A Weekend Sprintathon Primer by Joe - K8JP/V31JP

Bill, NT9K, suggested I write an article along the lines of a contest primer, but aimed specifically towards the SKCC WES. This primer applies to the SKCC Straight Key Sprint 2 hour events, also.

There are many reasons to participate in the SKCC Week-End-Sprint-a-thon or the Straight-Key-Sprint. The main and common reason is to have fun. No matter what your skill level or experience is, you can and should have FUN! What do you need? The minimum is a radio to receive and transmit with, a key, an antenna, paper and pencil, and a place to use them.

So, let us get started with doing an SKCC WES.

The RULES! Well, these are the guidelines for our participation and having fun. As Bill points out, it is really more than a sprint because of the length; hence a sprint-a-thon is more appropriate. A marathon would be, normally longer. Oh, you don’t have 24 hours to dedicate to it, No problem, Mon! You can operate all of the specified 24 hours or only enough time to have that one QSO you need for SKCC WAS, your Centurion, Tribune or what ever. Hey, a dedicated contester will take each and every contact he can muster up, so your one contact WILL be gladly received, especially towards the end when things go slow. There is no slot window anymore unless the theme requires one; i.e. work as much of the 24 hours as you can. ALWAYS READ THE RULES BEFORE A CONTEST! There could be a last minute change you need to know about. Good contests make changes promptly after the last contest, but circumstances may require last minute changes. Be prepared.

The quick and dirty of it is, you can work a station once on each non-WARC band during the contest duration using a key that meets the SKCC key criteria. That is, QSO’s must be made using a straight key or a bug (Side swipers are a cross between a bug and a straight key so are also accepted). Any amount of legal power is allowed, though there is a QRP class.

There are two ways to go about this. You can S&P or CQ. Most beginners prefer S&P; that is search (tuning about) and pounce (calling a station.) You tune about, find a station you have not worked on that band calling CQ or finishing another QSO. When that station is done, you call; “NT9K de V31JP K” and you can leave out the “de” and the “K”. Wow! NT9K comes back; “V31JP de NT9K GE OM BILL FL SKCC 1926T BK”. Oh, man! I missed his SKCC number! You send “SKCC NR?” Bill sends “SKCC 1926T 1926T”. You got it. You send “GE BILL HR JOE V3 SKCC 3171T BK” and Bill returns with; “TU QRZ SKCC DE NT9K” and moves on for the next caller and QSO. If the operator is not an SKCC member, they will give you their power. There is a recommended order to send your information, NAME, S/P/C and SKCC# (or power for non-members). Send your information in that same order! The other operator is expecting your information in that order and when you send it in another order, it could confuse them, throw them off the pace and, worse yet, may require you to send a fill!

For logging, here is a simple form I use for paper and pencil logging. The items are in the order of properly sent information. Computer logging programs are set up this way, also, and it is more of a pain to jump about.

For the SKCC WES, the date will be the same for the whole event in UTC. Sometimes, I only insert the time every few minutes when things are going hot and furious. I only enter the band at the start and then for the first QSO after a band change. Another logging hint, when the other operator is going a bit fast, you can, with a pencil, write in his information during previous QSOs. When you work him, you just have to confirm he did not change any of the exchange data. It helps if you feel rushed and you will the first few times. In time, you will probably start wishing they would speed up, stop repeating everything, etc. You will fall into a routine. You will remember names, states, etc. and be writing ahead, especially if you worked that station before on another band.

Remember, the other station wants your information and for you to copy his information. It is required for a valid QSO in the Sprint, so they should be willing to help you. Remember, they want to work you as much or more than you want to work them.

Another hint is; just work as many stations in the Sprint-a-Thon as you can. Do not worry about the S/P/C (State/Province/Country) multipliers at first. As you build experience, you will learn to look for and work the rarer multipliers. Likewise, the bonus points will happen and you will count and add them after the contest. For beginners, I recommend just working as many stations as you can during the contest.

Also, you may work a non-member, so be prepared to copy their power instead of an SKCC number.

The SKCC WES is held on the 4^th Sunday UTC of each month; i.e. Saturday evening to Sunday evening in most of the U.S. The suggested frequencies are posted on the web site. Depending on the level of activity, the spread maybe plus or minus 2 or 3 kHz or they maybe up to 25 kHz. Tune about. Also, in the WES, you can and should use the SKCC Schedule Page. I do recommend not to entirely depend on the sked page. Tune and use your ears.

OK. You’re feeling confident. You have worked all the CQing stations doing S&P. Let’s CQ. It is no different except now the other station will call you. Don’t get flustered. Take your time. There are a lot of other stations that were only doing S&P and now they will start calling you. If you miss a call, part of the exchange, ask for a fill. Send “CALL?”, “NAME?”, “STATE?” AND THEY WILL REPEAT. No need to send “UR STATE?”, etc.

Well, you did it. You participated in your first contest. You made screw ups, you lost contacts in the QRM/QRN/QSB, your wife called you in the middle of a QSO, etc, but you worked a bunch of stations, had fun, got a new state, country, etc. Count your valid contacts, S/P/Cs, Cs, Ts and how often you worked the club call. Use Bill’s formula and figure your score and submit it on the web page for that. With that, you have become a veteran contester! Every one of us has gone through this. In time, it will all be old hat. I remember, after many years of contesting, I operated the ARRL DX Contest from the Turks and Caicos Islands as VP5JP. I was the DX for once. I can tell you, I was scared of what I would get after that first CQ. Oh, did I have callers! I probably had 30 to 40 callers after that first CQ. After a very few minutes, I was into a routine and I often say, “I would not recognize my mother if she called me when I am in that mode.” Yes, they are “Wham, bang, thank you mum QSOs.” But, after the contest, you compare notes and stories with other contesters. I have made many deep and dear friendships that continue over these many years.

I, often, make notes during and right after a contest. Some are for myself; things to work on, improve on, etc. before the next contest. Others are used for the “Soap Box comments.” It is always great fun to read those submitted by fellow contesters. There are worth well hints to be picked up, funny experiences, etc. that make these worth while reading.

I hope this little article is of some help and encourages you to give it a try. I get into some contests to win, while others, I get in just to give some friends a point, a multiplier, pick up a state or country, check out my station or just to say hi to someone. They are all fun experiences.    73, Joe K8JP/V31JP..