[CQ-Contest] Serial # contests, speed?

[jimk8mr at aol.com]

I'm of a keep it at the same speed style - I don't think the 300 milliseconds one saves by sending 5NN at warp speed compensates for the other guy's brain having to shift gears to copy what I'm sending.
I judge just how fast I'm sending by the nature of the pileup (assuming I have one!). The bigger the pileup, the safer it is to go fast, as it is quite likely the guy you're working just listened to your previous QSO and knows how to increment a number. 

Maybe not so much in serial number contests, but in a no-brain exchange contest (i.e. CQWW) sending on the fast side puts a sense of urgency for the other guy to call you now.

And as a contest wears on, yes, sending somewhat slower is a good strategy. And if for some reason (hopefully other than you got spotted with a busted call) you do get a small pileup, go ahead and bump up the speed a bit.


73  -  Jim  K8MR

 

 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Smith VE9AA <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca>
To: cq-contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Mon, Mar 11, 2019 9:58 pm
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Serial # contests, speed?

For contests like RDX and WPX where the exchange is a serial #, do you:

 

.      Go as fast as always. (34-36wpm) , risking your qso partner busting
the #,but keeping rate high.

.      Go a bit slower (30-32wpm), hoping the QRS improves the copy &
reduces busted exchanges.

.      Send everything just as fast as normal (whatever that speed is), but
use brackets <<>> (a la N1MM) to slow down JUST the serial #

.      Slow down only for obviously slow callers

.      Something else?

 

Inquiring minds.

 

I don't want to skew the results, so I won't say (yet) what I do. (and who
knows if what I do is even 'right')

 

Mike VE9AA