[UK-CONTEST] ARRL CW

[Chris G3SJJ]

No flack Colin but I think you have to have a flexible attitude to all 
of this. Each contest has it own character and different times of that 
event can require a different approach.

If the Qs are available then a higher speed will help your rate (Q/H) 
conversely if it isn't happening then filling the band with RF will 
attract the punters, so slowing down and having a nice rhythmical style 
will probably help.

One of the worst examples I can recall was RD3AM last year. I can't 
remember the contest but at one stage he was CQing at 35 - 40wpm with 
speeded up bits of maybe 50+ wpm, (obviously to save time ;-) ) yet 
attracting no business. My guess was that if he had slowed down and 
taken out the silly stuff he would have increased his rate, as you 
rightly suggest.

Its all about selling yourself to your target audience. (The big E!) If 
you get it right you get the Qs!

Chris G3SJJ



Colin Wilson wrote:
> All
>
> Interesting story John what with the BERU up next for us, as an ex 
> professional I recall you should not TX faster than one can RX!  I too have 
> experienced this on many a CW contest and its not clever nor is it good 
> practice.  On the other foot many call in faster than you TX and expect to 
> be read!  None of this will encourage new CW ops to take part in contesting 
> so we need to remember that not everyone can read 35wpm and you are 
> therefore probably missing some points! For me I think a good  CQ rate is 
> between 26-28wpm, most can read this with ease and its fast enough to keep 
> your rates up but every now and then slow it down so others that maybe 
> struggling stand a chance of getting your call and giving you some extra 
> points!
>
> Just a thought, now I will get my hard hat on and standby for the flack!
> 73
>
> Colin G3VCQ/J38CW
> www.sheffield-live.co.uk
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "G3LZQ John" <johndunnington at johndunnington.karoo.co.uk>
> To: "Chris G3SJJ" <g3sjj at btinternet.com>
> Cc: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] ARRL CW
>
>   
>> Chris/Clive although not on full time and
>> pretty much all S&P...I did note many times
>> that many stations CQ'n at a rate of knots
>> 30+ could never get my call first time unless
>> I sent it at around 20wpm. The slick op's did
>> every time even at 35wpm.
>> I did wonder if they were using readers and
>> not brains to read CW. Another observation
>> was weak stations calling CQ rarely had
>> multiple callers but loud and spotted were
>> often a mess particularly from real W7-land.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> John G3LZQ
>>     

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