The ARRL DXCW contest was my best contest effort so far. After casually
contesting since 2007 with only a search-and-pounce style, I finally
worked up enough nerve to call CQ. The pileup surprised and buried me --
I may have been the only ZP in the test. That happens if no one comes
down to run Tom's station, ZP0R.
Here's my question: Given my conditions, what would be a competent QSO
rate during a run? I averaged between 1.5 to 2 QSOs per minute, with a
few minutes reaching 3. I know I frustrated a lot of of the guys at this
pace, but I never felt like I had control of the pile.
I'm 63, with 50 years as a casual CW operator comfortable at 25-30 wpm.
My rig is a Yaesu FT-757GXii with a factory 600 hz narrow filter. The
antenna is a ground plane 10 feet from a two-story house, with wire
elements for 15 and 20 taped to a fiberglass fishing pole. It's got 3
radials on 20 and 1 on 15. My signal is always weak; 100 watts to a wire
is what I've always had. When I operate split I can usually set up a
rhythm, but in the test with a simplex frequency I couldn't be heard in
the racket of nearly continuous callers.
So what would be a reasonable personal goal under these conditions? From
you experienced guys, what QSO rate would a competent (not world-class)
operator achieve?
Steve, ZP9EH/W9CPI
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