reasons to contest

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 !

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

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

Corner design with central monitorRadio #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 points1010 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 points1010 x 350 = 989,800 pointsThat 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 points1010 x 350 = 989,800 pointsThat 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 SEARCH & POUNCE

When you can 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