[WIQPmail] improving performance

[Jim Funk]

There are several items that should "improve performance" in a state QSO party. Some are more relevant than others, depending upon whether you are in-state or out-of-state, fixed, portable, mobile, high/low/QRP.  

Be familiar with all of the rules.  Don't miss the first two hours because you had the wrong weekend in mind.  Been there....

Use all of the pre-posted information at your disposal regarding planned operations.  Create a chart of "who-is-going-to-be-where-and-when" so you don't get down the the last hour and realize you overlooked a mobile in a needed county.  Pay attention to the exact frequencies that mobiles seem to prefer when they change counties and bands.  Many will always land as near to the same frequency as possible when they change counties.

Call CQ A LOT.  If you can do some sort of SO2R, it's a big advantage.  You can call CQ on the 'hot band' and look for mobiles at the same time.  There are a lot of participants who will NEVER call CQ, and you will miss them if you don't.  

As for scoring, know how the multipliers work.  If mults are per band and per mode, be sure you operate both CW and phone.  Don't be bashful about asking stations to move to the other mode or to another band if things are slow.  They can say "No" but at least you asked.  Be band/mode agile with your station.

When CQing: on cw, be efficient.  Vary your speed. Don't scare off potential callers by always running at 25 wpm, but don't slog along at 8 wpm if you have a pileup.  Some will simply keep tuning past you.  On phone, you are "selling yourself".  Be quick when it's called for, but be friendly and inviting at times so that the casual participants will want to call you. If things are slow, it doesn't even hurt to be a little bit "silly".

If there are any conditions for DX contacts, tune the high bands and make a few quick CQ's.  There are some EU stations who will find you, and it's very frustrating to them if NOBODY ever goes above 40 meters!

Send in your log.....

73, Jim N9JF

Best regards, 

Jim Funk
Customer Service Engineer

FOSS

800/547-6275 
option 1 for parts, option 3 for service
jfunk at fossna.com

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