For Little Pistols: Why CQ is Important

During radiosport contests, do YOU
ever call CQ during the event?
If NoT, WHY NoT?
If so, are those CQ's effective?

In a recent BLOG entry I made the point "if everybody is listening and no one is transmitting...", a band will appear to be dead when in fact it could well be WIDE-Open.

Despite the low SFI. I encounter this phenomenon regularly on 10 meters. 

In the early afternoon, tuning the band and not hearing anything, pointing the yagi towards South America and calling CQ, I am not surprised to have a half-dozen SA callers returning the call. 
As quickly as they come, the band again appears dead.  When I run radiosport events, depending
on the circumstances, operating time is divided between S&P'ing (Search & Pounce) and calling CQ.

There is a myth that we have to use high power amplifiers if we are going to call CQ and run a frequency, whereas the truth is something else entirely.  During the November Sweepstakes I have called Q-Power stations (QRP) calling CQ, running a frequency for an hour or more; now THAT
takes courage.

Ending this BLOG, I will suggest situations that are ideal for being the CQ-caller, regardless of the power level you are running.  It is manifestly provable that low power stations actually have several advantages that many high power stations don't.

In Part 7 of the "WHY I Do Radiosport" Blog, I suggested that utilizing SO2V as part of your operating-repertoire can improve the QSOs/hr rate considerably.

Essentially, the SO2V method is simply a combination of Search-and-Pouncing and calling "CQ Contest".

In order to run SO2V you must be comfortable with running a frequency, which implies being comfortable with calling CQ.

• In The World of SO2V Blog I explain how VFO A & B are utilized to maximize the hourly QSO-rate.  Doing this requires you to be comfortable with dual (i.e. stereo) receive.
• In the Learning the Art of Dual-receive Blog, I detail the importance of properly processing the audio in each ear as many sub-RX units have poor selectivity (compared to the main-RX) needing outboard filter assistance in order to be effective for SO2V.
• In the WQ6X SOUND PROCESSING Blog, I explore the above problem more thoroughly.

As you can see, I am advocating the use of SO2V and dual-receive. 
Here are some things we can do with SO2V:

• In single-mode contests (SS, NAQP, DX/160-GiGs, WPX GiGs and RTTY contests)
• A) Search & Pounce w/VFO-A
• B) Call CQ (same band) w/VFO-B
• In mixed-mode contests (FD, IARU HF contest, 10-Meter GiGs & state QSO Parties)
• S&P both modes (Ex: Cw w/VFO-A & Ssb w/VFO-B)
• Call CQ in one mode (Ex: Cw w/VFO-B) and S&P using the other mode
  (Ex: Ssb w/VFO-A)

Now, back to the issue of Calling CQ. 
Regardless of power level, there are times when calling CQ is to your advantage:

• When you activate a county in a state QSO party, or a state park.
  One of my beefs with state QSO parties (other than CQP) is that there is not enough
  in-state activity; put simply, not enough people participate in their own QSO parties.
  Several years ago I won the 7QP QSO party because I spent a considerable amount
  of time calling "CQ 7QP".  Most of those stations who called me should have been
  calling CQ for themselves, not me.
• Being in a "Rare" ARRL section such as DE, NNY, VI, NE or NT.  Spend 2/3's of the
  time calling CQ - stations will FLOOD your passband.  Eventually you will have to S&P
  to find the other rare sections; then again, they may find you first.  Many a contest I have been surprised by a call from stations in VE8, VE9, VY1 & 2, VO1 & 2, SC, and yes, even Nebraska (NE).
• Having a "weird prefix" (Ex: WQ6X or NX6T) is an excellent reason to call CQ in the WPX contests.  Each weird prefix adds to the multiplier count which makes calling CQ an obvious thing to do - contest participants are LooKing for us weirdoes.

Some operators are reluctant to call CQ Contest in Cw GiGs because their code speed is slow;
a couple of weeks listening to W1AW code practice bulletins will remedy that somewhat. 
Then again, when you run a frequency, YOU control the WPM speed you are comfortable with. 

Don't be intimidated by 30 Wpm callers; it's ok to send "QRS" - don't apologize for doing so. 
While I personally like to run at 23 - 24 wpm, if you are more comfortable running at 20 wpm or less, then that is what YOU should do.  Remember when you run a frequency, YOU control the parameters regarding how "business is conducted" on that frequency.

You may be ok with faster Cw speeds but are intimidated by running a frequency in a contest. 
There is "pileup trainer" software freely available on the internet that will allow you to work up
your courage-level.  (LooK for a separate Blog entry about this software soon.)

That's all I got for now on this subject folks.
Bottom line: Calling CQ is the heart & soul of radiosport.
Don't let running low power stop you from running a contest frequency.  As it turns out, in
general, there is less competition in most radiosport GiGs running LOW power, than running high. 
Most of my important contest wins have come from running < 150 watts than from running 1300.

When was the last time YOU called CQ and ran a frequency in a radiosport contest?

How did it turn out?