[CQ-Contest] How do you get better?

[aldewey at aol.com]

I do QRP a lot.  Lots of guys immediately get my callsign, but that's cuz they 
recognize it
or figure it out.  I am always very happy when I send an exchange that isn't 
copied (I'm 
too weak) and they say, "Sri."  At least I know to NOT log it! 

While on the subject of QRP, there is one thing I will never understand.? Why do some QRPers believe it is necessary to send?
really slow?? When working a QRPer in SS, I would much rather they send at normal speed or even a little above average.? With QSB and QRM, I usually have a lot better success copying them when the are going fast than when they are going slow.? There is less time for a static crash or fade to take out a letter.? Still I think there must be some natural instinct to want to send slow because you are running real low power.? Just an observation.

Hope to work a lot of you this weekend (at all power levels).

73,

Al, K0AD


-----Original Message-----
From: kr2q at optimum.net
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Sent: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:44 pm
Subject: [CQ-Contest] How do you get better?



Well, isn't this cool.  Here was have (so far) guys like K5ZD, CT1BOH, and K4BAI 
telling
us that they PRACTICE.  Does that say anything to you?

For a week or more before a CW test, I like to listen to morse callsigns at very 
high speed.
It helps to reset my clock at a higher level.  You don't have to COPY at QRQ, 
just get used
to listening to code at those speeds.  Then I find it easier to copy when things 
slow down
to 40wpm as compared to not listening to QRQ ahead of time.  Maybe it's just me, 
but give
it a try.  

The other thing that I would urge everyone to practice is accuracy.  It's easy 
to put
"something" down, but is it right?  Quality trumps Rate 100% of the time.  
Resist the urge
to log it, "no matter what."  Asking for repeats is not something to be 
embarrassed about.
Logging a busted call or exchange is.  If you're not sure you got it right and 
you've asked
for repeats but get no cooperation, then don't log it.  Equally, if you're asked 
for a repeat,
take the time to repeat it!  And if the guy asking for a repeat is going 10wpm 
or more
slower than you are, SLOW DOWN when you give the repeat.  There is nothing more 
sad
(to me) than to hear an attempted exchange where one guy is sending at 40wpm to 
a guy
who is going at 25wpm and who keeps asking for repeats but the other guy 
continues to
send at 40wpm.  DUH!  SLOW DOWN!!

I do QRP a lot.  Lots of guys immediately get my callsign, but that's cuz they 
recognize it
or figure it out.  I am always very happy when I send an exchange that isn't 
copied (I'm 
too weak) and they say, "Sri."  At least I know to NOT log it! 

de Doug KR2Q

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