Lloyd:

I didn't mind at all that you responded to my quiry on the list, because, as
you said, I figure others could benefit from your experience.

My only problem with your message was with the = signs that got in the way
of the reading.

However, I was able to pull out the important stuff for sure.

I have now updated the N3FJP logging software to the latest version of the
logger, so I'm all set in that regard.

Will see what I can do this week-end, and, even if I don't do as much
operating as I'd like, I'm sure I'll have fun.

Thanks for the great elmering advice, and good luck in the contest.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Lloyd Rasmussen
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 9:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Question About This Week-end's Contest

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I hope you don=E2=80=99t mind. I think I=E2=80=99m going to send this to =
the whole listserv; someone else might benefit from my advice.
Hi, Tom. First of all, this is the ARRL CW DX contest, not CQWW. This =
means that the US and Canada (with the exception of KL7 and KH6) work = the
rest of the world. So in this contest, QSOs with the W and VE = stations
count for nothing. In a CQWW or WPX contest you work W and VE = stations, so
some of the stations you work are not all that far away.
On 80 and 160 you have an antenna that is not that much poorer than = those
of many others. But because DX is so hard to work and there are = some
stations with serious antennas and 1500 watts, calling CQ on 80 and =
160 would be unlikely to net any QSOs. On 80, and especially on Saturday =
night and into Sunday, call what you can, including some of the weaker =
stations. They are all listening for W and VE, and especially if they = are
on the air at oh-dark-30 their time, they are looking for anybody = they can
work and may have good beverage or other receiving antennas = pointed at
North America. You may pick up a surprising number of = multipliers that
way.
On 40 meters and higher frequencies, most of your competition have = beams.
You won=E2=80=99t be one of the louder signals on the band. But = on 40,
with your antennas and 500 watts you can probably be heard by = lots of
stations, especially on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. You = can get
some more multipliers on 40 early on Sunday morning.
Ten meters will probably only open to Latin America, Africa and the =
Pacific; probably not even Alaska.=20 For the daytime, 15 and 20 are the
places to be, especially to work many = European countries. That=E2=80=99s
where the bulk of your QSOs will = probably be. But since you don=E2=80=99t
have a beam, I would do very =
little CQ-ing and a lot of search and pounce.   If you do decide to call =
cQ, you can avoid some QRM by going higher in the band, but if you go = too
far up, people won=E2=80=99t listen that high in the band. I tend to = call
CQs at a slower speed in the higher parts of a band, figuring that = the
operators are more casual and may not have the greatest receivers. = But I
think that calling CQ won=E2=80=99t be very productive for you.=20 I think
you have worked ARRL CW before, so I don=E2=80=99t want to = discourage you
too much. Have fun, and good luck in the contest. Have a = good time with
your family, as well.
I plan to be on for quite a few hours, excluding Sunday morning, = probably
running the amp and using my beam to maximum effect. When 20, =
15 or possibly 10 is open to Europe I will probably spend considerable =
time calling CQ, but I don=E2=80=99t neglect S&P, either.
73,
Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, MD
http://lras.home.sprynet.com