[CQ-Contest] The rise of the dual CQers

[Ed Sawyer]

If it wasn't clear before the 2016 CQ WW, it certainly should be now.  If
you want to compete at the top 3 - 5 level high power in the major
competitive zones of World, EU, NA, US, you had better start learning how to
dual CQ.  The most graphic example of that I believe was 8P5A who had loads
of get started problems and still was setting new PR QSO totals by mid
contest because of the much higher rate efficiency.  This method is
especially useful with CW because there is a finite limit of how fast people
can copy code.  But doubling the code QSO streams doesn't require a speed
increase to double the potential QSO rate.  Ironically, it would seem that
dual CQing would make "grabbing mults from the second radio while tuning" to
be kind of impossible.  So you either forgo that or go assisted.  I am
assuming - I have not dived into the dual CQing world thus far.

 

WRTC seems to becoming outdated in my opinion.  If dual CQing is the new way
to be the top operator, why prevent that person from winning by having a 2
operator multi 2 format?  Maybe WRTC 2018 should have one or 2 slots for a
single operator to compete alone and allow it.  Who knows, the one person
might beat 2.

 

Interesting developments in the competitive contesting world.  

 

Ed  N1UR