[CQ-Contest] GO subliminal

[Ward Silver]

> >Scott
> >  I try to use my complete call in contests, but having a 2x3
> cal it is
> >hard if not impossible to get my call in befire the CQing
> station
> >starts calling CO again. Sometimes if I say my call as fast as I
> can...
>
> (snip)
>
> >KC5AJX

First - Don't Despair!!

There are lots of things you can do to improve the situation without
giving in to Last-Two Disease.

First (and this is true for all contesters, young and old) - try to be
louder.  The loudest guy in the pileup is gonna win, just about every
time, no matter what the length of the call.  OK, so that's a given.

Then - ask yourself how you can make your call fit the needs of the DX
station.  He's looking for timing and clarity.

If you find the DX already calling by the time you finish you're out of
sync.  Try to improve these things: 

1) Your phonetics - choose short ones that have a minimum of syllables and
flow naturally from letter to letter.  I used to use "Alpha X-Ray" until I
realized that I was doing extra mouth work in getting from the end of
"Alpha" to the beginning of "X-Ray".  I changed to "Able", which ends with
my mouth parts (eeyeww) set up to say "X-Ray".  The whole thing should
come out in one smooth string, punctuated with sharp, clear consonants.
Don't mumble (and sit up straight!)...yes, Mom...

2) Delivery flow - don't use a hand mike PTT, use VOX or a foot switch. 
Practice getting off the mark consistently and smoothly, without stumbling
or breathing as you start.  Blow it all out in one breath.  Conversely, is
there a huge pileup that starts instantly, then tapers off?  Try a
1/2-second delay.  Your last couple of letters may catch the attention of
the DX after the four-letter calls have all collided with each other.  My
good friend (and great entertainer) WA0RJY often finds this happening to
him with the "Japan Yankee" getting noticed after the main explosion.  Be
willing to listen and adjust to suit the situation. 

3) Do you really need complete phonetics?  How about "Kay Cee Five Able
Japan X-Ray"?  "Kay Cee" should cut right through most of the time.  (I
may get some flak on this one...)  Save the song and dance for the suffix.
There are other letters that don't always need phonetics - W, for example,
it's a phonetic all by itself.

If the timing sounds right but you're not getting through, it may be that
you're not enunciating such that the words are easily understood on the
other end.

4) Make sure you have phonetics with punch.  Use "Able" instead of
"Alpha" as it has more energy in the 300-3000Hz range.  "Alpha" has a
softer starting letter sound ("aaah" instead of "ey") and a high-frequency
sibilant ("fff") between syllables.  Watch your power meter and say both
words at the same volume - "Able" will kick the meter harder.  Caution -
non-English speakers don't recognize "Able" as a common word - use
"America" instead.

5) What kind of microphone and speech processing are you using?  Muddy or
distorted audio will make it much harder to get through, no matter what
call you use.  Most hand mikes that come with the radio are of average
quality and top contesters avoid them like the plague.  Use the best mike
you can afford and do some on-the-air testing with a friend to determine
the best setting for your speech processor.  Be sure you're not
splattering - why waste your power outside the channel?  Memorize the
settings and practice into a dummy load for consistent delivery. 

6) You and I have a magic letter at the end of our calls - X.  There is
only ONE phonetic for X - "X-Ray".  Use that advantage by trying to place
that letter in the clear.  Give the entire call in such a way as to get
the "X-Ray" in a less-congested period.  The ear picks up "X-Ray" and can
make only one interpretation - so try to use that to your advantage.

I hope this is helpful - your frustration is understandable.  As a little
pistol, it's doggone hard to keep getting stomped.  We all started the
same way and then somebody started telling us what to do and it got
better.

73, Ward N0AX




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