----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Grotophorst" <n9dg@yahoo.com>
To: "Ev Tupis (W2EV)" <w2ev@arrl.net>; <VHFcontesting@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 09:55
Subject: [VHFcontesting] The "Art" of VHF Contesting [Was: Captivating
Rovers]
Actually, there is one category in VHF contesting that is designed to be
competitive for smaller stations. That is the QRP portable category. One
thing to note is that west coast stations seem to have dominated it lately,
unlike most of the other categories that seem to be east coast dominated.
I'm not sure why this is, but it is one area that is wide open for
competition.
The QRP portable also seems to be what people are looking for as the epitome
of contesting. Using your skills with minimal equipment to get the QSO's.
Why is it then that so few hams use this option?
The key to VHF contesting is (especially QRP) location, location, location.
I live in a RF hole surrounded by 5000-7000 ft mountains. I have to go
somewhere else for my contesting, so I chose a category where I could be
reasonably competitive without spending megabucks on the station. I started
out operating AB then ABD then ABCD and right now ABCD9E. I am working on
adding other bands and budget and time allow.
The point is that if you truly become captivated by VHF contesting, you will
start to build and operate a station, becoming more competitive over time.
If you want to be competitive with the incumbents, you will either pick a
category that you can be competitive in, or you will start to build a
station that is competitive.
Anyway, Duane and Ev had a number of good points that I fully second and
have left attached to this message below. What they have written is true no
matter what category you operate in and where you are located.
Erich
KA6AMD DM15bp
----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Grotophorst" <n9dg@yahoo.com>
To: "Ev Tupis (W2EV)" <w2ev@arrl.net>; <VHFcontesting@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 09:55
Subject: [VHFcontesting] The "Art" of VHF Contesting [Was: Captivating
Rovers]
[snip]
> I wouldn't get too hung up on adding power first, if
> you have to choose where to spend money, - put the
> money into antennas and coax before power, but power
> does definitely help. If your location is the pits for
> VHF consider rovering yourself, or operate portable.
> No matter what you do about your station setup you DO
> NOT want to cling to the calling frequencies, if you
> are weak you will not be heard above the din of all
> the other strong locals. And you will not hear
> stations like me who are relatively speaking out in
> the sticks - regardless of my power. DO NOT just park
> on the calling frequencies and just listen, make some
> calls on frequencies that are away from the calling
> frequencies, (or occasionally on the calling frequency
> when it's completely dead but then move off and away
> from it once you stir up some activity).
>
> > o Practice running the bands quickly and efficiently
> > (the Rovers
> > will love YOU more).
>
> The importance of this cannot be over stressed. It is
> also very important to make your presence known, call
> CQ's as much as your equipment and/or voice will
> allow. I've gone into work many a Monday after a VHF
> contest with no voice. The voice keying in Writelog
> has fixed that problem for me :).
>
> It is also prudent to ID profusely, even when doing
> idle chit chat with the locals during a lull in
> activity. More than once I have worked a new Q and
> mult be cause I heard some folks chit chatting and got
> their attention, it would be easier if they were
> ID'ing frequently (that's why I do), as it is I'm
> generally alerted by their non upper Midwest accent. I
> will Jump in there as quickly as I can, make the new
> Q(s) and mult(s), often within seconds, and then that
> micro "opening" will often just as quickly close. This
> phenomenon was especially apparent here in EN53 this
> last January contest.
>
> Since so many will only park and listen on the calling
> frequencies I will on occasion call CQ there myself.
> However as soon as I stir some activity I move up or
> down the band 30, 40, 50 or more KHz and often make a
> small run of Q's. When on the calling freq I will
> state my intentions of what I'm doing along with my
> call so others who might have noticed the activity
> know where to look. I know that I will not be heard on
> the calling frequency when I'm weak because of my
> distance from the population centers. My sig will be
> buried under the cluster of locals on the calling
> frequency at the distant location I'm trying work. Now
> for those in the higher population areas who didn't
> actually hear me it is to your benefit to be looking
> up and down the band as well, specifically for a bunch
> your bigger gun neighbors who did follow me, they can
> be your beacons for finding activity. Once the hubbub
> of the stronger stations who are working me die down
> I'll still stick in there for a little while and still
> be looking for Q's. I will also be calling CQ few more
> times, so you may actually hear me then because your
> strong locals will have already moved on and you'll no
> longer have that interference to contend with anymore.
> If I try to hold the calling freq you will never hear
> me and may likely miss me as a new multiplier and Q
> because of it.
>
> > Before long...they'll know to find YOU. B-i-n-g-o:
> > you've CAPTIVATED them.
>
> Yupp, the name of the game is make them want to look
> for you. If you never call CQ yourself they will never
> learn of you presence on the band or in contests in
> general. This applies to all participants' not just
> rovers.
>
> >
> > This is the best kept secret of the "top 10%" of the
> > score submitters.
>
> They really aren't secrets, they are learned
> strategies, I've just tossed many of mine out there
> for consideration. From what I can tell many of the
> higher scoring stations also use very similar
> techniques, or variations of it
>
> And despite the belief that you must have the
> microwave bands to place in the top 10 nationwide, it
> can be done without them. Look at the detailed SOLP
> results for the June 2002 contest on the ARRL website
> for example.
>
> Duane
> N9DG
> EN53bj
>
>
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