Thanks for the excellent additional thoughts, Mike.

My DXCC does quite well on 40 meters, so you are encouraging me to give that
band more of a try than I have in recent years.

Will see how it goes, and either way, I'm sure I'll have fun with whatever
operating I can do.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Mike Duke, K5XU
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A Few More Thoughts About the ARRl Contest

Lloyd has covered it very well.

For anyone who wants to try it on 40 meters, don't under estimate your
dipole or G5RV. I have 39 countries confirmed through LOTW on 40 meters
using only 100 watts to an inverted V at 30 feet in the center. I hope I can
manage enough new ones this weekend to bring my 40 meter total up to 50.

Give 40 a try around your local sunset for some amazing signals from Europe,
and from South America. At my Mississippi QTH, I hear more big signals from
Europe than I do from South America, but there will be plenty of signals
from both places that can be worked easily enough.

I have a bit of trouble hearing Africa, probably due to the low elevation of
my antenna, but I have worked a few from there as well.

Around local sun rise, you will hear Japan, VK, ZL, and, if you are lucky,
other parts of Asia.


There are some real monster antennas out there on 40 meters. Let those 
antennas work for you by bringing your signal to the receiver of the DX 
stations.

I am by no means a heavy hitter on 80 meters. I only have 10 countries 
confirmed there, mostly in the Caribbean.

For casual operating during this particular contest, 20 or 15 meters 
should yield good results, even if you do not have a beam. If 10 meters 
opens, which it has a little bit this week, then so much the better for 
easier operating.

Check 10 meters occasionally just so you won't miss any openings up there.

No matter where you are operating, if you can hear them, call them. 
This is especially true during the last 2 or 3 hours of the contest on 
Sunday afternoon when everybody who has been at it all weekend is 
starving for new contacts from anywhere just to run the head count up a 
little higher.

Have fun.

-- 
Mike Duke, K5XU