[CQ-Contest] Self-spotting in-debth

[Steve London]

Peter,

Have you noticed that every contest, except for a few Euro-centric 
contests, has a separate category for unassisted operators ? Comparing 
the scores of unassisted to assisted operators is like comparing 
apples-to-oranges.

Oh, and by the way, I did 4M points in ARRL DX Phone this year, 
unassisted, from a station without stacked yagis, located 50 miles from 
Mexico, and 50 miles from Arizona. So much for your comment about not 
having a shot at 2M or 3M. I'll just casually mention the 9M in CQWW CW 
last year, same category, same station.

73,
Steve, N2IC/5


On 10/29/2015 05:58 PM, Peter Dougherty (W2IRT) wrote:
> I would respectfully suggest that anybody who thinks a medium or small-sized station can attain a respectable score unassisted just by spinning the dial hasn't actually done so in the last few years. The advantage of operating assisted and using point-and-shoot over spinning the dial is easily a million points if not two. When Europe opens to the east coast on 20, and later on 15 and 10, I've picked off Qs, and especially Mults, faster than if I were to find a spot and start CQing. It's even more apparent to JA and South America in the late afternoon. I'd say 85 to 90% of the spots are accurate meaning I can attain a rate of 60-100/hr when condx are good, if I can't get a good, long run going.
>
> In 2015 it's crazy to expect a medium-sized station to spin the knob and operate unassisted if that station wants to have a shot at 2M or 3M. Maybe once, but not any longer.
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> GO FRC!
> Peter, W2IRT
> www.facebook.com/W2IRT
>