[CQ-Contest] Thoughts on a technique

[W0uo at cs.com]

You have a good idea. I have done something similar in the past by making specific plans for how I would operate the contest.

The plan consists of several elements:

First, a goal for multipliers and qsos by band.  I make this from experience and expected conditions, and generally plan for a score about equivalent to last year's winner.  The goal gives me incentive to keep plugging when I am tempted either to rest or go DXing instead of contesting. Sometimes I make my goal, but often I don't.  I am sure, however, that my scores are higher as a result.

Second, a plan for band changes. Over the years I have done this several ways.  When operating QRP, I try to be on bands that are still open, but relatively empty.  Such as staying on 40 after 20 opens, staying on 20 after 15 opens, etc.  In other circumstances I plan differently. Spending time with a propagation program can help here.

Last, I try to keep track of easy multipliers such as contest expeditions, etc and try to be sure to work them on all 6 bands.

All this assumes experience, which you can gain either from lots of on air experience, by talkling with other contesters, from examining your logs, and from looking at propagation possibilities.

73 de Jim
W0UO/5