[CQ-Contest] to KP4 or not KP4

[Jim White, K4OJ]

More recently, may I remind you all that K1TO won SS CW from lowly South 
Florida, edging out KE3Q at WP3R... seem to remember in the process he 
set a QSO record there, too!

The "just go to KP4 if you wanna win SS thing" is a bit overplayed - 
seem to remember seeing it on this reflector several times over the 
years... sure, you will get a spot in the top ten even if you are a 
marginal operator - but - you are not guaranteed a win...

The excellent article by K4VX years ago about the operator who has 
prepared for that one special weekend when he has the propagation 
advantage sticks with me - we have all experienced times when we have 
beat out a KC1XX in a pileup, even though we have less hardware than 
Matt's aqwesome station does - are those not the sweetest types of 
contesting moments?  To me that is the one positive of packet in DX 
contests - all the big gun multis land on a fresh meat Sunday spot and 
it is a momentary DXpedition pileup - perhaps this a measuring stick 
thing but it is joyous getting in and out before the mega stacks.

When that shot comes and you are in the catbird seat it will not just be 
that you have propagation alone - because your competitor knows the 
tricks of the trade to equalize the offsetting problem or at least 
minimize it...

If you have focus and studied you will make the best of your sitiuation 
and ya know - you might win...  If you are just someone who talks or 
sends fast and is in an advantageous QTH you have no guarantee of 
winning, don't think so?  Ask the OH group who sent container loads of 
hardware to PJ9 and did not win the world!

Being the rare KP4 who everyone needs with that excellent signal form 
the WP3R station must be sweet - I am sure there are several here on 
this reflector who could have thier arms twisted to pilot it for SS, 
myself included!  BUT - if I were to go there I sure as hell would do my 
homework first!

Contesting is more than having a big station and a fast talking/sending 
operator... or, has someone not been following WRTC :-)

Besides, ain't the more interesting phone battle the one for second 
place in SS SSB this year?

Any CW contests coming up?

K4OJ