[SECC] Stupid Question - Where to point Beam?

[Jay Pryor]

Bill,

I will be interested in learning what other folks who know a whole lot more 
than me have to say about your question, but I'd say that you should start 
in the obvious directions.  That is, toward EU in the morning of a DX 
contest, toward JA around 4 p.m.  And for a domestic contest I usually go 
with approximately 330 degrees.  If you don't hear what you expect to hear, 
rotate.  If you hear stations you can work, stop and work 'em, as you did 
the second night.  I must admit that I seldom try the odd directions and 
perhaps my scores reflect that.  But I have never worked a single band 
contest either (other than 160).

As a low power contester I do a great deal of S&P and there was a time I 
worried about pointing the beam toward every station I wanted to work.  I'm 
not so concerned any more.  I find that if the other station has a pretty 
decent signal they will likely hear you when you call.  The exception is 
the rare mult who has attracted a pileup.  In that case it is likely worth 
the extra time to swing the beam around.

Now let's hear from those of you who know more about this.

73,

Jay/K4OGG

At 08:16 AM 4/1/2003, Bill Coleman wrote:

>OK, I'm going to ask what may seem if not stupid, but an obvious
>question. After over six years contesting with single-element antennas,
>now that I have a beam, I don't always know where to turn it.
>
>This weekend, on Sunday afternoon, it seemed like signals were coming
>from all directions at once on 10m. Even stations that were out west
>seemed strongest beaming south east.
>
>I also had the experience in the 10m contest where I was beaming west
>toward JA. Once the JAs disappeared, the band seemed so quiet as to be
>closed. The first night, I went QRT. The second night, I pointed the beam
>north and ran stations for over 2 hours.
>
>So, where do you point your beam over the weekend? And if you S & P, how
>do you avoid turning the beam for each QSO (other than be like NQ4I and
>have antennas pointing in three directions at once)?
>
>Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
>Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
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