Bob:
You raise a question that I've thought a lot about. My experience of
contesting with a good 100 watt rig and a decent antenna is quite
similar to yours. Using a strict "search and pounce" strategy and
being very economical about the number of steps that I take for
logging (I do not use a computerized log) I can maintain a pretty
consistent QSO rate of about 30 per hour, but try as I might I cannot
do much better. In a 24 hour contest that works out to 720 QSOs,
respectable but not seriously competitive in high/medium power class.
Obviously, the big boys are doing something different if they can
consistently make 60-100 CW contacts per hour. Please be aware that
I'm not knocking them or their strategy, I'm merely looking at what
they do differently. The substantive difference between their
strategy and yours and mine is that they create a pileup around
themselves. The way they do that involves several specifics: 1) They
use a computerized log integrated with the rig and keyer so that as
much data as possible (e.g., time and frequency) are copied directly
from the hardware, and the operate/log procedure has been perfected
to work with the minimum number of keystrokes and no duplication of
entries. 2) They use the maximum legal power for their class of
competition. For example, using 100 Watts in a class that permits 200
watts is only a 3 dB disadvantage, and is just perceptibly weaker for
any given QSO. However, across 1000 attempted QSOs, the extra punch
of 3 dB will produce more consistent results. 3) They do not use
respectable antennas; they use spectacularly big and expensive antennas.
The point is that they put out a dominant signal, call CQ, and work
off the pileup. They have the steps of making and logging the QSO
worked out so that they can get into a rhythm that enables them to
work stations just as fast as they hear them. They also have one
indispensable skill: Given several simultaneous callers, they are
consistently able to identify at least one callsign out of the
cacophony of stations trying to call them.
Obviously the indispensable key to the strategy is the big antenna
that produces the big signal. That is out of reach for most of us,
and is the reason why you see a cluster of a few big leaders followed
by a very distant pack.
Nevertheless, there is a way for us ordinary guys to get a place at
the winners table. Go QRP. In my experience, even with a dipole
antenna, I can usually sustain a rate a bit above 20 QSOs per hour
with QRP, as opposed to 30 per hour with 100 Watts. Sometimes that is
enough to win. For example, I won the plaque for US high score in the
1983 ARRL CW DX contest in the QRP class. Even if I don't win, I'll
often end up in the top 3 in my class of competition. The reason why
the strategy works is that we're competing for relative standing only
against other QRPers, and with the very rare exception, QRPers do not
put up "big gun" antennas. Think of it as Christians vs. tabby cats.
73,
Steve Kercel
AA4AK
At 11:47 AM 11/4/2007, Bob Fish wrote:
Hi Guys,
I, like probably alot of you, have been doing some casual contesting
this weekend. Once again, I am amazed at how bad of a contester I
am. It isn't my rig or antenna. I have a K2/100 and a decent
antenna. When I call someone they almost always respond after the
first call. My cw skills are pretty good I can exchange contest info
at around 30wpm if I have to, although I run between 22 and 25wpm
most of the time. I try not to get distracted, another words I try
to stay in front of the radio. So I feel as if I should be, at
least, competitive. But, it happens every time. I sit down, eagerly
awaiting the start of the contest, ready to do battle, and get
slaughtered. Within an hour or so I am hopelessly behind. After 4 or
5 hours it is a joke. after 8 or 10 hours every station I work has
600 contacts! Some of these guys are averaging a contact a minute
OVER 8 HOURS! I'm not mad, I am just amazed. My best contact rate
was about 30 an hour and that was only for a couple of hours.I
usually run a contact every 3 or 4 minutes. So after a while I get
discouraged and start getting up and watching football for a few
minutes or something else and then I really fall behind. I don't
mind not winning, but I am getting clobbered by every one I work by
a factor of 7 or 8. I have to wonder, am I really that bad? The
funny thing is, by the time the next contest rolls around. I am
sitting in front of the radio, eagerly ready to do battle.......The
lions and Christians come to mind except the Christian weren't
willing participants.
73,
Bob K6GGO
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