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CONTESTING 101. GRANT HAYS - WB6OTS LEE ILSE - KD7OED COCHISE AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION. Discussion Points. What Is Contesting? Goals Of Contesting Why Participate In A Contest? CARA Contest Activities. What Is Contesting?. Competitive Rules Individual or Team/Club Strategy
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CONTESTING 101 GRANT HAYS - WB6OTS LEE ILSE - KD7OED COCHISE AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION
Discussion Points • What Is Contesting? • Goals Of Contesting • Why Participate In A Contest? • CARA Contest Activities
What Is Contesting? • Competitive • Rules • Individual or Team/Club • Strategy • Logging
Contesting is Competitive • Contesting Clubs • Individuals • Goals • Simply To Participate • Better Score • Operate Longer • Operate Different Modes • Work 100 Countries • Work All State/Provinces • Be Number 1
Contest Rules • Specific Rules • Dates/Time • Bands • Modes • Scoring • Individual/Team/Club • Single/Multi Operator(s) • Information Exchanged • Logging
Team/Club Contesting • Contest Captain • Assistant Captains • Phone • CW • Digital • Operators For Each Band/Mode
Contest Strategy • Running • Search And Pounce
Contest Logging • Paper • Computer
Contesting 101 There Is No Substitute For Time On The Air!
Contesting 101 This is all very interesting…but why should Iparticipate in a contest?
Why Contesting? • Improves Operator Skills • Individual • Club/Team
Why Contesting? INDIVIDUAL CLUB/TEAM GENERAL RADIO OPERATIONS POOR PROPAGATION CONDITIONS CROWDED FREQUENCIES SEVERAL STATIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY TRAFFIC HANDLING OPERATING UNDER STRESS HANDLE LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION WORK UNDER DIRECTION SAME AS INDIVIDUAL PLUS TEAMWORK
Why Contesting? Traffic Handling Improves: • Focus In Stressful Environment • Listening • Accuracy In Receiving/Transmitting Information • Writing By Hand • Use Of Computer • Increases Speed And Accuracy Of Receiving, Processing, Routing Information
Why Contesting? • Contesting Improves: • Familiarity With Equipment • Skills In Operating Equipment • Contesting Gives You New Ideas On Improving Your Equipment and Station
Contest Support • Logging Programs: • N3FJP Suite, WriteLog, Ham Radio Deluxe, etc. • On-Line (ARRL LOTW, EQSL) • And many others (do a Google search for “Amateur Radio Logging Programs”) • Contesting Simulators • Morse Runner
Why Contesting? It’s FUN! SERVING In Emergency Communications Supporting An Agency
CARA Contest Activities • ARRL International DX Contest (March) • 7th Region QSO Party (May) • ARRL Field Day (July) • Paradise Special Event Station (September) • Arizona QSO Party (October) • ARRL November Sweepstakes (November)
Arizona QSO Party • Takes Place This Coming Weekend! • 10 OCT: 0900-2300 MST • 11 OCT: 0700-1700 MST • 160-2 METERS • CW, DIGITAL, PHONE • AWARDS! • 2009 – YEAR OF THE STATE QSO PARTY!
ARRL November Sweeps • CW Sweeps • 7 NOV 2100Z until 9 NOV 0300Z or: • 7 NOV 1400 MST until 8 NOV 2000 MST • Phone Sweeps: • 21 NOV 2100Z until 23 NOV 0300Z or: • 21 NOV 1400 MST until 22 NOV 2000 MST • CW, DIGITAL, PHONE • AWARDS!
Contesting 101 QUESTIONS?