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qso rate
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by k2cf on July 8, 2000
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have only 100watts
wire ants . stuck in rut qso rate any way to increase it with modest station tks k2cf
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RE: qso rate
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by n6bza on July 10, 2000
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IMHO, the biggest impact on rate will be an amp. I find it hard to call CQ and consistantly run stations when running 100 watts, even into my 2 element beam (C-3). Running power, I can run rate no problem. So the first thing that I would do is save up and buy a small amp. An SB-200 would be a good place to start, you can pick up a good used one for about $300. If you can afford more like $600, get an SB-220 (which will put out an honest KW).
Others may suggest that you improve your antennas, and that would certainly have a bigger overall effect on your station performance. If your wire antennas are not dipoles hung horizontally and in the clear (at least on 10, 15 and 20 meters), then that is the first thing that you should do.
However, if you really just want better rate in contests, then I think that more power is the best way to go. A jump from 100 watts out to 400 watts out is 6 db (if I am doing my math right) - you will be hard pressed to get 6 db on transmit from antennas (once you have dipoles up) without spending a ton of money. If you can get to 800 watts out, this is another 3 db, for a total of 9 db.
My personal experience is that being able to call CQ and run stations is the route to rate - and that power plays a huge role is making that happen.
Good luck!
***dan, N6BZA
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RE: qso rate
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by N4ZR on July 10, 2000
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I'm not sure we're all talking about the same things. With 100 watts and wires, running (the usual context for discussions of QSO rate) is apt to be frustrating, mostly. I found it far more rewarding,when I was in that situation, to sharpen my search and pounce skills. Learn the small tricks and you can generate a QSO rate >80 without running at all. It also helps to focus on the contests where a smaller signal isn't a huge disadvantage -- SS was a particular favorite of mine for that reason. Finally, if you're not already comfortable with CW, work on it -- the station with lower power and modest antennas can do far far better on CW!
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RE: qso rate
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by k5tr on July 11, 2000
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Your question is very broad and it might be helpful to narrow it down a bit.
There are people who have all wire antennas that place in the top ten in DX contests.
There are people who enter contests running 100 watts - who post scores higher
than folks running 1.5kw.
I recently moved to a new QTH were I am going to build a station - I have not gotten
any towers up yet but I can get on CW in a contest running 100 watts and wires
and have what I consider to be decent rate - even if I had real antennas.
So what should you do to improve your rate?
I can make several suggestions.
1. Practice your operating skills.
Work on running guys, work on your search and pounce skills. I think it takes more skill
to go fast in S&P mode than it does calling CQ.
Improve your CW - asking for fills or listening to the guy send his call 5 times to get it right
will slow you down more than low power and low antennas.
2. Improve your antennas. The diffrence between a dipole and a tridander can be amazing.
3. Increase your power output - more folks will be able to hear you - so your rate should go up.
4. Operate as much as you can - this is really a restatement of #1 but experiance is king.
N5KO wrote an answer to a similar question on CQ-Contest several years ago that is
some of the best advice on how to do well in contesting that anyone could offer.
You can find it here:
http://lists.contesting.com/_cq-contest/199602/0597.html
73,
George - K5TR
[email protected]
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RE: qso rate
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by WA3KPP on August 21, 2000
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I'm pretty much in the same situation as you are. I run barefoot with a vertical on 20 thru 10 and a short, low dipole on 40. I have been able to average about 40 QSO/HR now that conditions are peaking. I should mention that I do use packet.
What I like to do is work everything you can S&P on Friday night and Saturday morning. Stay on the band that has a good rate to Europe. On Saturday morning, I average around 90 to 100 QSOs per hour on 10 & 15. Start at the top of the band and work your way down. Work everything you can. If you fail to work a station on the second call, keep moving. When you finish a pass through the band, go to the top and do it again. When you work your way through the second time, find a spot and call CQ. If your rate falls below 40 while calling CQ, change bands and run through this procedure again. I don't pay too much attention to packet until Saturday afternoon and especially on Sunday.
Packet works out well on Sunday. Use a logging program that supports a bandmap (TR, CT, NA, Writelog) and use it. It makes finding new stations easier and quicker. Spend more time Sunday calling CQ when the band is open to Europe. Remember, if there are no people calling CQ there are no people for others to S&P.
If everything works out, you can work 1200+ QSOs in a weekend and have a score over 1Mil.
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