate more slowly than those
that require new or creative thought
The human sleep cycle is 90 minutes
Preparation
◦
◦
◦
◦
Have good physical fitness
Stay on your normal sleep schedule
Get extra sleep 4-7 days before the contest
Take 3 hour nap before the contest starts
During the contest
◦ Sleep for 90 or 180 minutes
◦ Avoid caffeine until needed
Prepared
Motivated
Strategic
SCORE
Accurate
Efficient