What Contesting Can Do for You

Yavapai Amateur Radio Club

September 7, 2017

Frank Bender K8FB

What is Contesting All About?

● An amateur radio organization sponsors a

contest for a general purpose o often for DX competition

o some contests have specific purpose - 10/10 contest

● Contests usually take place on weekends for

24 or 48 hours or other specified time period

● A contest is won by accumulating the most

points in the specified operator categories

Anyone Can Do It

● There are contests for all license classes

and experience levels

● There are contests for many varied interests:

VHF/HF/EME/Digital/RTTY/CW/Phone

● You don’t have to be a “big gun” to enjoy it

● You don’t have to submit a conest log

● Still - contesting is not everyone’s cup of tea

What’s In It For You

● Improve your operating skills

● Rack up new DXCC Entities, States, etc. in a

short period of time

● Evaluate what improvements you can make

to your station or your operating skills

● Gain a better understanding of propagation

● You don’t have to be experienced to have

fun

Accumulating Points

● An official contact on specified bands/

modes qualifies you for points

● Multipliers - points for a different DX entity,

State, Province, District, Call Sign Prefix,

etc.

● The Multiplier determines the points for that

contact

● Duplicates contacts on a band not allowed

Exchanges

● Exchanges are the reports exchanged that

complete a valid contest QSOo Generally RS(T) and other info, such as state, zone,

serial number, age, category, etc.

o Examples: “59 Arizona”, “59 03”

o The exchanges that you send and receive are

recorded in your log

Transmitting Exchanges

● Keep the initial call simpleo Your call: “KG7XXX” is all that is required to be sent

� Not necessary to give the calling station’s call

� Not necessary to say “This is KG7XXX”

● Giving your exchange - keep it simpleo “59 Arizona” is all that is required

o If you must, you can say “Roger, 59 Arizona”

● Some contest exchanges are complicated

Logging Contacts

● You can use your existing log to record your contest

QSOs and exchanges

● There are also contest logging programs that simplify

data entry, alert you to duplicates, and compute your

contest points – N1MM is popular free one.

● Additional info regarding contest logging software:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contest_logging_software

● If you wish, you can export and email your log to be

used as a “check log”, in Cabrillo format

Contest Frustrations

● Unlike DXpeditions, contest contacts are simplex (no

split frequency operation)

● When pile-ups occur, the station with the most power,

best antenna, and best propagation usually gets

through first

● To contact the rarer ones, wait until later in the contest

or when propagation is better

● If things are getting to you, shut off the rig and walk

away for a while

Operating Aids

• DX Clusters – DX Spots – e.g., DX Summit

http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/

• Propagation Aids – e.g., VOACAP, DX Summit• http://www.voacap.com/

• http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/

Don’t Like Contests

● HF contests are only allowed on the 160, 80,

40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

● Try a WARC band (30, 17, 12 meters) during

the contest

● Try a non-contest mode

Be Courteous

● Contesting should be a fun experience: no need to get

frustrated or act badly

● Listen to and follow the calling station’s instructions

o Pay attention

o If the station asks for the “W3” or station with “NE in

the call”, wait - don’t respond yet

● A few contests are “member only” - e.g., the British

Commonwealth contest (Generally only calls beginning

with G, M, or V) - US amateurs are not allowed

When You’re Feeling Really Good

● During a contest, you are generally

responding to stations calling “CQ Test” or

“QRZ”

● If you are feeling brave, call “CQ Test” on a

relatively clear frequency and try to hold that

frequency as stations call you.

● Holding a freq. is easier with a better station

● Keep the CQs and exchanges short/concise

Contest Schedules

● Contest Corral in QST magazine has

general information for many upcoming

contests

● ARRL website has a page for contesting that

includes third party contesting sites:

http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar

● Additional contesting Information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contesting

QST Contest Corral Sample

Club Contest Competition

● Clubs with at least three club members

participating can operated in any of nine

ARRL sponsored contests

● Each member’s log will be merged into a

single log submission

● Let Frank K8FB know if you would be

interested in participating.

Club Contest List

1. January VHF Contest

2. RTTY Roundup (January)

3. (February and March) International DX Contest

4. June VHF Contest

5. (August) 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest

6. September VHF Contest

7. November Sweepstakes

8. (December) 160-Meter Contest

9. (December) 10-Meter Contest

Thoughts in Conclusion

● First determine what contests can do for you

to formulate your operating strategy

● Work as much or as little as you want

● Walk away when things get frustrating or you

get tired

● Get involved with a club or group that

participates in contesting

● Have fun