CW contests are a bit of a strange affair really. I am normally found, plodding away at about 17 wpm on my paddle but as soon as you mention "Contest" we all become speed freaks. Unfortunately, I am just not very accurate sending or receiving above 20 wpm so some practice is prescribed.
The RSGB UKCC Contests on 80 meters are quite a relaxed affair really, and even has a designated frequency of 3.555 MHz for slower operators to have a go. Sadly a couple of DL's decided to have a very high power QSO on that frequency for a good part of the June Contest but as the band was not that crowded, it didn't detract very much from everyone's enjoyment. I usually concentrate my efforts towards the top of the band segment as things get more frantic the lower in frequency that you go. In fact the bottom 30 Hz tend to be rather manic.
In April I managed 38 contacts and in June's Contest manged to improve slightly making 43 contacts. Still a long way to go but I do not take it very competitively. For me it is about gaining experience and self improvement.
As mentioned, Contest operation is usually at much higher speeds than normal rag chewing and you really need to get your ears tuned in for a specific exchange. As all HF CW contest signal reports are 599 all you really need is the 3 digit number that follows the RST and the Call sign of course. This part of the exchange is typically sent at between 25 and 30 wpm, much too fast for most of us mortal operators, but it is amazing how fast you can read that limited exchange when you know what to listen for and practice for it.
Fortunately numbers are longer than any other Morse Code character so that helps. Unfortunately, many experienced ops tend to use abbreviated forms for the Zero and number 9. Whilst I don't mind the leading zeros being shortened to a "T" in the exchange (TT1), nor do I mind the 599 being sent as 5NN, but when they appear in any other place it disturbs my rhythm and makes me stop and think - a practice fatal in decoding CW.
Search and Pounce (S&P) mode is the easiest mode to use as you have plenty of time to catch the call sign of the station that you want to work. Even if they are sending at 25 wpm you can normally get it correct if you listen to it a few times. Once you have his call sign in your logging programme all you have to do is send your own call sign once and then listen to hear if he is calling you back or someone else. Assuming the other station heard you correctly all you need to do is enter the default 599 for the RST and then listen for the next 3 numbers - your serial number. Even if you miss it and are too embarrassed to admit it you can listen for the number given to the next few contacts that station makes and work backwards to the number that you were given. Not too bad really. Then you just send 5NN and your 3 figure serial number to him. Simple really isn't it?
Whilst S&P is the easiest way to make contacts, you really need to call CQ to make the points. Then accurate copying of the other stations call sign is vital and it is not always easy when the band is crowded and you have QRM to contend with. You can practice call sign recognition though with contest emulator programmes like Morse Runner. Calling CQ and establishing a run frequency is much more stressful so start with S&P mode if you want.
Contest operating on the HF bands is not everybody's cup of tea but it is a great way to improve your own operating technique, gain confidence using CW and also to learn how to utilize some of the many controls on a modern rig, especially in the filtering department.
To begin don't take things too seriously and just enjoy it. Get out of it whatever it is that you want and leave winning to the big boys. They are great for call sign recognition which is one of the most important skills that you can develop for using the HF bands outside of those dreaded contests.
If you feel like giving CW contests a go but are not confident enough, then contact me at the Club (SDARS members) and we can organize some practice sessions on the computer and/or on the key.
73 es gud dx de Jim G0HGH
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