Contests- Fun for some, a pain for others.
There are a lot of fun things for hams to do in this hobby. A lot of people will participate in an organized contest. The usual goal is to contact as many people as you can within the designated time limit. There are many ways to get “extra” points and they differ by contest. The rules for most contests are published on a website and are available in magazines like QST published by the ARRL.
To participate you will need a few things to make your experience a better one. Good equipment, a way to log your contacts and a comfortable operating position. If you plan on going for an extended time make sure you have a bathroom, food and place to rest. A comfortable chair is my favorite thing to have…your rear end will get sore after a few hours of sitting.
If you are lucky enough to cause a pile-up (a lot of stations calling you) then take a deep Breath…log the stations and call them back in order. Once you have finished your list you can go back to a general call requesting the next round of calls. I like 2-3 at a time as it is easier to keep track and log them correctly.
Ok, about now someone is saying “but what contests can I participate in? I am only a Tech!”. My answer: The twice a year VHF QSO Party, A lot of state QSO parties and of course the grand Contest of them all…Field Day. More about that next month.
If you have never listened to a contest operation before it will be a GREAT idea to just listen for 15 minutes then jump into the soup. Get the feel for how to rate signals using your ears and A signal strength meter if you have one. BE HONEST. I have doubted a return signal report a few times because of the power I was using, the antenna system or other things like weather. While I am mentioning weather, if you are operating outside make sure you are prepared!
One final idea that I should have started with…Join a club operation or team up with some experienced hams for your first contest. They can give you a lot of tips but watching them will really help you see what participating in a contest is like. Ask questions before a contest because in the heat of the battle a lot of hams will not want to answer you or will push you aside if they feel like you are faltering. Don’t let nerves get to you, just have fun!
73 WA4NTW