Good luck to everyone in NAQP SSB tomorrow.
Here are a few thoughts that may help the single ops. Remember the 10
hour limit and be sure that your off times are at least 30 minutes.
Wait 31 minutes if you have any question about how to count the off time.
If we have some pattern to our band selections, it may help us work each
other and get the nearby mults on most bands. May I suggest the following:
Remember that you cannot use packet spots and be single op (and only
single ops can be on a team) and that the power limit for all stations
is 100W. Try to run in the General Class band at least some because
there will be some, particularly newer ops, who cannot operate in the
Extra Class bands. As a reminder, Generals can operate above 3800, 7175,
14225, and 21275 and Technicians cannot operate above 28500.
The multipliers for this contest remain unchanged. (Meaning that ON is
just one mult and not broken into four as it is for SS.) Multipliers
are States, Canadian areas as specified in the rules, and DXCC countries
in North America. Exchange is Name and S/P/C for NA stations and only
Name for DX stations outside NA. It may be that your logging program
won't accept only a name. If so, put "DX" in the section window. (You
can delete the "DX" in your Cabrillo file with a text editor. I usually
do this, but I doubt that leaving it in would hurt your score.)
10M on the hour during the day. Check the band at least once an hour
and work anyone you can find there. Try running. If we get a good
opening, particularly Es, running can be productive even from our part
of the country.
15M on the half hour during the day and until the band seems dead.
20M is a bread and potatoes band so be running on 20M during the day
whenever your rates on 10 and 15 are low and when you don't find mults
to work on the higher bands.
40M activity may start early, but you will probably be able to make rate
there during the hours of darkness, so don't abandon 20 too early. It
is a good idea to run on 40 for at least a short while during the latter
part of the afternoon to get the close in multipliers before the band
goes long.
80M and 160M. May I suggest 80M on the hour and 160M on the half hour
during the hours of darkness.
Moving stations. Remember that multipliers count per band. If someone
asks you to QSY to another band or to look for their second station on
another band and you have a station that can easily change bands,
consider doing so even if it won't be a new multiplier. As a general
rule, unless it a buddy of yours who is running, it is a waste of time
to ask a station who is running to give up his run frequency to move to
another band to give you a multiplier. AL, FL and GA mults will be easy
enough to get by running. SC and MS stations might get better response
if those mults are rare. But, if you are running and need the mult of a
caller on another band where propagation is likely possible, try to get
the other station to QSY to the other band. I'd guess that about half
of the stations you ask will agree to try the other band and you will
actually make contact with most of those. You should keep a note of
frequencies on the other bands that may be relatively open for such
QSYs. Often frequencies higher in the bands or maybe very low in the
band if the other station has an Extra Class license. You can't tell
about that by call signs for sure, but they are some indication.
To the extent you can consistent with your health and family or work
obligations, keep your BIC for as long as possible (up to 10 hours).
When you submit your score to 3830, include your club (it's good
advertising). You should also include the club in the header to your
Cabrillo file, just to keep in the habit. Show your team, if you are on
one, on your 3830 submission. There will be a pull down selection for
any registered team. There is no need to show the team in the Cabrillo
header. You may do so, but the Robot will disregard it. The
pre-registered teams are matched with the final scores by the sponsors.
Upload your log as required by the rules and do so as soon as possible.
There is a 14 day deadline, but that will change to 7 days after this
running of the NAQPs.
Good luck and much fun to all. Operate as much as you can even if you
are not on a team.
73, John, K4BAI.
|