Aaron I forgot to mention that another tip is to become efficient at logging
Several contest specific software makes it seamless and there is a plethora of available software There are also some good tips from the ARRL web site http://www.arrl.org/contest-basics Ariel NY4G Sent from my iPad On Jul 2, 2013, at 8:27 AM, "Ariel Jacala" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote: > From the looks of your call - you are a new ham. QRP contesting is always > going to be challenging because of the at least 13.5 dB disadvantage in > signal strength (everything else being equal). I assume you want to stay > with QRP power at 5 watts. Here are the approaches I recommend. > > (1) make sure you are getting al the signal out from your antenna system - > replace lossy feedlines with low loss feedlines. One can easily find better > feedlines on the internet - compare loss values per 100 ft in dB. I have a > blog post > (http://ny4g.blogspot.com/2013/05/where-does-all-that-rf-go-anyway-by-w7ci.html) > where I regurgitated what W7CI said about RF highlighting the need for low > loss feedlines. > > (2) If you are using wire antenna - select a design which minimizes the work > the internal tuner has to work. > > (3) Pick your battles. QRP contesting is different from busting a DX pileup. > QRP contesting is the domain of CW. You will do best as a contester in this > mode. During contests there are going to be signals all over the band and > Ops are not going to discriminate against you too much if you are in S&P mode > in CW. Do not be too close to a louder station calling the same station as > the stronger station will drown you out. Separate yourself enough - yet > still in his passband so he can hear you. There can be a small pileup if a > station calling CQ is a rare one is in international DX contests. It once > took me an hour to call New Zealand (ZL) during the IARU HF Championship - > but I needed ZL for DXCC QRP - so I hung in there. Good luck in SSB - this > is the domain of amps and gain antenna systems. You can improve your chances > with mic compression plus gain antennas. > > (4) Get a gain antenna. Just because you are limited to 5 watts at the > transmitter does not mean you cannot get gain at your antenna - some examples > - a vertical near salt water along the coast, a hex beam gets you 6 dB (that > is 4X power multiplier), a tribander or other higher gain antenna system may > give you 9dB (8X power) although beams are limited to 20MHz or higher for > something affordable. I built a hex beam from scratch for about $300. > > (4) Don't use /QRP - it takes more time to send, identifies you as QRP, it > takes more time to copy on the other end. Remember, the other station is > also trying to maximize his QSO count. > > (4) Practice, practice, practice, NAQCC and QRP-ARCI have monthly contests. > QRP usually has power multipliers which is a recognition of the power > disadvantage. ARRL Field Day gives you a 2 points per QSO for CW, and > Digital and a power multiplier of 5. > > (5) QRO stations are going to get more points than you. Your objective is to > do as well as you can in the QRP category. > > Patience, patience, patience. Nothing makes you a better radio op than > learning to make the best use of the meager 5-10 watts of power. I have a > friend who has a sign "Life is too short for QRP" but by the same token I can > brag to him that I have DXCC-QRP and WAS-QRP which is a feat much more > rewarding than getting DXCC and WAS the easy way. > > Enjoy the hobby > > Ariel NY4G > > > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jul 2, 2013, at 7:45 AM, "Aaron Melton" <aa...@aaronmelton.com> wrote: > >> [Cross-posting between KX3 Yahoo Group & Elecraft mailing list.] >> >> Hi all, >> >> I'm sure at least a few of you read this email to see if this was a joke... >> :D >> >> I originally purchased a KX3 for portable ops, SOTA, etc. and it's been an >> awesome rig in that regard. However, I'd like to participate in a few DX >> contests from time to time and this is currently my only HF rig. I know >> that operating QRP means I'm getting clobbered more often than not by higher >> power stations, but is like to know if anyone else has any tricks they'd >> like to share? >> >> If you operate QRP (5 watts) during normal contests, what/how do you do? >> >> I have experimented with the mic gain and its currently set to 30 (which >> seems to provide the most power before detrimentally distorting my voice). I >> haven't touched this dial since week one. >> >> I've alternated adjusting the voice compression at times, but haven't had >> much opportunity to get feedback from another station on how well (or not) >> it might improve cutting through the noise. >> >> I've been told that taking some of the lows out of my voice (EQ?) might help >> as well? >> >> Finally, I've started appending "stroke QRP" to the end of my call when >> contacting other stations. It doesn't make it more likely that I'll be >> heard, but if heard I find I usually receive preferential treatment. >> >> Have you any radio settings or techniques that would help a new(er) KX3 >> owner and wannabe contester? >> >> Thanks! >> >> Aaron >> de KK4LOV >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
