[CQ-Contest] Analysis on ASSISTED advantage vs UNASSISTED

[Hanlon, Steve]

> In my mind, there is no question packet CAN help scores.  I emphasize 
> CAN because one must LEARN to use packet effectively.  Packet is an 
> operating tool, in some respects just like a second radio.

as a soon to be single tribander and wires contester at the home QTH, i look at using packet as a tool to check propagation paths.  i have set my packet filters to only display spots from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, New Jersey, and occassionally New York.  the thought process being if a contester in a nearby state has worked the station, I know propagation might be open an area from my QTH.  by no means is it in exact science, but it offers insight into the shifting bands and where to aim the beam.  at 100w, aiming at Europe isn't a foolproof strategy.

for the WPX, i operated at a local "large gun" and used packet Sunday morning rather successfully.  the previous day saw very little activity on 10m, but around 1400z, 10m spots  started to pop up.  tired of working dupes on 15m, i went to 10m and it was like shooting ducks in a barrel.  i noticed the bulk of the spots were to the south in Central and South America, so i turned the beam and had at it.  after about 20 minutes i had worked the first round of mults and tuned the band for another 15 or so minutes netting what little was to be heard.

while doing this, i noticed that the 20m needed mults list started to grow and after i exhausted 10m i moved up to 20m.  i bounced from band to band like this for about 3 hours and then decided i had exhausted everything that was there and started to call CQ.  the rate improved slightly, but in the end, needed mults were added to the log working the spots, and thus increased the aggregate score.

during the ARRL DX i worked from the home QTH with a ground mounted vertical and over the course of 18 hours toughed it out to barely record 110 qsos.  had i used packet, i feel i would have made better use of my time by seeing were the progoation paths were open and knowing the limits of the vertical i would have gotten off the air all together.  

i had quite an education during the WPX and packet was one of the several instructors. plus, as a squirt gun, i'm not competitive in any category and using packet helps me add to the club score.  as i increase my skills and knowledge as well as the station, my use of packet will evolve.

-steve hanlon
KB3KAQ