[UK-CONTEST] Progressing in Contesting

[Dave Lawley]

Chris

I don't think anyone disputes that most contest traffic will happen at 
30wpm or thereabouts. The question, and a very legitimate one, is how do 
we get operators from 12wpm to 30wpm while maintaining their interest?

Indeed, 12wpm seems an impossibly high goal for many when they start. 
The Koch method, so very well implemented in G4FON's software, is the 
best way to go. The old 5wpm test was a complete waste of time and in 
fact probably damaging in the long run.

Everyone has to start somewhere, but as a devotee of Koch I personally 
would not like to see any contest activity below 18wpm. That is the 
speed that you should start with Koch. Callsigns are only five, 
sometimes six characters so someone who has used the Koch method should 
be able to copy the callsign after a few CQs, and also figure out the 
sequence of the serial numbers. Sending can be taken care of by the 
contest software. After four hours S+P in AFS, the operator will be 
amazed how much easier it has become!

For our part, we experienced contesters must be prepared to slow down, 
but the callers (regardless of experience) must not call at a speed 
faster than they can copy.

Dave G4BUO


G3SJJ wrote:
>  
> Further to the speed etc debate, I've been pondering this one recently. 
> I enjoy listening to the ex Eastern Bloc contests or some of the States 
> guys operating CQWW from States or other contest sites, or some of the 
> top Eu guys. The common theme is slick, quick operating. Sometimes I am 
> not so happy, as I still think you should observe good practice and 
> recent innovations like speeding up certain parts of an exchange or 
> sending Dit Dit instead of TU Callsign don't sit comfortably with me. I 
> am however someone who enjoys change and challenge. Indeed I encompassed 
> a technique I had observed into my AFS exchanges, and note that no one 
> has grumbled, yet! 591, 5927 etc, instead of 5NNTT1 or T27. It really is 
> gratifying to plan a change and carry it through. Indeed I got a real 
> buzz sending 5NNN to my mate G4IIY. I just knew he would copy OK. 
> Actually I wanted to send ENNN but forgot!
> 
> Anyway, the point of this is, are we the only country that wants to look 
> backwards and encourage slower sending rather than faster sending? I 
> understand Dave G3UEG's frustration and G0VQR's memories but I don't 
> think those are the answers. Just listening to the VU7RG pile-up on 40m 
> now, he is sending around 30wpm. 5A7A were regularly up around 40wpm. 
> What are we saying? DXpeds should slow down!? Most of my general 
> chatting these days is minimum 27 to around 35 or whatever I can take 
> before losing concentration, or fingers lock up on the paddle. That's 
> not meant to be bragging, just an observation.
> 
> My observation is that life has moved on, maybe to the detriment of 
> lesser experienced operators, but generally speeds of 25 to 35 wpm are 
> commonplace, except, it would appear in UK contests. I will, and did 
> slow down a few WPM (whenever Win Test would let me!) to indicate to the 
> other operator that I recognised they might need something not as fast 
> as I had been sending, and to give some deserved encouragement because 
> at least they were trying, but really the message needs to be that this 
> is life as we know it now, and it won't get slower!
> 
> Since this is going out to the UK Contest Reflector, well known for its 
> negativity,  I'll just "Sit back and take the Flack!!"
> 
> Chris G3SJJ