[SECC] NAQP CW

[John T. Laney, III]

Hello all:

Archie, K4GA, has asked me to repeat my suggestions about NAQP CW that I
sent out last year.  I have no idea what I said.

My general approach to this contest is to start on 10 meters if it is
open.  I think the rules suggest 10 meters on the hour and 15 meters on
the half hour.  I try to be QRV on the hour on 10 and on 15 meters on
the half hour at least for a short time.

You need to be "running" whenever possible.  The stations sending CQs
will be availble throughout the contest.  So, if you can get a
reasonable rate in sending CQs, take that route.  Move to another open
band any station in a section  that you reasonably expect difficulty in
working on that band.  If the rate is real slow either take time off or
move any station who calls to any other open band.

You don't need to waste time trying to move stations when you answer
their CQs unless you know them (and they know you) and you expect they
will do a favor for you (or you are the only station QRV in your
state).  So, generally ask people who answer your CQs to QSY.

You should select a QSY frequency for each band and have your rig set up
for a quick QSY to that frequency.  Generally, you want to select one
high in the band and probably not on a frequency ending in a zero or
five (more often  QRL with other QSYers).  The low in the band
frequencies are OK for those with Extra class licenses or on 160 and 10
where there is no frequency restriction for General and Advanced
classes.

If you are not getting many calls, you might want to slow down your
keyer or computer a bit.  On the other hand, sometimes speeding up helps
also.  Of course, don't CQ faster than you can copy.  But moving at a
brisk rate will encourage others that they can work you quickly and
encourage callers.  Use full QSK if at all possible unless your dots are
so light they are hard to copy.  With full QSK, you can hear others if
they start transmitting due to a mistake, or because they are actually
working someone else, or whatever.  If others have called in response to
a CQ, have a very brief sign off message.  Don't do an elaborate CQ if
others were calling because they may still be waiting and that will
encourage them to move on.  Sign your own call at least every other QSO
while running.

The rules also have some suggested times for 160 meters.  I think it is
0430 and 0530 UTC.  You should probably plan to be QRV then and plan
your off times with those times in mind.  The off times must be 30
minutes minimum. There will be a lot of 160 meter activity in the
January parties much earlier than these times, so listen down there when
your rate on other bands drops.  Even if you don't have a good antenna,
so your signal isn't great, you can more new mults on a new band than on
a band you have been working for a while.

Don't repeat your name and state unless someone asks for it.  In other
words, the first time give the name and state only once.  If a repeat is
requested, you might send the requested element twice.  With QSK you can
pause between sendings and hear the other station's QSL after the first
time and send it again if you don't hear it.

After you have gone to the lower bands for the evening, you will
probably still need some mults on the higher bands.  Don't forget to go
back to the higher bands occasionally even when not moving a mult.  You
may find that KL7 or KH6 coming through after most others are gone.

Bill would remind you that you can often move people back even to 10
meters late at night.  You never know until you try.  If there is no
direct skip, you can work many of them by backscatter.  Point your beam
away from them and toward the sun.  Late in the day, most backscatter
signals are maximized (and your signal to them likewise maximized) by
beaming southwest from the SECC area.

Hope everyone has fun.

I am going to try to improve my 40 meter antenna by Saturday, but that
may not happen.

73,


John, K4BAI.