Contesting The Low Power 100w Class Perspective

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Contesting The Low Power (100w) Class
Perspective

• By Bob Epstein K8IA
• Presented to the Central Arizona DX Association
• October 2005

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Contesting The Low Power (100w) Class
Perspective

• Why low power?
• Simple to implement.
• Little or no RFI worries, even in congested
  areas.
• Class competition not as heavy as HP.
• Be a giant killer!

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100w Contesting-Simple To Implement

• No amp to worry about, band switching etc.
• Band changes much quicker than with (most) amps.
• If you do SO2R, much easier to get radio to radio
  isolation with simple stubs, filters etc.
• Keeps shack cooler.

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100w Contesting-No RFI worries

• Simply put, if you have RFI at 100watt output
  levels, you really must take a close look at the
  entire situation.
• RFI at 1.5kw levels are way more common.
• Decision to keep the peace?

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100w Contesting- Competition Level

• Low power (100 watt) contesting has a special
  status.
• High power entries are much more common, except
  in some domestic contests. But competition can
  still be fierce with the 100w crowd.
• Requires its own strategies and skills that are
  sometimes more taxing than HP competition.

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Types of Contesters

• Casual contester likes to have fun, work new
  entities, win a CADXA mug!
• Spunky contester competitive but maybe station
  or experience limited. In tune with his op skill
  progress. Likes to win a CADXA mug!
• Committed contester totally immersed in the
  desire to improve his operating skills and
  station to compete with the big boys within his
  operating category. Likes to win a CADXA mug!

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Contesting Benefits

• Having fun
• Improving operating skills
• An easy way to work new countries, states,
  counties etc
• Win a CADXA Mug!!

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Contest Stations

• Big Guns multi-tower setups with stacked,
  switchable yagis on all bands etc. (KC7V is one,
  for example).

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Contest Stations

• BUT
• You dont have to be a Big Gun
• to have Big Fun contesting!

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Contest Stations (contd)

• Normal stations usually one or, occasionally,
  two towers with limited amount of yagis/band.
  (Lots of CADXA members in this category).
• Little Pistols those who are able to compete
  with small antennas, either by choice or
  circumstance.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• THE CHALLENGE.
• You are about 12 db below a 1.5kw entrant with
  the same antennae!
• That means you need special awareness and
  strategies compared to the high power contestant.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• Overcoming some of the 12 db of HP advantage
• Try and get at least one band where you have an
  above average antenna.
• Be a better judge of propagation trends.
• Have a better operating strategy.
• Learn to be a better op.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• Get an above average antenna on some productive
  band
• During low sunspot times this can mean 20m or
  40m. (production bands)
• - Longer boom/higher gain for 20m
• - 40m yagi, even a small one (or 4 sq, phased
  verts etc)

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• Get an above average antenna on some productive
  band
• During med-high sunspot times this can mean 10m
  or 15m and 40m too!
• - Longer boom/higher gain for 10/15m
• - 40m yagi, even a small one (or 4 sq, phased
  verts etc)

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• Picking the best contest for YOU, with 100w
• You can be a successful in domestic contests
  (SS, NAQP etc) with simple tri-banders/wires,
  even at 50 ft.
• During good sunspot times, DX contests can be
  productive and fun with similar setups.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• PROPAGATION.
• Keep close tabs on SFI, K-Index, SSN, Aurora
  Indices and their trends.
• SFIlt80 (SSNlt30) means a tough weekend ahead. Use
  common sense and rx signals to mold your
  operations.
• Kgt4 and or Augt5 can be problematic too.
• Use ARRL propagation charts.
• Watch for dynamic changes.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• OPERATING STRATGIES.
• Know when to SP and when to Run.
• Set realistic goals of Run rates. When you fall
  below these rates move to SP. (I personally do
  50-70 SP in DX Tests, less in domestic).
• At 100w, unless its a med-high sunspot time, you
  are better off SP the first few hrs, but dont
  be afraid to call CQ.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• OPERATING STRATGIES (contd).
• Exploit any antenna/propagation advantages you
  may have.
• Start on the highest freq, open band that can be
  productive.
• Change bands frequently (SO2R?).
• Dont get ego driven in pileups. The idea is to
  make contest points, not call endlessly in a
  no-win mess. ( My 3 call rule).

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• OPERATING STRATGIES (contd).
• If in Assisted Class (using packet), be aware of
  call accuracy. Verify before QSY!
• If in Assisted Class, watch WHO is spotting WHOM.
  (Propagation driven).
• If in Assisted Class, do not bother calling a
  semi-rare station that has just been spotted.
  WAIT.
• Mults mean a lot, esp at end of contest.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• OPERATING STRATGIES (contd).
• Respect propagation reciprocity. (I.e. If a
  known high power, big antenna, big gun DX station
  is S-1do you really think he will hear your 100w
  and low antenna?). Other than a quick call or
  two, dont waste your time. WAIT.

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• CONTEST RESOURCES
• LOGGING PROGRAMS (Windows)
• -N1MM Logger -Free, Well supported, highly
  featured. http//pages.cthome.net/n1mm/
• - Write Log - 75. Full featured. Very stable and
  well supported. http//www.writelog.com/
• - CT for Windows Free. Simplified windows
  version of old dos CT. Limited in features and
  support. www.k1ea.com/

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• CONTEST RESOURCES
• LOGGING PROGRAMS (DOS)
• -CT -Free, Original full featured logging
  program. www.k1ea.com/
• - NA - 60. Full featured. Limited in timely
  support, but works well, http//www.datomonline.co
  m
• - TRLog 75. Very flexible and decent
  support.Probably the best of DOS loggers
  http//www.trlog.com/

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• CONTEST RESOURCES
• TRAINING SOFTWARE
• - The best contest simulator is Morse Runner.
  www.dxatlas.com/MorseRunner/

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• Morse Runner

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100 w (LP) Contesting

• The most important thing about Low Power
  Contesting
• STAY IN THE CHAIR - A small station that has a
  significant number of operating hours will beat a
  bigger station that operates only a few hrs,
  nearly every time.

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