[CQ-Contest] State QSO parties and CW

[ku8e]

Speaking for many of us who go rovering in state QSO parties there are many reasons that CW is the preferred
mode of operation.

1) In most State QSO parties you get more points for CW 
    than SSB contacts

2)  Many of us have to choose between tuning our mobile 
   antennas for CW or SSB. Mobile antennas are 
   inefficent to begin with and have a very narrow bandwidth.
   Using an inefficent antenna antenna that is tuned for CW
   on SSB (with an antenna tuner) works but it is not the 
   ideal situation. I firmly believe that much of the success 
   that K4BAI and I have when we go rovering is because I 
   have taken the time to tune and ground our mobile 
   antennas properly.

3)  There is much more interest in CW by non-contesters 
    (i.e CW County Hunters) so the rates on CW are much 
    higher than SSB. The guys who tend to collect counties 
    on SSB all seem to do it on a net.


 While having a group of rovers to hit the rare counties is important it is just as important for the sponsor to try to encourage activity by fixed stations. Those stations don't have to be contesters. I know in GA there are some clubs
that use the GQP as a  club activity.


73, Jeff KU8E   (aka W4AN/m with K4BAI)