Chopcat

Helicopters and more

Lessons from a Competition

Last night I hindered Uri with the 6m UKAC contest and what a full on two and a half hours.

Conditions were not great with a load of QSB but we managed a respectable showing getting some useful multipliers and I can guaranteed if I had been doing it on my own it would have been less than half. Knowledge counts for a lot in this game.

So what did I learn/

1 You get extra "multipliers" for each Maidenhead Square that you make a QSO with. These multiply your score. Obviously. So the way to boost your score is to get as many "squares" as possible whilst also getting as many contacts as possible. For those pilots amongst us with no sense of direction, a map is helpful here.

2 To reach these distant squares you will be talking to someone with a beam. So to make a contact your beam and his have to be pointing at each other. You may have to return to try to get that needed multiplier more than once.

3 So long CQ calls are required to give them a chance to tune the radio and beam on to you. a typical call would be
"CQ CQ CQ CQ CONTEST / CQ CQ CQ CQ CONTEST / CQ CQ CQ CQ CONTEST / G3WIR/A / CQ CQ CQ CQ CONTEST / G3WIR/A G3WIR/A / CQ CONTEST"
(the slashes don't mean anything but show the sections).

4 Leave only a short pause between CQ calls to maximise your exposure and avoid anyone nicking the frequency.

5 Pick a calling frequency (make sure its clear) and put it into the memory. That way you can return to it after you have tuned around.

6 You will hear people, and some software, talking about Run and Pounce. It could sound more fun than it actually is but it means:

RUN = calling CQ (on the memory frequency ideally)
POUNCE = tuning around and returning others who are CQ-ing or RUNNING

Got it!

7 I really helps to have two people operating as when it gets frantic, especially for a new person like me, you will miss out things from the log.

8 If you have two operators run two logs to cover for mistakes. Ideally one should be computer based so you can quickly check on duplicates (you don't want to call the same person twice in these comps).

9 Learn where the likely stations are that will give you those multipliers.

10 For this competition you needed to share an RST report, a serial number that increments by one each time and your maidenhead locator. A bit like golf, there is etiquette to all this. on non HF competitions where everyone gives you 5+9 , on VHF you give actual reports. So you have to be quick at writing the call down and looking at the meter. The aim is keep the QSO as short as possible to get as many in.
So a typical QSO might go

CQ CQ CQ …..as above
GØLDZ
GØLDZ YOU ARE FIVE AND THREE (rst) / ZERO ZERO FOUR (serial number) / IN EYE OH NINETY ONE TANGO CHARLIE (locator IO91TC)
ROGER / YOU ARE FIVE AND FIVE (rst) / ZERO ONE THREE (serial number) / IN EYE OH EIGHTY TWO FOXTROT MIKE (locator IO82FM)
ALL COPIED 73/S / QRZ

You will note the IO91 bit. to keep this short no need for ITALY OSCAR unless the contact requires it.

Now none of this is necessarily correct, just my observations for you to shoot down in flames! and I am sure that there are many more tips.

So do share them if you dare!


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