It is always good to add tools to the box so I try to learn and share something from each contest. Those light bulb moments are often already known by others, but were were new to me or proved out the good advice I received from someone else. This time came while in my normal mode of S&P low power as a Little Pistol.

It is sometimes quicker to work a station when two of you are calling at the same time if instead of fighting to be the first answered you stand by and let the other guy go first. The Q points came easier and quicker after the QRM left. Didn't waste three or four useless transmissions of my call while the other guy was doing the same thing. Used that tactic a few times in CQWW CW last weekend when I sensed the running station was either tired or didn't have much experience with pile ups. Doesn't work with big pile ups from rarer mults, but the rate meter felt happier (overall) when I started doing that with stations from places with a lot of hams and a therefore lower demand to work them. Stations in countries like DL, I, PY, VE, and K that had okay but not loud signals. There wasn't normally a third lurker out there waiting to slow me down when I called the second time.

Kevan

N4XL