[VHFcontesting] VHF Contest CW

[Rogers, Ron]

The CW mode has always been a key strategy of us contest groups in the
Midwest (W9ICE and the old W8VP group) ....how do you think we could even
begin to be competitive with the big guns on the coasts in the Limited and
Un-limited classes without depending upon CW to give us those extra grid
squares to pump the scores? 

 We feel very good if we achieve a placing in the top ten scores while
sitting out there in the flat corn fields of Indiana. The W9ICE group leans
on CW very hard for all frequencies above 144. In fact, check out the line
scores for the June ARRL contest and look at the W9ICE grid multipliers for
222 and 432. 80% of those grids on each band were achieved using CW. 

CW is the weak signal mode that effectively delivers 100% of your capable RF
output to the antenna at any given instant. When the action is hot we can
use SSB but during those slow periods late Sat. night and all afternoon on
Sunday we turn on the CW "CQ Machines" and our kilowatts on all bands and
just start gyrating the antennas around in 5 degree increments until someone
stumbles upon our "beaconing" and answers. 

CW contacts are so much more efficient, especially during shaky band
conditions. And, you can copy CW signals down in the noise with "coherent
reception" because of the associated rhythm of CW where you can't with SSB
fading in and out. 
Late Sat. nights during 6 meter meteor activity we go exclusively to CW on 6
meters.

But then again, CW seems to be a dieing skill, except for those veteran
contesters that know how to pull those weak signal grids out at the 500+
mile range on the really high frequency bands. 

 
Ron 
-WB8ERB-
W9ICE Contest Group


-----Original Message-----
From: John Geiger [mailto:johngeig at yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 11:00 AM
To: Jamie Dupree; vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHF Contest CW


Hi Jamie,

glad you enjoyed the contest.  CW is a great asset to
VHF/UHF operating, as you have found.  I made several
backscatter contacts on 6 using CW that probably would
not have made it on SSB, and CW also came in handy on
432 where signals were marginal.  Most VHF operators
have had the experience of cross mode contacts-where
you call a station who is using SSB on CW because you
cannot get through on SSB.  I have completed many
contacts that way-getting new grid squares or
multipliers in the process.   Unfortunately, many of
the new rigs do not allow you to receive SSB when you
are in CW mode-that was one problem with the Icom 746
that I had-but Icom has fixed it with the 746PRO.  The
Kenwood TS2000 that I currently have allows this type
of crossmode reception-which is another plus for it.  

I believe that there is one VHF contest that allows
more points for CW contacts-the CQWWVHF I believe, but
am not sure.

73s John NE0P
--- Jamie Dupree <ns3t at arrl.net> wrote:
> Looking back at this past weekend, I just wondered
> if anyone had some thoughts
> on CW as part of the VHF contests.   I don't have a
> huge setup (small 3-element
> beam and a halo for 6 meters) and so I need good
> conditions and the right
> timing to make most of my contacts.
> 
> I "heard" a number of people, but couldn't contact
> them on SSB....(even though
> they were yelling and I was yelling) so I went down
> to the CW portion of the band,
>  in hopes of finding a few Q's.  I did work some
> cross country stuff and some 
> locals around Washington, DC - running a few here
> and there - but I just wonder if 
> CW is getting used as much as it could on 6 meters.
> 
> Would there be any benefit to making CW contacts
> worth more points than
> SSB (as is done in the 10 meter contest)?
> 
> Just some thoughts.  Had a great time spinning the
> dials.  Too bad the
> conditions couldn't have been better.
> 
> Jamie Dupree
> NS3T
> 
> 
> 
> 


=====
John Geiger
Assistant Professor, Cameron University
Ham Call NE0P, active 160-23cm
Kenwood TS2000, Kenwood TH31, Icom T81A
Now on RTTY, PSK, Hellschreiber, JT43, and HSMS with WSJT
SMIRK 5768, 10X 67581, 6 club 497
5BWAS, DXCC, 2 VUCCs on 50 mhz (Iowa, Illinois)

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