[TowerTalk] Participating in a contest for the sake of

[Ray Day]

Jim,

 

Yep, I agree 100% about the "they're in it to WIN" boys and their goals and
what they'd like - and I give it to them. In my case, a lot of times I do
crank it up to their speed and let 'er rip (after finally getting their call
for sure).

 

And I certainly agree with and enjoyed your tutorial on contesting protocol.
I wish everybody followed those guidelines!

 

Thanks again for your contributions, CUL,

Ray N6HE

 

 

 

Orig message

**** ****** **********

Message: 3

Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2016 21:21:20 -0800

From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>

To: towertalk at contesting.com

Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Participating in a contest for the sake of

               dx?

Message-ID: <56BAC8D0.9060106 at audiosystemsgroup.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

 

On Tue,2/9/2016 7:56 PM, Ray Day wrote:

> In CW contests, my "sweet spot" is about 28-30 WPM. That's who I am (now).

> I'd hope that the 35+ WPM folk don't curse me when I go slower than 

> they do and slow them down.

 

Hi Ray,

 

Guys going to those rare locations for contests are doing it to WIN. 

They want to average 3-4 QSOs per minute. They don't care if you send
slower, or if you need a repeat, but they do care if you send stuff that
slows them down.

 

Sure, many of us aren't able to work nearly that fast, for a lot of reasons.
And when things aren't busy, almost any good contester will take the time to
run a newbie through a contact, especially if the QSO gives them a
multiplier. :)

 

What I've outlined is how contesting really works. Contesting IS more fun
when you get good at it. Learning how to work this way makes you a better
operator when called upon to do something in an emergency. The rules are
essentially the same -- there's a disciplined and efficient way to do it.

 

These rules about never sending stuff the other guy has copied are very
practical, especially if your signal is weak, because it makes the other
station think he has your call wrong, or part of the exchange wrong. 

Again, it's good operating practice, not just a "rule" for contesters.

 

Example -- yesterday, I was trying to work 7P8C on 20M SSB, and I thought he
was coming back to me, but there was QSB and I wasn't copying him well
enough to make sure he had my call right. So I kept repeating my call until
I was sure I had copied my call from him. Then I responded with "3x3
Thanks." We made the QSO, and clublog has it, so I know it's good.

 

73, Jim K9YC