[CQ-Contest] Update - Propagation today, tomorrow, and the nextday...

[Eric Scace K3NA]

   I wonder if researchers could get access to the LOTW, in addition to contest weekend logs, to get a full picture of what
communications were possible during a particular time.

   Unfortunately, it's only a partial answer, since most people don't record accurate signal strength or station configurations
against each QSO.

-- Eric K3NA

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Tomas (NW7US)
Sent: 2003 October 24 Friday 14:26
To: CQ_Contesting; Hard-Core-DX
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Update - Propagation today, tomorrow, and the
nextday...

[...snip...]

And, as Bill and I agreed, it is hard to assess because we don't have enough
data to create a working model, yet, we cannot for certain say who will have a
great weekend, and who will have a lousy weekend.  Conflicting reports tend to
come in after such a chaotic event.  Some find that these conditions don't
degrade THEIR working conditions, while others report a complete loss of signal.
And, there's no real pattern.  I find that has held true in the past contests
when conditions were rough.  Some said that they had record-breaking results,
even so.  Others said that they decided that it was a waste of their contesting
energy.  So, go figure.

One thing I came away with from this discussion with Bill is that we amateur's
really need to become more scientific in our data collection process.  We need
to record more information about our working conditions, our QSO's, and the
other details that, when gathered together into a database, would allow us to
begin to unlock the secrets of propagation, such that we can begin to forecast
better how these events will affect us.

[...snip...]