April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Sweepstakes 2008:Sweepstakes 2008:“Third time’s a charm” – the winning approach“Third time’s a charm” – the winning approach

By Jim Nitzberg, WX3BBy Jim Nitzberg, WX3B(Technical Help from Ty Stewart, K3MM)(Technical Help from Ty Stewart, K3MM)

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Sweepstakes ScoresSweepstakes ScoresHistorical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

• 2004: PVRC Was #3, by WIDE Margin2004: PVRC Was #3, by WIDE Margin

• 2005: PVRC Edges out SMC for #2 2005: PVRC Edges out SMC for #2 position, NCCC score way downposition, NCCC score way down

• 2006: Need I say more? Almost a 2006: Need I say more? Almost a “tie”“tie”

•2007: Margin of loss 1.1M points2007: Margin of loss 1.1M points

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Sweepstakes ScoresSweepstakes ScoresWhere are the 1.1M points?Where are the 1.1M points?

• NCCC: 273 logs, PVRC: 241 logsNCCC: 273 logs, PVRC: 241 logs

• Need 32 x 40,000 point logs to winNeed 32 x 40,000 point logs to win

• 40,000 point log = 275 QSOs/75 40,000 point log = 275 QSOs/75 multipliersmultipliers

• Alternatively 6 “big” logs would do Alternatively 6 “big” logs would do II

• The club with the most logs: winsThe club with the most logs: wins

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

The Tactical PlanThe Tactical Plan

•PVRC Club Strategy OutlinedPVRC Club Strategy Outlined

•Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

•Station StrategiesStation Strategies

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

PVRC: Club StrategyPVRC: Club Strategy• Encourage Individuals to set High Goals for Encourage Individuals to set High Goals for

themselvesthemselves• Promote Single-Op High Power OperationsPromote Single-Op High Power Operations• Discourage Multi/Single operations unless there Discourage Multi/Single operations unless there

is no other way for folks to operate.is no other way for folks to operate.– Individual operators contribute far more to the score Individual operators contribute far more to the score

than multi-ops, per operator.than multi-ops, per operator.– Highly Motivated Operators (HMOs) are the exceptionHighly Motivated Operators (HMOs) are the exception

• Find new members or local clubs to join into Find new members or local clubs to join into the SS fun with PVRC the SS fun with PVRC

• If you run (U)nlimited or Multi – SPOT If you run (U)nlimited or Multi – SPOT EVERYONE, especially other PVRC members.EVERYONE, especially other PVRC members.

• Make SURE you turn your log in by the Make SURE you turn your log in by the deadline.deadline.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

What’s an HMO?What’s an HMO?• Highly Motivated Operator, out to improve PVRC’s Highly Motivated Operator, out to improve PVRC’s

club score by operating from two locations, with two club score by operating from two locations, with two call signs, during the contest.call signs, during the contest.

• Advantage: You have good runs both days! Advantage: You have good runs both days! Drawback: You sacrifice your own individual score, Drawback: You sacrifice your own individual score, since you use two call signs.since you use two call signs.

• PVRC Club Advantage: You generate a larger score PVRC Club Advantage: You generate a larger score for PVRC.for PVRC.

• Interested? Contact Jim Nitzberg, WX3B for details. Interested? Contact Jim Nitzberg, WX3B for details. Only one call sign can be used for a “transmitter” in Only one call sign can be used for a “transmitter” in SS.SS.

• Example: WX3B operates as KF3P Saturday from Example: WX3B operates as KF3P Saturday from N3HBX and makes 1,000 QSOs x 75 sections. N3HBX and makes 1,000 QSOs x 75 sections. Sunday, WX3B goes back to his own house, makes Sunday, WX3B goes back to his own house, makes another 1,000 QSOs by 75 sections. More fun, more another 1,000 QSOs by 75 sections. More fun, more activity, and more PVRC Points – all by CQing and activity, and more PVRC Points – all by CQing and running stations. No hunting for stations Sunday!running stations. No hunting for stations Sunday!

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

• Get Started at the BEGINNING of the Get Started at the BEGINNING of the contest – Saturday afternooncontest – Saturday afternoon

• Listen to the bands for 30 – 60 minutes Listen to the bands for 30 – 60 minutes BEFORE the contest starts to get an idea BEFORE the contest starts to get an idea of the way propagation is running on each of the way propagation is running on each band.band.

• Plan to operate until 2:00 – 3:00am Plan to operate until 2:00 – 3:00am Sunday morning on the first day – don’t Sunday morning on the first day – don’t give up too early!give up too early!

• Save your off time(s) for Sunday Save your off time(s) for Sunday afternoon afternoon

• Limited time? Low Power? Show UP on Limited time? Low Power? Show UP on Sunday for a good time running stations.Sunday for a good time running stations.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

• Make SURE all your equipment works BEFORE Make SURE all your equipment works BEFORE the contest: Yes, ALL your equipment.the contest: Yes, ALL your equipment.

• Double-check voice keyer, antennas, Double-check voice keyer, antennas, computerscomputers

• SS is all about RATE! Keep your rate up and SS is all about RATE! Keep your rate up and keep your eye on that rate-meter.keep your eye on that rate-meter.

• DO NOT CHASE MULTIPLIERS. They will come DO NOT CHASE MULTIPLIERS. They will come to you. to you.

• Always call CQ on At Least 1 radio while Always call CQ on At Least 1 radio while S&Ping on your second (SO2R operators)S&Ping on your second (SO2R operators)

• Be Accurate – do NOT bust the exchange. Be Accurate – do NOT bust the exchange. Don’t be afraid to ask for repeats to get Don’t be afraid to ask for repeats to get everything correct.everything correct.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

• Do NOT answer weak stations when rates are good.Do NOT answer weak stations when rates are good.• Get to the next HOT (lower) band FAST, mark your Get to the next HOT (lower) band FAST, mark your

spot for 75m SSB!spot for 75m SSB!• Play to your Station's Strengths. You only get to Play to your Station's Strengths. You only get to

contact each station once. If you have a good 75m contact each station once. If you have a good 75m antenna – spend lots of time on 75 meters!antenna – spend lots of time on 75 meters!

• Operate the contest on your terms, do NOT get Operate the contest on your terms, do NOT get psyched out by others with high numbers. They will psyched out by others with high numbers. They will be seeking YOU out by the end of the contestbe seeking YOU out by the end of the contest

• Work the shortest skip band that supports high rate. Work the shortest skip band that supports high rate. This is normally the lowest band, and it keeps the This is normally the lowest band, and it keeps the QSO potential on the East Coast.QSO potential on the East Coast.

• Use packet if you wish, but don’t get “stuck” chasing Use packet if you wish, but don’t get “stuck” chasing multipliers. If you can’t get a spot on the first call, multipliers. If you can’t get a spot on the first call, do NOT waste time in the pileup. Try back again in do NOT waste time in the pileup. Try back again in 10 minutes.10 minutes.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Station StrategiesStation StrategiesFor expected 2008 For expected 2008

ConditionsConditions• Use Low, Efficient antennas. Dipoles and Use Low, Efficient antennas. Dipoles and

Inverted Vees at 35 – 50 feet make EXCELLENT Inverted Vees at 35 – 50 feet make EXCELLENT SS antennas.SS antennas.

• Be aware that your 3 bands are going to be Be aware that your 3 bands are going to be 20/40/80. Don’t be fooled by the 40db/9 20/40/80. Don’t be fooled by the 40db/9 signals on 10 & 15. There won’t be many folks signals on 10 & 15. There won’t be many folks to work! to work!

• Use a EWE, Beverage or other RX antenna for Use a EWE, Beverage or other RX antenna for 75/80 meters. West and South are important 75/80 meters. West and South are important directions. A 300’ Beverage works very well.directions. A 300’ Beverage works very well.

• Be comfortable. Have snacks, drinks at easy Be comfortable. Have snacks, drinks at easy reach. Keep aspirin handy. reach. Keep aspirin handy.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Station StrategiesStation Strategies

• Consider operating SO2R for Consider operating SO2R for more fun on Sunday!more fun on Sunday!

• Figure out a way to get on Figure out a way to get on 75/80 meters. A majority of 75/80 meters. A majority of your SS QSOs could come from your SS QSOs could come from this band. An inverted Vee at this band. An inverted Vee at 50 feet with 500 watts will 50 feet with 500 watts will generate hundreds of QSOs!generate hundreds of QSOs!

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

PVRC’s historical PVRC’s historical ramblingsramblings

• The club with the most The club with the most operators…WINS sweepstakesoperators…WINS sweepstakes

• This means the casual This means the casual operator, not the die-hard operator, not the die-hard contester, determines PVRC’s contester, determines PVRC’s success. success.

• If we get enough folks to get on If we get enough folks to get on and make 500 QSOs, we win!and make 500 QSOs, we win!

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Getting the word outGetting the word out

• PVRC chapter leaders making PVRC chapter leaders making contacts within their local contacts within their local chapters soliciting participation chapters soliciting participation (September/October)(September/October)

• PVRC “chosen” emailers PVRC “chosen” emailers dividing up Central and dividing up Central and Northwest regionsNorthwest regions

• All hands on deck All hands on deck approach/attitudeapproach/attitude

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Not Operating?Not Operating?You can STILL HELP!You can STILL HELP!

• How about lending out your station How about lending out your station to a guest operator?to a guest operator?

• Assist other PVRCers with antenna Assist other PVRCers with antenna and equipment “parties”and equipment “parties”

• Be a dedicated spotter and…get on Be a dedicated spotter and…get on the air and SPOT EVERYONE. This the air and SPOT EVERYONE. This makes the game better for all of us. makes the game better for all of us.

Kudos to NCCC for doing this in 2006…and Kudos to NCCC for doing this in 2006…and

20072007

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Send In Your LogSend In Your Log

• You laugh, but individuals You laugh, but individuals forget to do this!forget to do this!

• Make SURE you mark your log Make SURE you mark your log for Potomac Valley Radio Club.for Potomac Valley Radio Club.

• Send it in by the deadlineSend it in by the deadline

• Save a copy of the ARRL’s Save a copy of the ARRL’s robot receiptrobot receipt

Fall, 2008 PropagationFall, 2008 PropagationWhat we can expectWhat we can expect

• 10m & 15m good if you’re out 10m & 15m good if you’re out west, in mid-west. No density of west, in mid-west. No density of folks to work if you’re…here.folks to work if you’re…here.

• 20m & 40m to be your daylight 20m & 40m to be your daylight money bandsmoney bands

• 40m & 80m to be your evening/late 40m & 80m to be your evening/late night money bandsnight money bands

• 80m may be “long” again this year80m may be “long” again this year

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Operating ScheduleOperating ScheduleFull TimersFull Timers

• Start on 20, move to 40, or just Start on 20, move to 40, or just move right to 80 when the rate move right to 80 when the rate dropsdrops

• Stay on 80 until you have over Stay on 80 until you have over 1,000 QSOs!1,000 QSOs!

• If the rate drops, take a break at If the rate drops, take a break at about 3:00am, but be ready to about 3:00am, but be ready to resume by 6:00am – 7:00am resume by 6:00am – 7:00am SundaySunday

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Operating Schedule forOperating Schedule forpart time operatorspart time operators

• Sunday is likely to be your Sunday is likely to be your most interesting day. People most interesting day. People will flock to YOU for QSOswill flock to YOU for QSOs

• 40m & 75m will be great 40m & 75m will be great evening bands.evening bands.

• Any time you get on is better Any time you get on is better than NOT getting onthan NOT getting on

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Go PVRC!Go PVRC!