[CQ-Contest] USA mult on 40

[Doug Smith W9WI]

We too had troubles on 40 meters.  We got zones 3/4/5 from VEs, but as late
as about 2100z Sunday still needed the USA country mult!  None of the W's
seemed to be listening on their own frequency.  Being M/S we hated to switch
the run station to 40 to call CQ, knowing we'd lose 10 minutes to work
probably only one QSO.  Couldn't find any non-contesters calling CQ to get
it that way.  (how do newcomers make QSOs without a contest in progress?  It
doesn't sound like anyone calls CQ on phone anymore!) We finally found a W
listening on both frequencies (I think N9NS was the much-appreciated party). 
I have to suspect a significant proportion of U.S. entrants did not get the
W multiplier on 40!

I would suggest that failing to monitor your transmit frequency can be
counterproductive. In this contest and WPX, I have worked a number of VEs, a
handful of VKs, and the occasional Caribbean/Central American simplex.  Of
course, there were plenty of zero-point W's too - but you can ignore them if
you have DX callers - and it costs nothing to work them if no DX is calling. 
If you don't have a dual receiver, you can at least plunk the A/B button if
nobody answers on your receive frequency.
-- 
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://personal.bellsouth.net/~w9wi


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