Really good tips to think about John thanks! QTC's make this very different
from other contests. I have to always re-learn the N1MM QTC function keys
every year. N1MM does a great job handling the QTC exchange when you hit
the right F keys! I'm glad I don't have to be on the QTC RX end. Some of
the EU guys rcv QTC's super fast too.. QRQ. Maybe they record them. I know
I sure can't type that fast. We have the easy job on this side.
If you never worked this contest, consider giving it a try but study up a
bit first :-).
73,
Ralph K1ZZI
If you haven't tried this contest yet you may like it
----- Original Message -----
From: "John T. Laney III" <k4bai at att.net>
To: "secc" <secc at contesting.com>; "ACG" <Contest at alabamacontestgroup.org>
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: [SECC] [Contest] Announcement, Worked All Europe CW DX Contest
This Weekend
> Tips for WAE: When the contest starts, check 15M. Likely no Eu there.
> Start on 20M then and quickly work what is available and call CQ a few
> times. If no good rate, go to 40M, which will be the night time band of
> preference. However, keep checking back on 20M, maybe every hour would
> be good. Your beam on 20M will mean you can make QSOs there when it
> will be more difficult with a wire on 40M and 40M will be noisy too.
> Don't be surprised if you are unable to do much running on 40M and most
> of it is S&P.
>
> I hate for a good run to be interrupted by a request for QTC. However,
> if the run isn't urgent and I have at least ten QTCs, I'll go on and
> send them even early in the contest. Later on, I will send fewer than
> 10 QTC at a time when requested by a friend in Europe or when the run
> rate is very slow. You can send QTCs again and again to the same
> station until you reach the maximum of 10.
>
> 80M should be checked and you should work whomever you can in Europe by
> S&P because it will close early in the Summer. What you miss the first
> night, you can partially make up the second night, but the activity
> always drops as the weekend goes on, so it is better to be QRV early in
> the contest if you have a choice.
>
> When both 40 and 20 are no longer productive into Europe, you should get
> some sleep. Look for an European sunrise opening into Europe about 07Z
> or 08Z on 20M. About that time, even the loudest Eu stations will
> disappear on 40M.
>
> Try to get on 20M for our sunrise and then beginning checking 15M
> periodically. Maybe every 30 minutes until it is open good. After
> that, 15M will be the best band and you can check back on 20M for the
> big guys, but daytime absorption will prevent much running on 20M until
> 18 or 19Z. After that, you will want to be primarily on 20 until 40
> begins to open, but check back on 15 periodically. Sometimes, we get
> our best summer openings to Europe in our late afternoon.
>
> After 15 is open good, you will need to check for those elusive 10M
> European openings. Maybe every 15 minutes is a good time for a quick
> check of 10M during the day. But, particularly look at 10M if the US
> NorthEast signals become loud on 15M. That is a sign that the higher
> band may be opening. Sometimes in the summer 10M may open to Europe
> about 21Z to as late as perhaps 2230Z, so check 10M around those hours.
> If an European station asks you to QSY to 10M, give it a try. He
> wouldn't ask if he didn't think it was possible.
>
> Keep an ear open during marginal conditions to Europe for signals,
> particularly from South and Southeastern Europe to be on the "Skew"
> path. Signals may then peak from the East with both stations needing to
> beam toward Africa. This is most likely early as the bands begin to
> open. If so, leave your antenna there and work what you can. These
> will likely be the big high powered stations. If you start hearing
> stations from western Europe and the lower power stations, check on the
> NE path, because the direct path is then likely to be open. Rarely,
> after the direct path closes to Europe, there may be skew path stations
> workable in the late afternoon.
>
> 48 hour contest gives you a second chance if you must miss a part of it
> the first day or if have made a bad choice the first day. What I say
> here applies equally to the SSB WAE contest in September except that mid
> September brings us the fall Equinox and conditions will usually be
> somewhat better and 40M will stay open later. But, it is harder to find
> a run frequency on 40M on phone for those of us without 40M beams.
>
> I will likely be QRV part time if I can get CTWIN going for this
> contest. It can be a lot of fun and is a big challenge. It certainly
> can improve your CW skill.
>
> Good luck to all. 73, John, K4BAI.
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