[SECC] Stupid Question - Where to point Beam?

[ku8e at bellsouth.net]

 W4AN is sure right about working the 3,8, and 9's on 20 meters. You could also add the 4's around the DC area and the 2 and 1 call area.

 Because of the poor conditions this weekend in WPX SSB it was almost like SS during the day. I don't think I have worked this many stations in those call areas on 20 meters before in my life. It was like an endless pit !!!

 I even had one guy call me that was running 5 watts to some handheld HF radio that was sitting on the beach on Long Island sound that was 30 db over S9 !!!
Just unbelievable !!!

                                  Jeff KU8E




> 
> From: Bill Coleman <aa4lr at arrl.net>
> Date: 2003/04/01 Tue PM 09:53:57 EST
> To: "Jay Pryor" <jpryor at arches.uga.edu>,  <secc at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [SECC] Stupid Question - Where to point Beam?
> 
> On 4/1/03 2:03 PM, Jay Pryor at jpryor at arches.uga.edu wrote:
> 
> >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.
> 
> That's where I started. However, with a tribander at 50 feet, you can't 
> always hear EU or JAs -- or perhaps they can't hear you.
> 
> >And for a domestic contest I usually go 
> >with approximately 330 degrees.
> 
> If the skip is short, like late afternoon on 20m, due north works well 
> here. It goes along with Bill Fisher's comment about working 3's, 8's and 
> 9's in SS. The 60 or so degree beamwidth of your typical tribander covers 
> a lot of ground.
> 
> >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.  
> 
> In the 10m contest, I just happened upon the north direction by accident. 
> I wasn't hearing anyone really at all. Signals were weak, but workable, 
> and I enjoyed quite a run. I think 10m sometimes succumbs to the 
> phenomenon where no one hears anything, so they think the band is dead.
> 
> >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.
> 
> I get beat out a lot when trying to work from the side or off the back of 
> the beam. It makes a big difference to turn it, but it often becomes a 
> pain to swing after every QSO.
> 
> 
> 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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