IT Ain't Over Until....

In many competitive endeavors there is a saying something on the order of "it ain't over until the paperwork is finished".  The WQ6X Contest BLOG while purposefully made publically available,
is nothing more than glorified contest activity-related musings in "Diary" format.

In contemporary radiosport activities we [somehow] find out about a radiosport event, put in long
operating hours (influenced by a numerous number of disparate variables), make pictures/videos
of relevant happenings in the event, file the score on 3830Scores .Com and finally submit a log file (with a detailed SOAPBOX, of course) to the contest sponsor.  Several months to a year later we [somehow] discover the contest results and either:  Gloat,  Yawn,  Or  CRY.

Notice how JUMBLED the above description is. 
Let's make it a little more understandable.

To begin with, how do we find out about the different contest events each weekend? 
While there are dozens of ways to find contest activity, my top-3 favorites include:

1. The WA7BNM Contest Calendar
2. CQ Magazine's Contest Calendar
3. QST Magazine's Contest Corral

Once you have found a contest that interests you, go to the website relating to that contest and
READ THE RULES OF THE CONTEST!!!  When you come right down to it, this is arguably the
most important step required BEFORE the contest starts (not afterwards when you try to decipher why things went wrong).

Having read the rules first we often need to decide which operating mode to use: Single-OP,
Assisted or Unassisted, Multi-OP, multi-Mode (as in Field Day, the 10-Meter contest and the
State QSO Parties), High Power, Low Power or QRP; etc.

Next (in advance of the contest) set up a log entry in the contest logging software to be used during the event.  At W7AYT's QTH, WQ6X uses N1MM+ and WINTEST to run every contest imaginable (and some you have probably not even heard of).  Software like N1MM+ offers weekly updates
which should be installed/tested by Thursday of the upcoming contest weekend.

a T y p I c a l  W Q 6 X  B a n d  P l a n

If it is to be a lengthy contest, you should decide in advance what the operating hours will be and on what bands.  Some years ago I wrote of an operating band/hour plan for CQP activities, which turns out to work well for most other radiosport events.  ([CLICK HERE] for a close-up example of that.

While a contest progresses, I keep a scribble pad next to the operating position allowing me to note things of interest along with the time & radio frequency of each occurrence.  Many of those notes are eventually written up in an after-contest blog entry for this WQ6X Contest BLOG system.  In some cases, I have devoted entire web sections on the WQ6X.Info website for specific contest events:

• [X] - November Sweepstakes
• [X] - California QSO Party (CQP)
• [X] - CQ WPX (Weird Prefix) Contest
• [X] - Japanese International DX (JIDX) Contest

Writing up  soapbox entry (on 3830Scores.Com and in the log you submit) is a way to reflect on the recent contest period, analyzing what went well and what didn't. The Role of Respect in Radiosport BLOG series came from those after-contest reflections.  Consider this: The end of each contest event can actually be the beginning of preparation for next year's incarnation of the event.

Filing a contest log (no matter how few QSOs are made) with the contest host is an important aspect of radiosport activity, providing many benefits.  Receiving a log from as many participants as possible is a BiG help to those people working on determining the outcome results of that event.

A surprise benefit  is that - once in awhile - our seemingly-trivial score can turnout to be greater than any other valid log submitted in that category.

Over the last 10 years, WQ6X has received numerous "1st-place for the 6th call area" certificates in a dozen state QSO parties.

As you can see, a mere 2 QSOs qualified
for a 3rd place in the HIQP.  The truth is,
I worked the same station twice; once on
20 meters and then once on 40.

For the 2016 7QP event, overall, I was just screwing around testing various equipment configurations @ W7AYT's QTH.  When the little package appeared at my P.O. Box,
I was more shocked than anyone to see
that it was a 1st-place plaque.  I'm sure that plaque woke up the competition as I've yet
to reprise a 7QP win from W7AYT (altho I HAVE made serious runs since then).

There is one FINAL step to engaging in a radiosport event - checking-in on the results many months later.  Most major contest organizations are now allowing us to print our own contest certificates, saving them the cost and us the wait-time to find out how it all turned out.  There's nothing like a
1st-place certificate (seemingly out of nowhere) to brighten my day, week, or even a whole month.

Do YOU play in radiosport events?
Do YOU submit logs and write up your results.
If not, WHY Knot?