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Re: [CQ-Contest] Little Pistols running (was something else)

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Little Pistols running (was something else)
From: Scott Ellington <k9ma@sdellington.us>
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 19:11:58 -0600
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
On 3/8/2016 16:01, Art Boyars wrote:
K9MA (one of my W9YT buddies) asks, "But how, exactly, is a little pistol
to procure a run frequency when every open band is packed wall to wall, and
stacked three deep, with big guns calling CQ?"
(Hi Art!)

I didn't make my purpose in asking this very clear. I wanted to explore how we might enable and encourage more mainly S&P operators to call CQ so we can work each other. The crowded band conditions during the ARRL SSB contest last weekend provided so inspiration, as I never found a spot where I might have tried to start a run without being a total jerk. Thankfully, it's not as bad in CW contests, though 20 meters in a couple years will be challenging.

Late in most any contest, there's clearly a lot of unproductive CQ activity going on, so wouldn't a way to make more productive use of that spectrum be desirable? It could keep a lot of casual operators from getting bored and turning off their radios, as I know I often do.

Even with the modest number of QSO's I usually have in my log by the second day, my runs typically peter out after a while, to the point where I'm lucky to be making one QSO every one or two minutes. At that point, I usually go back to S&P. If I can't find a reasonable number of new contacts, I bail for a while. One tactic I'm think of trying is, when it's getting slow and I'm ready to quit trying to run anyway, to offer the frequency to one of my callers. That's as opposed to just abandoning the frequency, which more than likely will quickly be claimed by a big gun. It won't guarantee my last caller can hold the frequency, but at least it gives him/her a chance. Any suggestions on how to get that message across on CW? "UR FREQ"?

73,

Scott  K9MA

Answer:

1. Move to the east coast.
2. Don't bother with 'phone DX tests.

After that, stay on the edges of the fray and don't call any of the big
guns.  Eventually they will call you.

Of course, you might not maximize your score that way, but if you like
running then you might maximize your fun.

73, Art K3KU
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--
Scott Ellington  K9MA
Madison, Wisconsin, USA

k9ma@sdellington.us

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