April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Sweepstakes 2013Sweepstakes 2013Maximizing Score from AlabamaMaximizing Score from Alabama

As edited for ACG by Doug Haft KY4FAs edited for ACG by Doug Haft KY4FOriginal by Ty Stewart, K3MM and Jim Nitzberg, WX3B (PVRC)Original by Ty Stewart, K3MM and Jim Nitzberg, WX3B (PVRC)

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

The Tactical PlanThe Tactical Plan

•ACG Club Strategy OutlinedACG Club Strategy Outlined

•Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

•Station StrategiesStation Strategies

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

ACG: Club StrategyACG: Club Strategy• Maximum ParticipationMaximum Participation• Sign up for the ACG Iron BowlSign up for the ACG Iron Bowl• Even a few hours of operation on Even a few hours of operation on

your part can make the difference your part can make the difference in our club score!in our club score!

• Operate both the CW and Phone Operate both the CW and Phone weekends if possibleweekends if possible– Yes CW folks, give phone a try!Yes CW folks, give phone a try!– Yes Phone folks, give CW a try!Yes Phone folks, give CW a try!

ACG: Club StrategyACG: Club Strategy

• If you run (U)nlimited or Multi – If you run (U)nlimited or Multi – SPOT EVERYONE, especially SPOT EVERYONE, especially other ACG members.other ACG members.– Reverse beacon takes care of this Reverse beacon takes care of this

on CW.. Corrections can be made!on CW.. Corrections can be made!

• Make SURE you turn your Make SURE you turn your log in by the deadline.log in by the deadline.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

• Make SURE all your equipment works BEFORE Make SURE all your equipment works BEFORE the contest: Yes, ALL your equipment.the contest: Yes, ALL your equipment.

• Double-check voice keyer, antennas, Double-check voice keyer, antennas, computerscomputers

• DO NOT GET HUNG UP IN PILE UPs. DO NOT GET HUNG UP IN PILE UPs. – SS is about RATE!SS is about RATE!– There are only 83 Mults There are only 83 Mults

• Be Accurate – do NOT bust the Be Accurate – do NOT bust the call sign! call sign! – Don’t be afraid to ask for repeats Don’t be afraid to ask for repeats – Get everything correct.Get everything correct.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

• For full time efforts:For full time efforts:– Get Started at the BEGINNING of the Get Started at the BEGINNING of the

contest – Saturday afternooncontest – Saturday afternoon– Listen to the bands for 30 – 60 minutes Listen to the bands for 30 – 60 minutes

BEFORE the contest starts to get an idea of BEFORE the contest starts to get an idea of the way propagation is running on each the way propagation is running on each band.band.

– Plan to operate until 2:00 – 3:00am Sunday Plan to operate until 2:00 – 3:00am Sunday morning on the first day – don’t give up too morning on the first day – don’t give up too early!early!

– Save your off time(s) for Sunday afternoon Save your off time(s) for Sunday afternoon • Limited time?Limited time?

– Show UP on Sunday for a good time running Show UP on Sunday for a good time running stations.stations.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Individual Operating Individual Operating StrategiesStrategies

• Play to your Station's Strengths. You only get Play to your Station's Strengths. You only get to contact each station once. to contact each station once. – If you have a good 40m antenna – spend lots of time If you have a good 40m antenna – spend lots of time

on 40 meters! Doh!on 40 meters! Doh!• Work the shortest skip band that supports Work the shortest skip band that supports

high rate.high rate.– This is normally the lowest frequency open bandThis is normally the lowest frequency open band– Keeps the QSO potential in densely populated areas.Keeps the QSO potential in densely populated areas.– SS is about rate. You need to stay in a target rich SS is about rate. You need to stay in a target rich

environment.environment.• If you use packetIf you use packet

– Do not waste time in pileupsDo not waste time in pileups– Call later if you can’t get right through.Call later if you can’t get right through.– SS has only 83 mults. Rate, rate, rate.SS has only 83 mults. Rate, rate, rate.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Station StrategiesStation Strategies

• Use Low, Efficient antennas. Use Low, Efficient antennas. – Dipoles and Inverted Vees at 35 – 50 feet make Dipoles and Inverted Vees at 35 – 50 feet make

EXCELLENT SS antennas.EXCELLENT SS antennas.

• 10 & 15 can be good bands however: 10 & 15 can be good bands however: – Don’t sacrifice early rate chasing the west coast Don’t sacrifice early rate chasing the west coast

Saturday afternoon on 10 meters!Saturday afternoon on 10 meters!

• Be comfortable. Be comfortable. – Have snacks, drinks at easy reach. Have snacks, drinks at easy reach. – Keep aspirin handy. (Especially on the phone Keep aspirin handy. (Especially on the phone

weekend!)weekend!)

Go Low EARLYGo Low EARLY

• 80/75m and 40 will provide 80/75m and 40 will provide amazing rate after sundownamazing rate after sundown– 80/75m keeps signals in the 80/75m keeps signals in the

target rich environment.target rich environment.•EAST coastEAST coast

•MidwestMidwest

– 40 will cover40 will cover•West coastWest coast

•PACPAC

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

How Skimmers and the Reverse How Skimmers and the Reverse Beacon Network Change the CW Beacon Network Change the CW

GameGame

• Allows pouncers to do almost as Allows pouncers to do almost as well as runners, even with one well as runners, even with one radio.radio.– Unlimited categoriesUnlimited categories– Multi-opsMulti-ops

• Cure for the Sunday bluesCure for the Sunday blues

• Relatively high quality of spots Relatively high quality of spots compared to packetcompared to packet

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Using Skimmer for Using Skimmer for Sweepstakes CWSweepstakes CW

• Add RBN to your packet nodesAdd RBN to your packet nodes– telnet: telnet.reversebeacon.net telnet: telnet.reversebeacon.net

70007000– Consider adding some filtersConsider adding some filters

•Limit skimmers to USA reports onlyLimit skimmers to USA reports only

- Time out your packet spots for 10 Time out your packet spots for 10 minutes or soonerminutes or sooner

- EVERYBODY gets skimmed when EVERYBODY gets skimmed when they call CQthey call CQ

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April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Station StrategiesStation Strategies

• Consider operating SO2R for Consider operating SO2R for more fun on Sunday!more fun on Sunday!

• 75 meters is important for SSB!75 meters is important for SSB!

• An inverted Vee at 50 feet with An inverted Vee at 50 feet with 500 watts will generate 500 watts will generate hundreds of QSOs on 75m SSB.hundreds of QSOs on 75m SSB.

Sweepstakes History FileSweepstakes History File

• Can help / Can also hurtCan help / Can also hurt

• Does NOT replace listening!Does NOT replace listening!

• Can make your QSOs easierCan make your QSOs easier

• Use as a cross check / double check toolUse as a cross check / double check tool

• N1MM SS History file is available in our N1MM SS History file is available in our website file download area.website file download area.

• TEST IT,TEST IT,– Early! Not immediately before the contest.Early! Not immediately before the contest.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Not Operating?Not Operating?You can STILL HELP!You can STILL HELP!

• How about lending out your station to a How about lending out your station to a guest operator?guest operator?

• Assist other ACGers with antenna and Assist other ACGers with antenna and equipment “parties”equipment “parties”

• Be a dedicated spotter and…get on the Be a dedicated spotter and…get on the air and SPOT EVERYONE. This makes the air and SPOT EVERYONE. This makes the game better for all of us. game better for all of us.

• A surprising number of folks do NOT use A surprising number of folks do NOT use skimmer yet! Spotting matters.skimmer yet! Spotting matters.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Send In Your LogSend In Your Log

• You laugh, but individuals forget to You laugh, but individuals forget to do this!do this!

• Make SURE you mark your log for Make SURE you mark your log for Alabama Contest Group.Alabama Contest Group.

• Send it in by the deadlineSend it in by the deadline

• Save a copy of the ARRL’s robot Save a copy of the ARRL’s robot receiptreceipt

• Make sure your LOG was received Make sure your LOG was received CORRECTLY!CORRECTLY!

Fall, 2013 PropagationFall, 2013 Propagation

• Do NOT waste your time on 10 & 15 – Your Do NOT waste your time on 10 & 15 – Your density of callers is likely to SUFFER!density of callers is likely to SUFFER!

• 20m & 40m to be your daylight money bands20m & 40m to be your daylight money bands

• 40m & 80m to be your evening/late night 40m & 80m to be your evening/late night money bands: money bands:

• Be aware that 80m can go long at times, Be aware that 80m can go long at times, however usually shortens up after midnight.however usually shortens up after midnight.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Operating ScheduleOperating ScheduleFull TimersFull Timers

• Start on 20, move to 40, or just Start on 20, move to 40, or just move right to 80 when the rate move right to 80 when the rate drops (SSB)drops (SSB)

• CW: could start on 10 & 15, but CW: could start on 10 & 15, but don’t expect to stay there longdon’t expect to stay there long

• If the rate drops, take a break at If the rate drops, take a break at about 3:00am, but be ready to about 3:00am, but be ready to resume by 6:00am – 7:00am resume by 6:00am – 7:00am SundaySunday

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Operating Schedule forOperating Schedule forpart time operatorspart time operators

• Sunday is likely to be your most Sunday is likely to be your most interesting day. People will flock to interesting day. People will flock to YOU for QSOsYOU for QSOs– Fresh meat syndromeFresh meat syndrome

• 40m & 75m will be great evening 40m & 75m will be great evening bands.bands.

• Any time you get on is better than NOT Any time you get on is better than NOT getting ongetting on

• Low dipoles and 500+ watts = GOOD Low dipoles and 500+ watts = GOOD SCORES!SCORES!

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

Tips for low power/limited Tips for low power/limited antenna operationsantenna operations

• Late Saturday, all day Sunday is your most Late Saturday, all day Sunday is your most productive times.productive times.

• The “second” hottest band may actually be The “second” hottest band may actually be easier to make QSOseasier to make QSOs

• Make sure your SSB audio is optimized – have Make sure your SSB audio is optimized – have someone else check it out with yousomeone else check it out with you

• Avoid large pileups – move on if you can’t Avoid large pileups – move on if you can’t work someone in several callswork someone in several calls

• Pouncing? Listen and pre-fill the parts of the Pouncing? Listen and pre-fill the parts of the exchange so you copy the entire exchange exchange so you copy the entire exchange before you call…before you call…

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023

2013 Sweepstakes Dates2013 Sweepstakes Dates

• CW: CW: 2100Z, Nov 2100Z, Nov 2 2 to 0 to 0259259Z, Nov Z, Nov 4 4• SSB: SSB: 2100Z, Nov 12100Z, Nov 166 to 0 to 0259259Z, Nov Z, Nov

1616• Operate no more than 24 of the 30 Operate no more than 24 of the 30

hourshours• Off periods may not be less than Off periods may not be less than

30 minutes in length. 30 minutes in length. • Listening time counts as operating Listening time counts as operating

time. time.

Log Submission: FASTERLog Submission: FASTER

• Within 2 weeks after each Within 2 weeks after each contest.contest.

• Your effort ONLY counts if you Your effort ONLY counts if you SUBMIT your log on time.SUBMIT your log on time.

April 21, 2023April 21, 2023