1. Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT SMC Fest 2013 Copyright © 2013 Gary C. Sutcliffe
Radio Contesting Moving To The Next Level: Ideas for Improving Your Score
Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT
SMC Fest 2013
Copyright © 2013 Gary C. Sutcliffe
Copyright (c) Gary C. Sutcliffe
This presentation was originally presented in It was updated in 2010 and 2012, This presentation may be used or adapted for non-commercial use.

2. How Do I Do better in Contests?
Topics to be covered today
Contest selection
Antenna improvements
Shack improvements
Planning and goal setting
Operating tips
Topics covered in this presentation
W9XT

3. Pick Contests You Like The Most
Domestic or DX
Domestic: Sweepstakes, Field Day, State QSO Parties
DX: ARRL, CQ World Wide, Worked All Europe
Both: ARRL 160 & 10M, IARU, WPX
Phone, CW or RTTY
Many contests have separate mode events
Short, Medium or Long
Short: Sprints, NA QSO Party, some state QSO Parties
Medium: Sweepstakes, IARU, FD
Long: DX contests, WPX
Something for just about every radio interest, and have not even mentioned VHF, QRP and other popular contests.
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4. Match Your Antennas & Contest
Pick contests that match your antennas
Or optimize your antennas for your favorite contest(s)
Consider becoming a single band expert
Easier & less expensive to put up an excellent antenna system on one band than competitive antennas on many
Deep knowledge of the band will be a competitive advantage
Play where you have an advantage
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5. What Bands Play Best for You?
Depends on:
Antennas available
Local terrain
Who you want to contact
Both antenna gain and take off angle are important
Take off angle may be more important than gain
Take off angle is probably the least understood or appreciated characteristic of antennas
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6. 80M Example – Dipole @ 60’ EZNEC Plot W9XT
Max Gain at about 60 degrees
EZNEC plot of a dipole at 60’
Max gain about 60 degrees, not very good for signals at low angles.
Down about 15 dB at 5 degrees
Down about 5°
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7. 80M Example - Vertical EZNEC Plot Max gain ~25° Down ~5dB @ 5° W9XT
EZNEC plot of an 80M vertical
Max gain about 25 degrees. Not very good for high angles.
Down about 5 dB at 5 degrees
Down 5°
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8. Propagation Modes To Europe
SUMMARY 5 MODES FREQ = MHZ UT = (VOACAP)
Most REL
Mode: F F E F E F2
TIME DEL
ANGLE
VIR. HITE
ABSORB
FS. LOSS
SNR
PROB
VOACAP Prediction for Oct 30, from SE WI
Mode: 3.F2 – 3 F2 hops – most reliable mode
Note low take off angles (in red) – most reliable mode has take off angle of just over 5 degrees
What antenna would be best for this path? Dipole or vertical?
Calculated for Oct. 30, 2009
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9. Propagation Modes to Ohio
SUMMARY 8 MODES FREQ = MHZ UT = (VOACAP)
Most REL
Mode E E F E E F F E F2
TIME DEL
ANGLE
VIR. HITE
ABSORB
FS. LOSS
SNR
PROB
VOACAP prediction for Oct 30, 2009 from SE Wisconsin
Note the high take off angles (in red)
Which antenna is best for this path?
Dipoles and verticals don’t have significant gain differences, but put power in different take off angles
Calculated for Oct. 30, 2009
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10. 10M Yagi Example EZNEC Plot W9XT
Another example where angle might be more important than gain.
Note deep null at 20 degrees.
A great antenna won’t help much if the signal is coming in at the wrong angle.
Stack beams – they have different lobes – fill in the gaps
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11. Best Antenna Its not just about gain
Matching take off angle to signal can have huge effect
Angle of arriving signal from a given transmitter will vary
Time of day
Season
Sunspot number
You rotate your beam towards the other station – think of take off angle of aiming in the third dimension
An opening to some region might use different modes over the course of a day
Sometimes two or more modes can happen at the same time
A high gain antenna with a null at the incoming angle may perform less well than a low gain antennas matched for that angle.
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12. Optimize Antennas to the Contest
Design antennas to perform to target population areas
Have multiple antennas per band
Cover different conditions
Cover different directions
Cover different distances
Maximize flexibility
In general
Low take off angle antennas best for DX contests
High take off angle antennas best for domestic contests
Population centers are where you make most contacts
DX contests: Europe & Japan (US/VE for DX stations)
Domestic contests: East and west coasts, mid-west and SE US.
Multiple antennas gives you flexibility to cover different conditions and directions
Domestic: East and west coasts
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13. W9XT Antennas Low Band RX: 350’ Bevs to Europe & JA, K9AY Array
160M: Dipole at 60’, putting up Inverted L (fall 2013)
80M: Dipole at 45’ + Vertical (shunt fed tower)
40M: Dipole at 40’ + 2 El Yagi at 60’
: + 65’ + 35’ (fixed on Europe)
Tribanders can be fed 1, 2 or all 3 in any combination
W9XT philosophy: Have multiple antennas on each band if possible. This gives you a better chance of covering the take off angles & different directions
W9XT: Two towers, 50’ & 60’ – Better than average, but not a big gun
Other than 160M, at least 2 antennas per band with different characteristics
Power splitting on Yagis helps cover multiple directions
example: CQ to Europe and Africa at same time
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14. W9XT Field Day Setup – 40 CW Dipole at 30’ with reflector at 7’
High take off angle for stations within ~600 miles
Sloper Dipole
Slopes toward SE during day, move to SW at night
Lower take off angle and a bit of gain
Uses phasing network
CQ on both antennas
Select best antenna when weak ones call
Lose 3 dB with 2 ants, but more than make up on TO angle
Typically make about M CW QSOs each year.
Switch between antenna to help pull out weak signals
One antenna might have more gain toward caller
One antenna might null QRM
Used this set up for many years
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15. W9XT Field Day Setup – 40 CW 2012 & 2013
Dipole at 30’
High take off angle for stations within ~600 miles
NVIS 7’
Very high take off angle for stations within 250 miles
Inverted L
Low take off angle for west coast
Elevated, tuned radials for easy set up
Phasing: Dipole and either NVIS or Inverted L
In recent years I have wanted to do better to west coast and switched to a vertical. The NVIS dipole is good for close in stations outside of ground wave.
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16. FD at Ozaukee Radio Club – W9LO
Military mast used for all supports
Left:
Dipole support in back
Vertical shorter pole
Right:
NVIS
40M CW Station
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17. Coax Phasing Network Simple to build
Coax Switch
3 Coax Tees
2 X ¼ wavelength 70 ohm
1 X ¼ wavelength 50 ohm
Transmitter always sees 50 ohms with 1 or both antennas
Single band only
Normally used to stack mono-band Yagis. L1, L2 must be same length
Can be used with different antenna types, L1, L2 any length
More details at
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18. Phasing Network
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19. Inexpensive Antenna Improvements: The more the better!
Low Band RX: K9AY, Beverage, Beverage on ground
Vertical or Inverted L: low take off angle on low bands
Low Dipole or NVIS: High angle take off
Sloper Dipole: Gain in desired direction, angle
Power splitters
Beam multiple directions
Instant direction switching
Pull out weak stations with best antenna
See 30M Vertical on for construction – easy to modify for 40M.
Don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good.
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20. Optimize Shack for Efficiency
Place most used equipment in easiest reach
Keyboard, radio, mouse, CW paddles in best positions
Rotor, Antenna switch next best positions
Amplifier, PC can be further away
Always wear headphones
Hear weaker signals
Cut background noise – noise will increase fatigue
Use microphone headset with foot switch for phone
Mic does not take table space
Mic always in proper place
Does not tie up a hand
Minimize movement to equipment that is adjusted or operated the most
Keep monitor so you can see it and radio with minimum head movement
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21. Additional Efficiency Tips
Put SWR bridge/watt meter in direct view
Immediately see problem or wrong antenna selected
Amp mistuned, off line, wrong band
Computer
Monitor & Keyboard at proper height
Automate
Keep log program and radio in sync
Automatic selection of antennas
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22. Optimize Shack for Comfort
Good lighting
Good ventilation
Comfortable chair (switch between 2)
Table at correct height
You are going to spend a lot of time there – be comfortable
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23. Cheap Secret Weapon for Comfort
Simple foot rest
Takes pressure off legs
Keeps feet off cold floor
Keeps foot switch in place
A simple foot rest is well worth the small cost to build one
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24. Planning For the Next Contest
Keep notes on every contest, review before the next
What went well
What went poorly
Propagation conditions
Best & worst times
Station changes since last contest
Special or unusual openings & contacts
Things to do differently next time
Write up thoughts right after contest and review before the next one
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25. Make a What-If Spread Sheet
Use to set goals
See effects of
Getting a few hours sleep at slow times
Chasing low band mults at sunrise
Putting emphasis on certain bands
Different operating strategies
2007 ARRL DX CW Goals
Band QSOs DX
Total
Score 817,860
A spread sheet lets you see how different strategies will affect the score
Use previous results plus current conditions to estimate QSOs and multipliers
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26. Other Planning Aids Make a Band Plan QSO & multiplier totals by hour
Listing of bands to be on each hour of the contest
Good general guide, but adapt to opportunities
QSO & multiplier totals by hour
Goal for hour + cumulative totals
Base on previous efforts
Good motivator and indicator of falling behind
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27. 3 Most Important Things While Operating
Rate
Always keep the rate up.
A couple of extra QSOs/hr adds up to almost 100 in a 48 hour DX contest
Always watch the rate meter!
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28. Keeping the rate: CQ a lot
CQ whenever possible
An average CQ rate is usually better than a good S&P rate
More than half of stations in contest never CQ
CQing seems slower than S&P – watch rate meter
Smaller stations
Try CQs higher in band
CQ 2nd day in DX contests, Sunday afternoon in Sweepstakes
Don’t waste time in frequency fights
Most contesters don’t CQ enough
There are times in any contest where anyone can CQ effectively
CQing seems slow – less mental involvement than S&Ping
The rate meter on the logging program is one of the most important things to watch
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29. Watch the rate meter! When rate is below what it should be:
Stop CQing and start S&P (Search and Pounce)
Stop S&Ping and start CQ
Change bands
Take a break if contest has mandatory off times
The rate meter is one of the most important things to watch on your logging program
When the rate drops, do something different
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30. Know the Value of Multipliers
Many logging programs give value of a mult
Relative to number of QSOs
Relative to number of minutes (based on current rate)
Don’t waste time in big pile ups for rare mults
Consider coming back later
Don’t leave a good CQ run to chase packet spots
You have to decide if you are a DXer or a contester.
Most of the time 3-4 regular contacts are worth as much as a new multiplier. If you can make more than 3-4 QSOs in the time it will take to crack the pile up, you are hurting your score.
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31. You won’t make the PGA Tour after your first 18 holes, and you won’t be a world class contester by just doing FD
Every sport requires practice
Learn to copy and log quickly without errors
Learn propagation
Get a feel for when things are going well or not
Know when to switch bands, when to CQ, etc.
Learn to copy through QRM & QRN
Learn how to crack pile ups
Learn how to manage a high rate CQ run
A lot of decisions are made based on feel. You will only get that with operating experience.
Too many starting contesters are not willing to put in the effort to make the top
W9XT: I have been contesting over 40 years, and learn something new just about every contest.
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32. Summary Select contests that match your interests and station
Antenna take off angle may be more important than gain
Multiple antennas (even inexpensive) = great flexibility
Optimize station for efficiency and comfort
Plan an operating strategy
Keep the rate up, CQ whenever you can
Be smart about chasing multipliers
All the contesting tips in the world won’t help without practice
W9XT

33. This program will be put on www.w9xt.com
Resources
NCJ - Contest Magazine published by ARRL
Contesting.com – Contesting web site
CQ-Contest - mailing list dedicated to contesting
Society of Midwest Contesters – regional contest club
– Contesting accessories
This program will be put on
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