I reflected on Sweepstakes 75 and my after action report is ready.
After Action Report.
Operating an Level 4 (L4) contest station teaches one the value of strategy, listening, and goal setting. And Sweepstakes is an excellent ground to refine one's contesting skill set. Such skills like copying CW, calling CQ, or searching and pouncing (SP) are continously refined using patience, tenacity, and perseverance. Perhaps no other contest like Sweepstakes pushes the envelope of one's operating expertise?
Cycle 24 produced sunspot number 1007, both the A- and K-index remained stable throughout, and the low bands like 160-, 80-, and 40m demonstrated score profitability. Low band propagation on 40m remained stable and viable throughout Sweepstakes. I took advantage of 40m sunrise and sunset grayline enhancement into Q-markets like California, Washington, and Arizona.
However high bands like 10-, 15-, and 20m especially 20m generally demand a different strategy. That is, until Cycle 24 sunspot production increases and the high bands like 10- and 15m respond accordingly.
Per Band Strategy.
Current sunspot production is not viable enough for calling CQ as a strategy difference maker. And 15m like other bands was SP-only as most Level 1 (L1), Level (L2), or Level 3 (L3) stations would eventually migrate. I basically spun the dial working only 1-Q and that Q-market space was the Pacific on 15m.
Competing on 20m as an L4 low-power, low-profile station using a sub-optimal antenna at sub-optimal height demands a different strategy. Calling CQ into the eastern, mid-western, and southern Q-market spaces is difficult at best. I have a multiplier gap into 1, 2, and 4 lands, respectively. Additionally this maybe a result of geography profile with a 600 foot ridgeline running northeast to southeast of the QTH.
I recognized that L1, 2, 3 stations have better antenna systems and typically operate high power. Therefore spinning the dial in SP mode is my best option.
Forty meters, on the other hand, is a mix between CQ and SP strategies. The difference maker, for me, is the telnet/packet network. An L4 station, once on the network, may see a dramatic rate of return when calling CQ. This return might range from a minute to a few minutes, conversely, one can quickly increase score and/or gain a needed multiplier.
My antenna system performs on 40m and understanding this strength is important. One must chose when to call CQ and what band is best for this technique. As an L4 station, literally, an hour can evaporate without any response. The volume of available Qs on any given band must recycle and hour-to-hour propagation changes increase the probability of better SP returns instead of calling CQ.
Band Mapping.
I'm learning personalized band mapping results in a propagation snapshot that is relative to signal inputs at my station. Developing my own band map was easy. Likewise I did not have information overload congesting the map as well. An L4 antenna system is not normalized like an L1, 2, or three antenna system. The probability of successfully working a spotted multiplier outside a range of five miles is unlikely.
If I'm not hearing the multiplier then I'm not working the multiplier. My personalized band map is 'who' was heard relative to my QTH. Likewise siphoning network spots is a time expense drawn from the contesting budget. Time was saved using this type of band mapping technique as an L4 station.
Split VFO.
What worked for me? Splitting VFO A as CQ VFO and VFO B as SP VFO. I determined using N1MM statistical analysis early in Sweepstakes that SP rate of return exceeded CQ rate of return. I chose high edge on the band when calling CQ. Bandwidth tends to favor L3, 4 stations higher in the bands. Likewise I maintained my personalized band map on the SP VFO and periodically checked my CQ VFO.
Lesson Learned.
Age is a factor and contesting is much like running a marathon. I made a golden mistake Saturday night. Fatigue hit me like a hammer and I hit the rack around nine o'clock. I was up at one o'clock in the morning on 80m. And ran out of gas by noon on Sunday.
Sleep management is really important!
Conclusion.
Each successful RadioSport event adds a little more experience. And Sweepstakes 75 was a great teacher.
- Know your station strength and weakness.
- Focus your strategy on station strengths.
- Understand propagation relative to your location.
- Maximize available propagation information using a personalized band map.
And most importantly? I had a whole lot of ham radio fun.
Contest on.
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