[UK-CONTEST] Re 1 CW Sending speed

[Bob Henderson]

I'm puzzled by your "Snob" assertion Andy.  In reading Ken's note I didn't
discern anything of the kind.  I thought he was just highlighting
participation being possible, even for those who have not invested in
learning the code.

I get a thrill out of working no-code licensees on CW.  I believe their
activity vindicates removal of the code requirement.

David, I am glad you are still learning Morse.  I am too.  Your assertion
that ops able to work at 30wpm and up don't want newbies on the bands at
<20wpm is beyond bizarre. Nobody appears out of the blue working at 30wpm+.
We all need to learn and progress.

Expectations in life are most fruitful when they are realistic.

Contests are competitions.  The fundamentals of a contest require that
serious entrants set out to win.  Those who take their contesting seriously
develop strategies and deploy tactics targeted upon this goal.  The nature
of these strategies and associated tactics are variable.  They are honed and
adjusted from contest to contest.  Some do this better than others.  They
tend to be the winners.

A key consideration is the "When to QRS?" question, which I addressed in an
earlier post.

If I am running a productive pile at 36 wpm and within that pile there is
someone calling me at 18 wpm, what should I do?

1.  Continue working at 36 wpm ignoring the guy at 18 wpm until the pile
runs dry?

2.  Continue sending at 36 wpm but answer the guy at 18 wpm cutting my rate
and risking repeat requests?

3.  Reduce my speed to 18 wpm and respond to the caller sending at 18 wpm
cutting my rate in half?

What will be the likely outcome of each of these?

1.  My rate will remain high and I might stay on track to meet my
objective.  After all, why am I participating?   I take on the chin the risk
that the guy sending at 18 wpm goes away with the opinion I'm a newbie
hater.

2.  I opt for working the guy at 18 wpm reducing my rate, destroying the
rhythm of the pile so risking it's dissipation.  The guy at 18 wpm knows I
am a newbie lover but the pile dissipates my rate collapses and my reason
for being here is undermined.

3.  2 above with a greater likelihood of negative effect upon my objectives.

So when should I slow down to work the guys at 18 wpm?    Simples!  When I
can't work faster folks.

No.1 in my list of when to QRS.

When an increase in my communication rate will likely result.

Does it make sense to call CQ at 36 wpm when I am generating piles at that
rate as a consequence?  You bet it does.

Does it make sense to call CQ repeatedly at 36 wpm when nobody responds?  Of
course not.

In any contest my objective is simple.  I want to maximise my accumulation
of points.  Often sending at 30+ wpm in a pile does that but not always.
The key is to maximise my communication rate.  That is NOT the same as
maximising my sending speed.

A lot of words but my message is simple.

If the world doesn't stop in its tracks when you steel yourself to call at
12 or even 18 wpm, it doesn't mean we don't love you.  It just means we're
too busy.

Bob, 5B4AGN

2009/11/26 David Ferrington, M0XDF <M0XDF at alphadene.co.uk>

> I'm with you on this one Andy. I'm still learning my Morse and won't
> be attempting an entry this weekend, but I hope to be listening (other
> things permitting) in order to improve my recognition. However, when I
> do start entering, it's going to be slower than 20 wpm (and if there
> is a QRS corral, I'll be in it). If those who are able to work up at
> 30 wpm don't want us newbies on at < 20, then I'm afraid you're likely
> to find a dead contest in a few years time, because we all have to
> start somewhere and I'd rather send at a speed I know I'm proficient
> at, than bodge it up. Mind you, I probably wouldn't attempt to go back
> to someone at 30 for a while after that either, because it would be
> unfair on the op if I couldn't work them efficiently and I'd end up
> asking for repeats.
> Just my £0.02 worth
> 73 de M0XDF / FISTS #12575
> --
> Accuracy Transcends Speed
>
> On 26 Nov 2009, at 09:11, Andy Swiffin wrote:
> > If I'm running then I'll do it at 18, and again some people will
> > call me at much higher speed, no real problem but they take the
> > chance of getting an AGN?   I'm sure the snobs will be aghast that I
> > dare send sooooo slowly but its what I know I'm comfortable with.
>
>
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