In a message dated 98-03-12 00:32:53 EST, ex- W N 4 K K N wrote:
<< This isn't related to callsign length. If you are too weak or too
slow to get the DX's attention, then it doesn't matter if your call is
G0D. It's the first letters of your callsign that perk up the ears of
the DX station, not the last ones. You have two choices here: 1) get
louder, and 2) improve your technique so that you respond to the CQ
more promptly. >>
The 2 items Trey has pointed out are very important, and should be examined
very carefully. They are NOT something to overlook as obvious:
1) GET LOUDER: For you "little guys" out there, remember that your signal is
judged against its BACKGROUND. If you are 30 over 9 at HC8N's but the
competition is 40 over 9, you will NOT be loud. On the other hand, if you are
S3 and there are NO other callers, THEN you ARE loud! LOUD is relative; no
contester worth their salt LOOKS AT THE S-METER to figure out who to call in
the middle of giant pile-up. Be aware of the overall situation...if you are a
3rd tier signal, don't waste your time calling ON TOP (or under!) 1st tier
signals. Be SMART....go away and come back later. I guarantee you that the
VAST MAJORITY of the DxPeditions and box-score seekers will still be there on
day 2, cqing away.
2) IMPROVE TECHNIQUE goes hand-in-hand with item #1 just mentioned. You
should also KNOW who you are calling...and I don't mean just the callsign.
Know how talented (or un-talented) the op at the other end is. I VIVIDLY
recall a time when there was a MASSIVE pile-up on 9M6NA and I was QRP from NJ.
I knew the op very well (still do)...Saty is a terrific CW op. So I waited
for a relative lull in the action (you can find these when the callers are
non-stop and don't take a breath and the pileup seems to go on for more than
10 seconds at a time). I had cranked my keyer speed up to about 55 wpm, and
when I heard the lull, I let my call fly by at 55 wpm ONE TIME ONLY. Wouldn't
ya know....I was the next qso! With 5 watts! :-) That is the difference
between TECHNIQUE and trying to break a pileup with POWER.
If you can't find a lull after a short amount of time (again, a relative term,
varying for each op) MOVE ON and COME BACK LATER. Do the same with
propagation. If HC8N is working all W1's and you are W5, take the hint! If
the guy is breaking your S-meter off (very loud), you should have a GREAT shot
at working him. Again, when I am qrp or LP and EU is wide open, I will often
switch to my South antenna and quickly tune the band. If someone bangs my S
meters (or my ears) off scale, I know I'll be able to work them quickly and
easily. If I find a LOUD pileup, but the guy they are calling is NOT loud,
I'll move and wait until he is louder. These are TECHNIQUES that 2nd and
especially 3rd tier guys need to adhere to....they are also GREAT for building
skill for use when you do become loud. Trust me, these years you are
experiencing while you are "weak" are the BEST years money could buy...you
will benefit MORE by being forced to use TECHNIQUE than you could ever
imagine.
LOUD is easy...just use money. TECHNIQUE is tough...it takes years and
DESIRE. Combine LOUD and TECHNIQUE and you hit the top of the BOX SCORES
every time.
Good Luck!
de Doug KR2Q
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