Hi, Jim - I do SO2V with my K3 and subRX, with N1MM and RBN spots quite often. My station is not competitive - single wire, KPA500. So, my strategies are to maximize my rate and a big part of that is avoiding calling when louder stations will likely beat me. The rates are pretty amazing - it is more like running but instead of hitting F1 you are clicking on spots.
Here are some ideas: 1. I use VE7CC's AR software to create filters for RBN spots that limit what I see to nearby skimmers. In my case that means only those in MD, PA, VA and WV. That keeps my bandmap full without overloading things with spots I won't likely hear. 2. I created a macro to swap VFOA and VFOB, but you can also use ALT F10. 3. Learn how to use the `, \ and PAUSE keys - look here <http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=SO2V> . 4. Learn how to use the Available Mult/Q window - look here <http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Available+Mults+and+Qs+Window> . Set that window to only show spots appropriate for the Contest Mode. Now, you are ready to go. I usually have 2 modes of operation: A. Left click on the first spot in the Available Mult/Q window. If that spot is ready to be worked, work it. If not, right click on the second spot in that window to fill VFO B - then work whichever one is ready first by using your favorite way in (2) or (3) to switch N1MM focus or swap VFOs. B. Left click on a bandmap spot. If that spot is ready to be worked, work it. If not, right click on some other spot in that window - then work whichever one is ready first. I like to either hop around the bandmap, or start from the highest freq and work down the band because most people seem to go the other way and I want to avoid getting in synch with someone else. (A) can be a killer strategy, it is amazing how often you get there before the CQ has even ended. But the big multis or the top Assisted stations are often using this strategy - so I sometimes switch to the 2nd spot in that window vs. the first. But if you are totally focused on that window you can often beat W3LPL, K3LR, AA3B, etc to the spot. That is almost worth the price of admission right there... On dead bands, or later in the day on Sunday, there is a feeding frenzy on new mults. Then I actually do a lot of old fashioned dial twisting on VFO B while listening to a spot pileup on VFO A - I can usually find a few new calls to work while either throwing my call into some poor "fresh meat" guy's unruly pileup, or just waiting for it to die down. Always stay around to hear the spotted station send his call - the RBN is pretty accurate, but not 100%. Especially on the 2nd day of a contest, there are always busted calls. The RBN will usually crash at least once in the big contests. Either have a backup cluster connection ready in the Packet/Telnet window, or use K1TTT's WinTelnetX software to mix RBN feeds with other cluster feeds. I used to do that, but the RBN reliability has gone way up - I haven't felt the need to do so recently. Hope that helps - 73, John K3TN -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SO2V-tp7567315p7567322.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
