HELP

HELP - or Ravings of a old contester. !!

Hi --- if this is your first contest, this is the place to start ! Well maybe ??

Idaho Stations, the best thing to do is read the rules, however, this being your first time, your
probably operation from home, so there's lots of rules that don't apply to you.. so lets make this easy.

1. make sure you know the correct start / end time. use GMT

2. you shouldn't be tuning around, pick a frequency and stay put, see section 8 on the rules page..
    you're the DX for this event, they need to find you. Try to avoid interfering with others. Some
    interference is unavoidable, but try to move up or down a little , if someone says your on their
    Net freq, its probably better to just move to a new spot.   if you call CQ 20 times and no answers
    find a new freq, there must be interference somewhere..

3. unless you want a pile up(2), its best to just run 100 watts, even then a pile up might happen.

4. remember, stations trying to QSO with you can't read your mind, its up to you to
    communicate clear concise requests and directions.

5. use phonetics and pro words like OVER

6. call CQ, something like   "CQ CQ CQ this is "your call" for the Idaho QSO party".
    you may generate a PILE UP, don't lose your mind or control of the frequency, if all
    you hear is %&^% K8 $#$#    SAY "the K8 try again".. Then a loud 5 station comes in with several 8's,
    DON"T answer the 5, if you do, within minutes you will have chaos !
    because you set a precedence for stations to not following your directions.. you said 8 not 5.
    Your the boss, say " please the K8 Only ", maybe three K8's come back, if so, try to work them all , one at a
     time, get part of the call and keep narrowing the field down to one .. Say the partial call, narrow it down.
     make sure you copy their call correctly. IF NOT ask them to repeat it until you get it ! Make sure everyone
     on the frequency know exactly who you are talking to.

So now you have their call letters
   Then say "their call" this is "your call sign", and your report
   your report is simple:   RST(1) and your 3 letter county abbreviation(3) "over"
   Know what to expect, HEY, their are going to send an RST and their state, maybe their city and name, county,
   some want to chat. Try not to be rude , tell them your name, thank them and say you need to get going
   since a lot of stations are calling .. (or if you want 'chat')   , the only thing you need to log is RST and their state.
   forget the rest, log it and move on.. if its a DX station like vp2ky put VP2 in the state field ..
   try to know the state abbreviations , if you don't know ASK .. many software packages won't take incorrect abbreviations

Logging Software
since this is your first time, you many only want to work a few stations, then use a pencil and paper.
N1MM contest logger is FREE, but it's complex, just picking the proper contest is complicated the
first time. N3FJP will let you do (I think) 25 contacts to try his product. probably best to just use his
general logger, don't attempt to use any contest modules, for this contest

Remember, your a winner if you try. If your confused you might want an "elmer" or teacher.
Try to find someone at your club that does contests, check out the RESULTS on the home page
for call's of stations that worked this contest last year. look them up on QRZ.com you can get their email,
contact them, most will probably be willing to help you over the learning curve. If you want you can
contact me at jcwilson((at))ida.net
   you need to   register at QRZ to get email's.. Just Do It, while your there update your information, add a picture , etc

Mail or email in your logs, "stand up and be counted"

If you don't have any QSL cards, you should. see the bottom of this page

foot notes:
(1) RST, in most contests 59 is generally given, even if signals are very weak, what you send is up to you .
(2) Pile Up, is where you have many stations calling you at once.
(3) many stations have NO interest in the county, however, you need to send the report, make it clear and quick , just say your county name.
if they ask for a clarification, make sure they get it, they maybe a county hunter. then use Phonetics
like for me in Bannock county, I would say "Bravo Alpha November". you probably don't need to spell the entire county.

OUT OF STATE STATIONS

Ideas:

spot idaho stations, others including yourself can find us on the bands, you won't have to tune
for hours, you need to find the Idaho Stations, DON'T set and call cq, use that big knob on ur radio !! use
clusters like http://www.dxsummit.fi/CustomFilter.aspx... pick your band, when you spot comment that we are in IDAHO.

Software, unless you are "going for the gold" you'll only work a handful of Idaho stations, just use a paper log.
use THIS , be sure to mail in your log, ""stand up and be counted"