[SESprint] N2NL's Sprint Tips (FWIW)

[K4RO Kirk Pickering]

Thanks Dave N2NL for some of the best Sprint reading
I have done in a long while.  Although your tips may be 
geographicaly-oriented, there is a lot of useful info
for every operator, regardless of location.

I'll toss in a few more tips.  This info is from one of those 
ops N2NL described who has tried for years before breaking
300 QSOs.  I finally did it last February.  I am NOT a gifted
CW op by any means, but practice is getting me near a point 
of at least proficiency.  The top ops already know all of what 
I'm about to say, and a whole lot more.

Tip 1.
Listen to recordings of the contest.  Find them on the web
(sites have already been posted here, N6TR's for one) or 
even better, make your own recordings.  This is a contest 
where you must hit the ground running.  Listening to recordings
the week before the contest can help your brain get into the
rhythm of the Sprint.  It can really reduce the shock factor
at 0000z.  Listening to your own recordings can help you 
evaluate what you are doing right, and what you are doing wrong.

Tip 2.
Don't be afraid to send faster than you think you can copy.
If AN, PA, or TJ calls you when you're CQing at 30 WPM, don't
be afraid to dump them the excahange at 40WPM.  They can handle it,
and will probably be grateful that you saved them some time. You 
saved yourself some time also.  You'll also be surprised at the 
speeds you can copy at, especially if it's not your first Sprint.
Bottom line -- don't be shy about CW speed with the capable ops,
and don't underestimate your own CW abiltiy when your adrenaline
is pumping nice and fast.

Tip 3.
Turn on your radio NOW and find the fastest CW station on the air.
Listen to him, and just get used to copying QRQ CW, even if it is
way above your comfortable speed.  You'll be surprised at what you
can copy when you relax. Do this exercise every day before the contest.
Even better -- jump in there and make QRQ QSOs.  The more you operate,
the better prepared you will be for the Big Game.

Tip 4.
R-e-l-a-x.  N2NL already touched on this.  If you find yourself
getting overwhelmed, take a few deep breaths, spin the dial,
and call CQ.  The next QSO will help calm you down if you are
too flustered to search for the next "duplet" QSO pair. Staying
focused while your adrenaline is pumping 250% above normal is 
one of the great challenges and delights of the Sprint!

Let's keep W4 on the map in the Sprint.  C U this weekend.

73,

-Kirk  K4RO


On Tue, Sep 03, 2002 at 04:51:57PM -0700, David Mueller wrote:
> I wrote down some tips I use when I run the Sprint -
> hopefully it will help someone.  I've seen alot of
> advice on HOW to operate the Sprint, but not how to do
> WELL in it.  This is based on my experiences in SFL,
> and might not adapt to those further north.  I hope
> you can follow, as I wrote this as thoughts came to
> mind.
> 
> Sprint Tips
> 
> 	Start out on 20m.  Although a lot of the W9’s have
> made a tradition of starting on 40m, which allows them
> to work each other before the band goes long, for us
> in Florida 20m is the place to be.  If you have 2
> radios, keep the 2nd on 40, where you can drop a CQ if
> you are searching for a QSO on 20 or receiving an
> exchange from someone who will be taking the frequency
> from you.  Likewise, if someone calls you on 40, drop
> a CQ on 20.  Work 20m as long and as hard as you can
> since that is often will be your best band – most
> multipliers will be worked there.  Dig deep even for
> scatter QSOs.  Remember that there are a limited
> number of stations active – and the more you can work
> on a given band the more guys you are going to work
> overall.
> 	This goes for the entire contest.  Personally, I will
> either work my way up or down the band.  I will call
> someone I need, work him, and receive one caller. 
> Once I relinquish the frequency I will continue up or
> down the band.  Often you will notice a group of about
> 20 guys just about “in step” with you.  That’s fine
> because at the beginning you need them too.  If you
> find out, however, that they are constantly beating
> you out, or you have seemed to have worked everyone
> you hear, spin the dial to another part of the band
> and start over.  You’ll find yourself amidst a new
> group of “fresh meat”.  Try high and low in the band
> as well.  you'll usually find guys staying there in
> one part of the band.
> 	DON’T GET FLUSTERED – the best operator will go
> through periods of frustration at not being able to
> make a QSO for a couple minutes.  Eventually you work
> through it and will work another string of guys.  The
> more you work yourself up, the more you are hurting
> your own effort.  The contest is fast paced enough
> than to have to deal with your own issues.  A second
> radio here is helpful – you can be CQing on it which
> helps you feel that at least you’re doing something
> productive.
> 	By about 0115Z, 20 will have pretty much dried up. 
> You notice a lot of the activity is starting to
> disappear.  Don’t give up on the band too quickly.  40
> will be rocking, but the sooner you go there, the
> sooner you will work the band out.  I find it better
> to stay a little later on 20, which will ensure a good
> 3rd hour which is usually everybody’s worse hour for
> QSO totals.  20 will still be productive, and with
> less QRM, you will be able to work the weaker guys and
> the ones with low QSO totals.  These often are rare
> multipliers also!  There will be activity on 20m for
> the entire contest at this point of the cycle.  With a
> 2nd radio, I will often CQ here the entire contest. 
> It is more than likely that a rare multiplier will
> call in during the last hour, such as a KL7.
> 	Somewhere about 0130, it is time to move to 40
> meters.  This is a breath of fresh air as almost
> everyone you hear is a new QSO.  The rate will jump
> and you’ll be having a blast.  Keep the 2nd radio on
> 20m and drop a CQ now and then when you can.  If you
> listen around, all the top scorers are doing it.  20
> will be very quiet and it will be easy to tune the 2nd
> radio to find new guys you might need, all the while
> working the fresh meat on 40. 20 and 40 are your money
> bands, so make use of them.  Since you stayed on 20
> longer than most, a lot of the guys have already
> worked each other on 40 so it will be easier going for
> you.  Once again, keep an ear open for the weaker
> stations as they always seem to be that rare mult you
> need.  
> 	Lets say you tune and hear a multiplier you need. 
> Lets say it is WB0O.  You call him but get beat by
> someone else.  DON’T STICK AROUND – he will have to
> QSY before working another station.  If the QSO is
> almost over, tune up the band a hair and send a CQ. 
> Hopefully he’ll follow you up and answer you.  If he
> doesn’t call, tune down and see if he called someone
> down the band versus up.  Usually you can catch them
> this way.  More than likely though you will work those
> guys later.  If you get obsessed with working him,
> your rate is dropping like a rock.  Often, the guys
> you need have low QSO numbers and aren’t really
> sprint-adept.  Your best chance is call CQ high in the
> band slowly and wait for them to call you.  This is
> another advantage of SO2R.
> 	Now, by 0300z, 40 has dried out for you.  Most of the
> guys have already gone to 80.  If you are in Florida,
> DON’T QSY THERE YET!  I’ve done 4 or 5 sprints now
> from Florida.  Every single time I went to 80 this
> early, I got my butt handed to me.  All the W9’s will
> be working each other, and the W4’s in TN will all be
> working the W1/2/3/8/9 right through you.  They’re
> simply closer and louder than you will be.  80 never
> ceases to be a frustrating band to me for this reason.
>  Hopefully 20/40 will still be good because you will
> be banging your head into the wall on 80.  I will QSY
> there at about 0315Z, after most of the guys have
> worked each other, and it gets a little better for
> you.  I usually can blow off 70-80 QSOs in the last 40
> minutes, which is decent and keeps me in the overall
> game.  If I QSY at 0300z, I might finish with another
> 5 QSOs, which is ends up being a waste of time.  I
> have not yet been able to come up with a solution to
> this, other than to work 20 and 40 for all it is
> worth.  It could be the station I use, but more than
> likely it is geographical location.  
> 	Finally, there is one thing to remember.  Compete
> against YOURSELF.  Don’t get frustrated when N2NT
> gives you #65 when you are at #20.  Those guys have
> been doing it way longer than you have, and really
> aren’t human to start with.  No matter how well I
> think I’m doing, I know that eventually N6TR/K7RAT
> will call in with 50 more QSOs than I have.  Compete
> against yourself, and try to better your score from
> last time.  Make a goal – for most it is breaking the
> 300 QSO barrier.  Some guys have tried for years and
> haven’t been able to do it yet.  Recently there has
> been a flurry of sprint activity and breaking 300 is
> getting easier.  Have fun, do your best, and enjoy the
> rush that is the Sprint.  
> 
> 73, Dave N2NL
> 
> PS –I’ve only finished in the top 10 once in my life,
> so take the advice for what it is worth.  This IS the
> strategy I use, and it seems to work well for me.  I’m
> not hiding anything.  Maybe someone who keeps kicking
> my butt will read this, find a flaw in my strategy,
> and offer me some advice.  I’m open to suggestions!
> 
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