[CQ-Contest] New to Contesting - Questions

[Leigh S. Jones, KR6X]

> 1 - in a few of the advice articles talk about planning for propagation - 
> where can I get propagation forcast for the contest weekends?
>

Get the "smoothed sunspot number" from online sources, and then use the 
Icearea feature of VOACAP by Greg Hand named "ITSHFBC".  Google it.  You can 
get "simpler" software, but this one is the best, and it's free.  If you're 
less committed, then ask the advice of nearby contesters -- they can put 
together a plan for you in a few minutes from memory.

> 2 - contest run 24 hours (varies of course) but I only hear activity in 
> the evenings - am I missing the daytime stuff, or does everyone 
> concentrate on the evenings?
Most contesting is done in the daytime and early evening.  Except, frankly, 
the most important DX contests are generally 48 hours long and require 
incredible committment to be competitive.  Yes, you majorly missed something 
here.  You're probably listening on the wrong bands during the day.

> 3 - listened to the Sprint saturday night - overall one of the most 
> intense events I have heard - seems extremely hard to get a contact - any 
> the ops give their call so fast, I had a hard time keeping up - does it 
> get easier to catch the calls with practice?
It gets much easier, but your standards will improve as fast as your ability 
does leaving you feeling you've gained little -- although your scores will 
climb very quickly.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin Williams" <KJZWilliams at comcast.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:35 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] New to Contesting - Questions


>I am just starting in contesting, listened to the contests this weekend to 
>get a feel for how it works
>
> been reading this list for a while
>
> I read as much as I could find online, but of course I had a few questions
>
> 1 - in a few of the advice articles talk about planning for propagation - 
> where can I get propagation forcast for the contest weekends?
>
> 2 - contest run 24 hours (varies of course) but I only hear activity in 
> the evenings - am I missing the daytime stuff, or does everyone 
> concentrate on the evenings?
>
> 3 - listened to the Sprint saturday night - overall one of the most 
> intense events I have heard - seems extremely hard to get a contact - any 
> the ops give their call so fast, I had a hard time keeping up - does it 
> get easier to catch the calls with practice?
>
> Thanks
> KD8EZS
> Kevin
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>