Why Contest?
By
Eric Silverthorn NM5M
Background template
provided by W5ZL (SK)
What We’ll Cover
• Why We Contest
• A Few Myths:
– You need a big station to participate
– Big guns only really care about working other big guns.
• Types of Contests (How to pick one that’s best for you)
Why We Do It…
• WAS / DXCC IN A WEEKEND
• CHASING BAND COUNTRIES
• WE ARE TYPE “A” AND LOVE TO COMPETE
• PROVE OUR STATION CAPABILITY
• DISPLAY OUR OPERATING TALENT
• WE ARE JUST IN THE HABIT AND ENJOY
CONTESTING
Do I Have to Have a Big Station to
Operate a Contest?
Why not?
You don’t have to be a Big Gun
to have Big Fun contesting!
Some Antenna Ideas
Multiband Verticals
No matter what size station you’re operating,
it’s a thrill to talk to somebody far away.
Contests let you do that many times in one
weekend!
Little Pistol – N5TIT
30 Ft Telescoping
Fiberglass Pole
80 Meter Trap
HAMSTICK
IN THE ATTIC
Attic Multiband Dipole
HAMSTICK
IN THE ATTIC
Make Do..
Do the best with what you have….
Consider a .25 wavelength antenna for the
band your most interested in and have
space for…
No matter what size station you’re operating,
it’s a thrill to talk to somebody far away.
Contests let you do that many times in one
weekend!
AA5TB
AC5T
30/40m
Vertical
Heavy Metal (on the other end)
No matter what size station you’re operating,
it’s a thrill to talk to somebody far away.
AB5K Contests let you do that many times in one
weekend!
Big Gun DR1A
Big Gun 403A Montenegro
NR5M
Big Gun RD3A (Russia)
Big Gun N5AU - 23 Towers
The Big Guns Want
To Work You!
N6TR Research indicates that 20% of Stations that
are worked in SS CW will not send in a log
Think About It…
KX9X from the ARRL Contest Desk says:
• CW SS 2012 881 Stations that made 10 or more
QSOS and did not send in a log
• SSB SS 2012 2432 Stations made 10 or more
QSOS without sending in a log
• Working these guys can be the difference in
beating your competitor…
The Importance of Working the
Casual Contester
1673 logs were received in SS SSB
50% of those logs had fewer than 200
QSOS!
What’s Req’d to Get Started?
A radio and antennas (Use whatever you have!)
A logging system
• Computer-based logging software
• Many options from freeware to networked
Windows-based
• N1MM (free) www.n1mm.com
• Wintest ($50)
• N3FJP ($39-49) www.n3fjp.com
• (MacOS and Linux versions too)
Big Gun DR1A
Big Gun DR1A
N1MM
Big Gun DR1A
How to do well in a contest
• Work a lot of stations
• Work as many “multipliers” as possible
• Work smart:
Know what band you should be operating on
(Understand Propagation)
Know the limitations of your station
Many different types of contests
• SSB, CW, RTTY
• DX ARRL, CQWW, IARU, WPX, foreign hosted,
etc.
• National Field Day, Sweepstakes, NAQP,
VHF/UHF, State QSO Parties, etc.
• Specialty QRP Contests (and operating events)
A Contest for All Seasons/Tastes
Beginner to Expert
Jan ARRL ARRL
SKN RTTY NAQP
ARRL
VHF ARRL Sprint
DX
CQ WPX
ARRL
Field Day
ARRL
State QSO Parties VHF IARU HF World
ARRL Championships
(Many)
UHF
NAQP
CQ WW DX Sprint
TQP
ARRL
Sweepstakes
ARRL
ARRL
Dec 160
10
Multiple Categories
. . . designed to let you compete on a level playing field
Single operator
• Packet-assisted or unassisted
Power
• QRP, low, high
Single band and/or mode (some contests)
Multi-op, single transmitter
Multi-op, multi-transmitter
Time Commitment
Almost always on weekends
Starting/ending times vary by contest
Durations as short as 4 hours
As long as 48 hours
Maximum allowed operating hours also vary
Good on-line contest calendar:
www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/
Best contests for getting your feet wet
Field Day
Rookie Roundup
North American QSO Parties
State QSO Parties (many!)
(Great if you are trying to get WAS or other awards)
What Can I Win?
Trophies, plaques, certificates
Goodies
Example: WA State QSO Party “Salmon
Run” category winners receive smoked
salmon
QSOs toward non-contest awards (WAS, DXCC
The awe and respect of your fellow competitors
(aka “bragging rights”)
Online Contesting Resources
• DFW Contest Group www.dfwcontest.com
• ARRL www.arrl.org
– “ARRL Rate Sheet” newsletter
– http://www.arrl.org/contest-update-issues
• Contesting.com www.contesting.com
• National Contest Journal www.ncjweb.com
Local Help
ARRL-affiliated “contesting” club:
DFW CONTEST GROUP
Visit: www.dfwcontest.com
