[CQ-Contest] Sprint Strategy: SO2F

[Bill Coleman]

On Sep 19, 2004, at 9:05 AM, Eric Hall, K9GY wrote:

> When a station is using two radios and all they are doing
> is going back and forth between lets say 14.225 and 7.225
> then is that really in the "spirit" of Sprint?
>
> To me that is more like Single-Op, 2 Frequency (SO2F) operating?

This type of sprint operating has come up before. Mostly it was 
ping-ponging between two frequencies on the same band, but it could be 
on different bands.

This technique was used a lot in the 80s, and you'll find references to 
it in the older NCJ issues. It would seem an easy way to obey the 
Sprint QSY rule.

However, it ultimately did not lead to the highest scores. Operators 
that used classic S & P technique, perhaps with two radios, 
consistently scored higher.

> Maybe I am a slow learner, but I finally figured out why
> some people have hundreds of band changes in four hours, duh!

Mostly it is the guys with two radios doing that.

> The rules cover the QSYing when STAYING in the same band but
> do not cover anything when CHANGING bands to satisfy the QSY rule.

Changing bands is certainly changing frequency more than 5 kHz.

> If you come back to the SAME frequency you left have you really QSYed?

Yes, if you have a logged Q in between.

> The rules cover this by saying "at least one subsequent QSO is made
> on a new frequency" with the new freq being on the other band.
>
> I for one am not for big government or too many rules but
> at least this is a good point of discussion.

Eric, while I am a sprint wimp, this isn't new. This technique may seem 
good in theory, it doesn't pan out for the top contesters. They don't 
use it any more, so there's probably no reason to create a rule against 
it.


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901