On 3/8/2016 16:01, Art Boyars wrote:
K9MA (one of my W9YT buddies) asks, "But how, exactly, is a little pistol
to procure a run frequency when every open band is packed wall to wall, and
stacked three deep, with big guns calling CQ?"
(Hi Art!)
I didn't make my purpose in asking this very clear. I wanted to explore
how we might enable and encourage more mainly S&P operators to call CQ
so we can work each other. The crowded band conditions during the ARRL
SSB contest last weekend provided so inspiration, as I never found a
spot where I might have tried to start a run without being a total
jerk. Thankfully, it's not as bad in CW contests, though 20 meters in a
couple years will be challenging.
Late in most any contest, there's clearly a lot of unproductive CQ
activity going on, so wouldn't a way to make more productive use of that
spectrum be desirable? It could keep a lot of casual operators from
getting bored and turning off their radios, as I know I often do.
Even with the modest number of QSO's I usually have in my log by the
second day, my runs typically peter out after a while, to the point
where I'm lucky to be making one QSO every one or two minutes. At that
point, I usually go back to S&P. If I can't find a reasonable number of
new contacts, I bail for a while. One tactic I'm think of trying is,
when it's getting slow and I'm ready to quit trying to run anyway, to
offer the frequency to one of my callers. That's as opposed to just
abandoning the frequency, which more than likely will quickly be claimed
by a big gun. It won't guarantee my last caller can hold the frequency,
but at least it gives him/her a chance. Any suggestions on how to get
that message across on CW? "UR FREQ"?
73,
Scott K9MA
Answer:
1. Move to the east coast.
2. Don't bother with 'phone DX tests.
After that, stay on the edges of the fray and don't call any of the big
guns. Eventually they will call you.
Of course, you might not maximize your score that way, but if you like
running then you might maximize your fun.
73, Art K3KU
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--
Scott Ellington K9MA
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
k9ma@sdellington.us
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