Single Operators Weigh 36 hour limit in WPX CW

By Jamie Dupree NS3T 

"Yes, the WPX is unique, and it is not only because everyone can work everyone." - Alex Avramov, LZ4AX.

As ham operators around the world prep for the 2007 CQ WPX CW which begins this Saturday, they face a different set of rules than those that confront single ops in CQ WW or ARRL DX.

The main difference is the 36 hour time limit for single operators.

"The most difficult strategy decision in WPX is when to take offtimes," said Ken Widelitz, VY2TT/K6LA. That "is not the case in 48 hour contests where I go as long as I can... and then just take a relatively short nap."

Not all off time decisions are created equal of course. "This is an interesting strategy call" says Andrew Faber, AE6Y, better known as P49Y on Aruba.

Faber's game plan "pretty much means taking essentially no time off the first night and staying up as late as possible on the second night."

"I made major mistakes in WPX SSB by giving up on the low bands when the rates were only 60 or per hour," said Faber. "Particularly now with low sunspots, a major strategy has to be to maximize 40/80 QSO's for double points."

Even with different solar conditions, some contest veterans like Howie Hoyt, N4AF, will stick to their tried and true contest plans.

"Basically, I time an international contest to Europe. Typically the switch is pulled (at night) not long after EU sunrise."

Hoyt though admits that plan might not work as well in a few years, when good sunspot conditions return and 20 meters can be open 24 hours between Europe and North America.

"When the cycle goes higher, one has to listen on 20 meters before pulling the switch," Hoyt says. "The better the conditions, the more critical the hours become."

For some in the QRP category, the strategy is even more varied.

"This year for WPX CW, I will most likely take a pretty good chunk of time (off) at the beginning of the contest," said Jeff Embry, K3OQ. The Maryland ham says he does that in order "to let the crowds and pile-ups quiet down" for his five watts of power.

"Others say their decision may be based on bad band conditions, which can certainly force one to use some off time. "If the high bands are lousy during day one" says Ken Claerbout, K4ZW, "I may take a little more time off than I would during better conditions."

One other important consideration - how long should your breaks be?

"I really like to take my time off in four hour bursts" said Nate Moreschi, N4YDU. "This way I can get a little sleep and be energized when I get back on the air."

Moreschi also likes the idea of some daytime downtime. "I find there to be some really slow hours in the mid to late morning in WPX and that really isn't such a bad time to take off."

Of course, there's always the thought that while you are sleeping, your main rival has just stumbled onto a huge opening with high rates and dozen of mults.

"I think everyone gets worried about missing some mults or QSO's when you are off!" says Mindaugus Jukna, LY4L.

"Of course" (that's a worry) says Claerbout, K4ZW. But he says single operators should remember, off time means just that.

"Listening is considered operating time. No fair listening to your competitors during off times to see how they are doing."