[SCCC] High Speed CW Contesting Comments Solicited

[Doug Brandon N6RT]

Hi Bob,

Sorry for the delay, but better late than never.  Contesters come in 
one of two categories, casual and competitive.  The bottom line is 
the faster you can make QSOs, the higher your score is likely to 
be.  Any good contester who is CQing at high speed and has a station 
call in at a much lower speed should slow down as a courtesy.  I know 
I do.  Most serious competitors will purposely slow down their CQs 
periodically to attract the more casual contester who may not be a speed demon.

Keep up the good work, practice makes perfect!

    73 de Doug, N6RT


Bob NC6Q wrote:
 >As a relatively new contester, I have posted to this group several times,
 >thinking my "neophyte" comments would help other neophyte contesters not
 >feel  alone with their frustrations. I guess it comes from the 
teacher in me.
 >Specifically, I've commented on how difficult it's been for me to make CW
 >Contest QSOs with those operators sending at speeds higher than I can  copy.
 >
 >I've been practicing diligently, almost daily, for several years now, and
 >just this week I've started to "feel comfortable" copying at 25 wpm. Wow! A
 >cool  feeling! A few letters are still problematic, but I feel I've hit some
 >sort of  milestone this week. And, I plan to go as far as I can--30, 35,
 >higher? I  want to be one of those QRQ guys too. I really like this stuff.
 >
 >I would like to hear from some of you who do operate CW contests at
 >"higher" speeds, 30, 35 + wpm. You must do it because there's a
 >pay-off. Besides
 >it just "feeling good," there must be other rewards, that keep it going. Can
 >you  actually work a whole contest only working other high speed ops? Are
 >there that  many CW operators out there? I'd like to know. And I hope you'd
 >say "yes,"  because that would perhaps bode well for the future of CW. Do
 >many people ask  you to QRS? What percentage would you say? Any 
other thoughts
 >on this  topic?
 >
 >I would sincerely like to hear comments on this from the perspective of ops
 >who do operate CW contests at
 >"high" speed. It seems we just don't hear or  read about things like that.
 >Thanks very much.
 >
 >73,
 >Bob  Grubic, NC6Q
 >Signal Hill, CA