[CQ-Contest] Another grip..... Slow down!

[Gerry Hull]

Hey Mike,

If it doesn't work, people would not call.

This contest, I ran between 35-39 wpm, and with a large pileup, was up to
43 wpm.  Except on 160.

Guess what?  Not a single "ASK" for QRS.  If their was QRM, I would surely
slow down, as much as necessary to complete the QSO.

Maybe it's too fast, but it works for me.

I'm constantly amazed at the number of op who come back on straight keys at
15 wpm -- but have solid copy and never ask for a fill.

The other op at our M/2 ran about 32 wpm.  I noticed every time I took over
a run, my rate would increase significantly.  So, speed does work.

When you are calling CQ 10,000 times in a contest weekend, CW speed makes a
big difference.   For most guys, speed, especially if you are
accurate, is a great marketing technique -- fast in and out.   If someone
is S&Ping, and the come across a station sending slow and/or making
mistakes, they are more likely to pass by.

If S&P, I answer close to the callers sending speed.


I think I'm slow, compared to some ops.  N3DXX comes to mind.

73, and may the QRQ be with you!

Gerry, W1VE


On Mon, Feb 22, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Mike Ritz <w7vo at comcast.net> wrote:

> I am constantly amazed how some stations, especially in EU and the
> Caribbean seem to think that CW contests are High Speed Telegraphy tests!
> They don't realize it, but it HAS to be detrimental to their score, unless
> there are enough stations that can decode 35-40 WPM that it doesn't matter
> to them. What they don't realize is that the fast stations, especially ones
> with a lot of dits, are often going to be copied wrong in the logs, but
> also will be spotted with the wrong callsign as well! I can't tell you how
> many times I saw 6Y1D spotted as BY1D, but it was spotted much more often
> wrong more than right, so that has to be an issue for then
>
> Picking out an EI, or S5 station out of the polar flutter is hard enough.
> Slow down a few WPM, and watch rates and accuracy actually improve!
>
> 73;
>
> Mike, W7VO
>
>
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