[SECC] [Contest] Announcement, Worked All Europe CW DX Contest This Weekend

Fri Aug 12 07:07:23 PDT 2011

On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 9:53 AM, Hal Kennedy <halken at comcast.net> wrote:

> Great tips John!
>

I agree!

I usually try to hold off on QTCs until about half way through.  I also
> watch condx.  If signals are nice and clear, like on 20/15/10 I use up
> all the QTCs I can there.

Yes.

The QTCs are the greatest feature of this contest - it's what makes WAE
unique and fun.  I admit the first time or two I operated it I didn't send
QTCs because I was intimidated, but as John says, it's a great way to
improve your CW skills.  In fact, back in 1977, it was the WAE that took me
from a marginal 18wpm to a solid 20+, enabling me to pass the Extra exam.

Like Hal says, use as many QTCs as you can when the signals are good.  Also
if rates are slow.  If S&P, I would wait until a snappy op asked QTC?  Then,
you can crank the speed up a bit and rattle the QTCs off - much harder to do
that if signals are weak.

But the thing is, sending the max number of QTCs you can is important to
achieving a good score in this contest.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there is a QRP category, but I doubt I
could get on this weekend anyway due to the continuing painting and
moving...but the light is at the end of the tunnel!

But this is a fantastic contest!

>  Sending them through QRN on 80M in the
> summertime is tough work - lots of repeats and fills.  Most logging
> programs have the QTC exchange programmed in these days.  Anyone who
> gets half serious about this contest will find 30 minutes practice
> before the start to be a big help.  I have to practice the QTC support
> keys in WRITELOG every year, just a little, to refresh my memory.  This
> really is a fun contest.  Unfortunately, I will be spending part of
> Saturday in NC and not near the radios...
>
> 73,
> Hal N4GG
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: secc-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:secc-bounces at contesting.com]
> On Behalf Of John T. Laney III
> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 9:14 AM
> To: secc; ACG
> Subject: Re: [SECC] [Contest] Announcement, Worked All Europe CW DX
> Contest This Weekend
>
> Tips for WAE:  When the contest starts, check 15M.  Likely no Eu there.
>
> Start on 20M then and quickly work what is available and call CQ a few
> times.  If no good rate, go to 40M, which will be the night time band of
>
> preference.  However, keep checking back on 20M, maybe every hour would
> be good.  Your beam on 20M will mean you can make QSOs there when it
> will be more difficult with a wire on 40M and 40M will be noisy too.
> Don't be surprised if you are unable to do much running on 40M and most
> of it is S&P.
>
> I hate for a good run to be interrupted by a request for QTC.  However,
> if the run isn't urgent and I have at least ten QTCs, I'll go on and
> send them even early in the contest.  Later on, I will send fewer than
> 10 QTC at a time when requested by a friend in Europe or when the run
> rate is very slow.  You can send QTCs again and again to the same
> station until you reach the maximum of 10.
>
> 80M should be checked and you should work whomever you can in Europe by
> S&P because it will close early in the Summer.  What you miss the first
> night, you can partially make up the second night, but the activity
> always drops as the weekend goes on, so it is better to be QRV early in
> the contest if you have a choice.
>
> When both 40 and 20 are no longer productive into Europe, you should get
>
> some sleep.  Look for an European sunrise opening into Europe about 07Z
> or 08Z on 20M.   About that time, even the loudest Eu stations will
> disappear on 40M.
>
> Try to get on 20M for our sunrise and then beginning checking 15M
> periodically.  Maybe every 30 minutes until it is open good.  After
> that, 15M will be the best band and you can check back on 20M for the
> big guys, but daytime absorption will prevent much running on 20M until
> 18 or 19Z.  After that, you will want to be primarily on 20 until 40
> begins to open, but check back on 15 periodically.  Sometimes, we get
> our best summer openings to Europe in our late afternoon.
>
> After 15 is open good, you will need to check for those elusive 10M
> European openings.  Maybe every 15 minutes is a good time for a quick
> check of 10M during the day.  But, particularly look at 10M if the US
> NorthEast signals become loud on 15M.  That is a sign that the higher
> band may be opening.  Sometimes in the summer 10M may open to Europe
> about 21Z to as late as perhaps 2230Z, so check 10M around those hours.
>
> If an European station asks you to QSY to 10M, give it a try. He
> wouldn't ask if he didn't think it was possible.
>
> Keep an ear open during marginal conditions to Europe for signals,
> particularly from South and Southeastern Europe to be on the "Skew"
> path.  Signals may then peak from the East with both stations needing to
>
> beam toward Africa.  This is most likely early as the bands begin to
> open.  If so, leave your antenna there and work what you can.  These
> will likely be the big high powered stations.  If you start hearing
> stations from western Europe and the lower power stations, check on the
> NE path, because the direct path is then likely to be open.  Rarely,
> after the direct path closes to Europe, there may be skew path stations
> workable in the late afternoon.
>
> 48 hour contest gives you a second chance if you must miss a part of it
> the first day or if have made a bad choice the first day.  What I say
> here applies equally to the SSB WAE contest in September except that mid
>
> September brings us the fall Equinox and conditions will usually be
> somewhat better and 40M will stay open later.  But, it is harder to find
>
> a run frequency on 40M on phone for those of us without 40M beams.
>
> I will likely be QRV part time if I can get CTWIN going for this
> contest.  It can be a lot of fun and is a big challenge.  It certainly
> can improve your CW skill.
>
> Good luck to all.   73, John, K4BAI.
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