[SECC] NAQP Off Times

[ku8e at bellsouth.net]

You have to understand that off time strategy should differ if you have a large station vs a small one. Bill had a choice of many different antennas on 15/10 meters and he might work stuff on scatter that someone with a tribander or wires would not hear. 

 The way condx are now, I think it would be a mistake not to take most of your off time early in the contest. My bet is only 20 meters will be open the 1 PM  start. You want to make sure you have taken most of your time before people start going to 40 meters. If you are SO2R your rate will be pretty good then going between 20/40. I think you will also see people going to 80 meters early and 160 will play a more important role than it usually does in the Summer NAQP..... so get that antenna for the top band working.....

Now if 15 and 10 meters somehow open up you can throw this out the window. Look how good Condx ended up being during FD after weeks dead bands and no activity leading up to that weekend...
                            
                                      Jeff


> 
> From: Jay Pryor <jpryor at uga.edu>
> Date: 2004/08/06 Fri AM 08:51:24 EDT
> To: "archie mckay" <arcub at alltel.net>, 
> 	"Hal Kennedy" <halken at comcast.net>
> CC: secc <secc at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [SECC] NAQP Off Times
> 
> At 08:17 AM 8/6/2004, archie mckay wrote:
> >Hal
> >I once asked W4AN the same question. He said he would go hard for about the
> >first 30 minutes, then start the first of four 30-minute breaks. He would
> >schedule the remaing 30-minute breaks depending on band conditions, how the
> >runs were going etc.
> >
> >73, Archie, K4GA
> 
> 
> I save old emails that I think might be useful in the future.  Here's some 
> info from W4AN dated July 29, 1997.  The subject was "NAQP Tips."
> 
> "Offtimes:  Four 1/2 hour breaks spread out to where you think you are 
> getting the most exposure to the most people when you are operating.  NEVER 
> take an off time from 4 PM EST to 11 PM EST.  This is when rate 
> occurs.  So, this leaves you with either the first 2 hours or the last 3 
> hours for off times.  Still, I take them in 1/2 hour chunks.  This should 
> also be the key to doing well in the SS.  Offtime in the SS should be the 
> shortest duration possible."
> 
> 73,
> 
> Jay/K4OGG
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