Topband: Patience in ARRL 160 Contest -- copying weak ones

[Tom W8JI]

I had this happen many times as well but it is especially annoying near the 
end of the contest when seeking to find those last few contacts that I heard 
fellows calling CQ and only sending their call ONCE and then maybe waiting 2 
sec. or less before sending CQ again. >>>

160, with changing noise and slow deep fades, really does take different 
operating methods than higher bands.

When things are slow, it makes much more sense to repeat the call more. Like 
"test W8JI W8JI W8JI" This is better than adding CQ's "CQ test W8JI", or 
making a short call "TEST W8JI" and repeating it with little or no pause.

Another thing I try to push, but operators do not like to do, is slowing 
down when things are slow. If you have to call for 10-30 seconds to get a 
response, or are only making one QSO a minute, it makes no sense at all to 
operate at 30 WPM.

160 isn't 40 or 20 meters, with an unlimited supply of stations and almost 
no noise variation or QSB.