I am mostly in agreement with John….one of my times off is when dinner is ready!

Since we are still at the bottom of the solar cycle, I think you have to stay in the chair until 10 and 15 close or there is just no rate left there. At that point moving the West Coast stations up to 21 and 28 can add some Qs, but typically no new mults so its hardly worth it.

As the rate falls off on 20 from working darn near everybody, or early band closing – its time for a break. This is around dinner time. Its okay to head to 40 for the early arrivals and SO2R guys who often keep one radio on 40 the whole contest, but can be a trap…see below. With a dipole at 75 feet, I can work out to AZ or CO any time of day…so 40 is always a good band….until it goes so long that it’s a struggle to work CA. The temptations to avoid are staying too long on 21 and 28 and going too early to 40 meters. 40 will provide you a good rate no matter when you first show up, but you need to save that for when its all there is.

The last hour is usually a QRV feeding frenzy, per W4AN. I typically have a decent Q count and mult count the last 30 minutes from moving folks all over the bands, including ground wave on 21 and 28 for TN, GA, AL and maybe FL. If you are south of here and have good antennas on those bands (I don’t) FL can add a lot of ground wave Qs. I can also work TX at times when the high bands are otherwise closed. The last half hour is worthwhile if you have a frequency agile station. If you have really poor antennas for 80 and 160, take the last hour off unless you haven’t milked 40 for all its worth. Just like sweepstakes, it seems everybody gets on 40 at some point in the contest. Your best strategy depends on your antennas and station setup…SO2R or not? Antennas for all bands or not?

Check 160 on the half hours and particularly on the hour. Get there 3 minutes before and CQ your way into the hour – it can be a pleasant experience, as folks will just be coming on to the band and even the CQ-only big guns will call you as they look for their own CQ QRG. I have had huge rates for 10 minutes on 160 beginning just before the hour.

This is really a fun contest. Just enough time to feel like you accomplished something, yet time off for rest and dinner. I usually come out right around 1,000 Qs if I work the second radio hard. I have worked 825 Qs already with one radio and the modest wire farm here in Woodstock – but that took a lot of work and intensity. It’s a fun contest for SO2R. You can do well with very modest antennas and gear. Breaking your score from last year is always a good objective. Just piddling around and having fun is another good objective.

If your code skills are weak, stay high in the band – we all go slow up there. Also, don’t be afraid to call a speed demon. They will usually slow down for you, and you can listen to them long enough to get the exchange even if it takes a few minutes. Use a history file – virtually every logging program supports this.

Remember -- it’s a low power contest and no packett….

73,

Hal, N4GG