[RTTY] W1AW/x RTTY operations

[Bill]

Some things to ponder:

Our Club and specifically one of our members was the organizer of the 
Florida participation in February. The South Florida DX Association 
along with the Florida Contest Group and other independent operators all 
were coordinated by Pete N8PR.

So think of the totals needs...3 or more modes, 11 bands...for 7 days. 
2, 3 or 4 hour segments on each mode. That's at least 500 hours to plan. 
You can't have 2 operating SSB in any given hour because that can be 
mayhem, and you want to keep all modes going for all hours if you can 
and also have the volunteers that want to do it during those hours. One 
may want CW, but is only available and home from work when a SSB slot is 
open.

There were months of planning and scheduling and things happen. Some 
want to be added and some drop out without a moments notice. Countless 
changes from operators all over the State.

You want as many to participate as possible, and while it would be great 
to only have contest experienced operators in each mode, it doesn't work 
that way as those guys aren't always available. It isn't a DXPedition 
with a group of dedicated operators with nothing else to do but ham 
radio for a week or whatever the plan is for. People have jobs, family 
and life experiences. Many work modes and bands they never have before 
as they are pressed into service. We had the good fortune to have some 
of the finest operators in the country, but not all slots can be filled 
with the best of the best.

There are inner communications of who is working where and when. There 
are constantly changing charts, spreadsheets and schedules. It is highly 
coordinated among the Team leaders in each state with ongoing ideas and 
thoughts. The ARRL and its teams I think are doing a terrific job in 
keeping it going and the worldwide participation has been amazing and fun.

Florida's totals were over 50,000 QSO's with over 50 operators involved.

So the next time you see an guy struggling with a pileup on any mode, 
tell him Thank You and politely suggest he/she work split. If they have 
the experience great, if they don't, they are getting it really fast.

We go again for another week in November. Good luck and fun to all who 
are celebrating 100th Anniversary of the ARRL.
Bill Marx W2CQ
President South Florida DX Association