[CQ-Contest] Contest Metrics

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/2/04 1:19:57 PM Greenwich Standard Time,  
asciibaron at comcast.net writes:

my local  barometer is W3LL, but he doesn't know it.  in the last few 
contests i  have worked, i have used his score as an incentive to increase my skills 
and  signal.  a look at the WCSdB shows he is working with wires at 50 for the 
 various bands.  even if the dipoles were setup as static beams in the  
trees, he manages to do very well (imo) with the wires and a non contest  radio.  
 
An interesting thought.  Once upon a time we big guns were little  pistols.  
I, and I imagine most of the big guns, can remember looking at  the scores and 
wondering how someone could wind up with 2000 qsos in SS.   There was no way 
I could make top ten in any contest.
 
So...... I started thinking.  If station who was a big gun was making  2000 
qsos in a contest and I was using a tribander at 40 feet, I was quite happy  to 
wind up with half his score.  Did I beat my last years score?   Great, I'm 
improving!  Did I beat K4XYZ 50 miles away from me with the same  little pistol 
setup?....Super!
 
Even now, as a guy with a very nice station, I still do that. Lately, most  
of my DX contest have been single band efforts.  But, how did I stack up  
against the M/Ms on a single band efforts, and how did I compare to my last  years 
score?
 
You see, of course it's nice to win your category or even be in the  top ten  
 However, it is about finding reasonable score goals,  reasonably equal 
stations to compare yourself to, and most importantly  to compete with yourself.  I 
really believe that is the most important  thing in becoming a good contester.
 
Ask yourself, suppose KE3Q had operated my tribander at 40 feet station in  
SS, would he have outscored my effort?  If I had operated at KQ2M's station  In 
WW, could I have gotten his score?  If your efforts are not up to their  
hypothesized efforts, start working at improving your skills.  Practice you  SO2R 
skills.  Do more research on past station's efforts, including your  own.  
Work at getting your code speed up.  Talk to the big guns at  Dayton.  Picks 
their brains.
 
Station hardware is important, but the most important piece of equipment at  
your station is sitting between the left and right earpiece of your  headphones
 
By the way, although the mighty usually win, sometimes David DOES beat  
Goliath......but only with some real skill involved.
 
Bill K4XS