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face="Arial" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"Speak clearly without rushing or
mumbling "</span></font></font></font><br>
I keep speaking clearly into my cw key but it does not help at all.<br>
Art K5FNQ<br>
<br>
On 7/21/2011 11:04 PM, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:K1DW@aol.com">K1DW@aol.com</a> wrote:
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<div>A great write up which every contester should read... also
that is part of the The ARRL Contest Update that Ward Silver
puts out once a month.... it is available for the asking by
ARRL members... If not a member of the ARRL and a contester,
his monthly Update is work the price of membership...
fortunately I am a lifer.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>have fun and good luck in the contest of life... 73 BCNU
de Dallas... k1DW</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
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<div>In a message dated 7/20/2011 4:48:10 P.M. Central
Daylight Time, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:w5wz@w5wz.com">w5wz@w5wz.com</a> writes:</div>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT:
5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:
transparent" color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CONVERSATION<a
moz-do-not-send="true" name="Conversation"></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">How To Have A (Contest)
Conversation <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">After the last issue was
emailed to readers, I received a most reasonable
request. "This issue shows how NOT to make a Field
Day QSO. How SHOULD I make a Field Day QSO?" Here
is a good example of how experienced operators
(i.e. - your editor) can forget that criticism
without instruction is not helpful. One has to
demonstrate the right technique so as to
illustrate why the wrong technique is, in fact,
wrong! So here goes... <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<table style="MARGIN: 3pt 7.5pt; WIDTH: 187.5pt"
class="MsoNormalTable" align="right" border="0"
cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="250">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in;
PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in">
<p style="mso-element: frame" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><img
src="cid:part1.04000306.04010106@lusfiber.net"
datasize="15570" id="MA1.1311307450"
border="1" height="188" width="250"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-element:
frame" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New
Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE:
12pt">Here's somebody having fun learning
the right way to make Field Day QSOs!
That's Scotty Wright, son of KØMD at the
controls of WØSAA (Photo by KØMD)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">First, a disclaimer. There
is no One Perfect Method for efficient, effective
contest operating. The "right" technique depends
on band conditions, how many are (or aren't)
calling, the intensity of the competition, and the
skill of the operators on each end. What follows
are guidelines and I am assuming that the contest
is a phone contest. The reader should be able to
apply the same principles to CW and digital
contest operation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">To make a lot of QSOs in a
fixed period - the goal of nearly every contest -
you need to minimize the time you spend making
each QSO. The first step in minimizing the
duration of a QSO is to remove all unnecessary
verbiage. In a perfect world, the only thing you
should hear going back and forth during a contest
is call signs and exchange information. It should
sound like this: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">1 - CQ Field Day KOØA <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">2 - [pileup] <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">3 - W1ABC 2 Alpha <st1:state
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:state>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">4 - 1 Alpha Eastern <st1:state
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">5 - Thanks KOØA <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Not a wasted bit of
transmitting exists in that exchange. Lines 1 and
5 are "bookends" in which KOØA identifies and
solicits QSOs. (This style of operation is
sufficient for W1ABC, as well.) This is the
standard to which you should aspire on either end
of the QSO. In Line 3, KOØA has pulled out a full
call sign from the pileup, sent it to notify
everyone who the QSO is with, given the
information in the expected order and stopped
transmitting. KOØA does not say, "Please copy..."
or "You are..." or repeat any information or say,
"Over" or "Go ahead" or any number of other things
that take up time but don't add anything to the
flow of the contact. In Line 4, W1ABC responds
when called, gives the contest information, and
stops transmitting. That's it - no extra "stuff"
to slow things down. In Line 5, KOØA acknowledges
that the information was complete and the call
sign ends the transmission. No "QRZed" or "CQ
Field Day" or "from" is required. If no stations
call, then a longer CQ transmission starts the
cycle again. (A nit to pick...when a station says
"You are" and then describes their own
configuration, shouldn't that really be "I am"?) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">When should you deviate
from this ideal? There are lots of reasons to do
so. In Line 3, KOØA should not give out any
exchange information until sure of enough of the
caller's call sign that only one station is likely
to respond. For example, if KOØA doesn't get the
last letter of W1ABC's call..."W1AB-something 2
Alpha Missouri, what's the last letter?" W1ABC
should respond with something like, "W1 Alpha
Bravo Charlie, last letter is Charlie, 1
Alpha...etc" Why does W1ABC repeat the full call?
To confirm that the missing letter is the last one
and that the call is not W1CAB or just W1AB.
Similarly, if KOØA has W1ABC's call wrong, W1ABC
might simply respond with, "W1ABC". At that point,
KOØA can resume with Line 3 shown above. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">What about repeating your
information? If not requested to do so, don't! 9
times out of 10, even a QRP station will be
perfectly readable in Line 4 above. The other
callers are standing by (hopefully) so KOØA is
probably going to get the information on the first
transmission - don't waste time with unrequested
repeats! If a repeat is requested, repeat only the
information requested. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Should W1ABC give KOØA's
call sign in Line 4? Whenever there is any
question about the intended receiving station give
the call sign. It is very common under crowded
contest conditions for two stations to be
extremely close together or even on the same
frequency if they are in each other's skip zones
or have antenna nulls aimed at each other. When
this happens, don't depend on timing - give the
other station's call sign before sending your own
information. If you don't, you take a chance that
the "wrong" station will log you. The extra
information often saves losing a contact (and the
multiplier and the possible penalty). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">What if W1ABC misses some
of KOØA's information? Then W1ABC should request a
repeat ("What is your section?") BEFORE proceeding
with "1 Alpha Eastern <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state>."
W1ABC should not transmit any exchange information
until all of KOØA's information has been received.
If W1ABC waits until after sending the category
and section to ask for a repeat, KOØA will likely
assume W1ABC received the information OK and will
proceed with Line 5 too soon. This gets everything
out of sync for everybody, including any callers
waiting to contact KOØA. Yes, W1ABC could wait
until KOØA's next contact to copy the information
but I can tell you from personal experience - it
doesn't always work out that way! Get the
information you need during the contact and don't
assume you can get it on subsequent contacts -
that's a big waste of time for you. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Obviously, there are many
more variations on the basic theme. By practicing,
you'll learn the basic principles of snappy, crisp
operating. To learn more about effective,
efficient operating, listen to the top operators
on the air while they are "running" and try to
emulate them. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1
lfo1" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Learn to
pull a full call sign out of a pileup whenever
you can <o:p></o:p></span></font> </li>
<li style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1
lfo1" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Give your <i><span
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">full </span></i>call
whenever calling in a pileup <o:p></o:p></span></font>
</li>
<li style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1
lfo1" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Transmit
exchange information the same way every time <o:p></o:p></span></font>
</li>
<li style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1
lfo1" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Eliminate
wasted syllables and words <o:p></o:p></span></font>
</li>
<li style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1
lfo1" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Speak
clearly without rushing or mumbling <o:p></o:p></span></font>
</li>
<li style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1
lfo1" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Speech
audio should be non-distorted and free of
background noise<o:p></o:p></span></font> </li>
</ul>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The top operators are
flexible, too. When conditions require it, they
will "change gears" to a faster or slower
technique in order to maintain the flow of
information and keep the contacts coming. Just
like a long-distance runner who only lifts each
foot enough to clear the ground, the top operators
only transmit enough information to keep making
contacts. You might not think the difference
between "Thanks" and "Thank you" is worth much,
but if in a 48-hour contest the goal is upwards of
5000 contacts, saying the extra "you" 5000 times
is significant. This may be "cutting the tags off
the teabags" as the backpackers say but work on
eliminating non-essential transmissions and see if
your log doesn't fill up a little quicker! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Should this be the style
of operating for casual, non-contest contacts? Of
course not! But it would be completely appropriate
for a net control station trying to run an emcomm
net with many calling to check in, pass traffic,
report status, etc. When trying to handle that
load "extra stuff" can really gum up the works.
The habits and skills formed under contest
conditions help make you an effective operator
when the chips are <i><span style="FONT-STYLE:
italic">really</span></i> down - in a disaster
or emergency situation when every minute counts. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"><font
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">73, Ward NØAX<a
moz-do-not-send="true" name="toc07"></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"
size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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