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Having everything ready at the start of a
contest will improve your score. |
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Familiarization of your contest software. |
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Don’t wait until the last minute to set up s/w. |
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Use your contest software for everyday RTTY. |
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Check & double check your message buffers. |
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Check your hardware. |
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Check your radio’s RTTY transmit & receive. |
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Check all antennas on all bands. |
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Misc. |
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Read the contest rules. Keep copy nearby. |
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Check your PC clock. Be ready to start. |
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A good pre-contest station check-up will yield
more contacts. Less time fixing
things after the contest has already started. |
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Update your software to latest version as early
as possible before the contest & test. |
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Be prepared and ready to go at the start of the
contest. |
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Use the PacketCluster whenever it’s legal. |
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Filter out RTTY spots only. |
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Chase ALL multipliers spotted. |
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Chase non-multipliers spotted, when times are
slow. (Chase everything spotted). |
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If someone spots you, try to stay longer on the
frequency so people can find you. |
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If new to RTTY or RTTY Contesting, educate
yourself by reading as much as possible.
Much to learn off the air. |
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www.rttyinfo.net |
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www.aa5au.com/rtty.html |
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www.rttycontesting.com |
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Add to your RTTY Contesting experience by
entering as many contests as possible. |
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Subscribe to the RTTY Reflector and ask
questions. |
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Get plenty of rest before the contest starts. |
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Take the day off from work before major contests
such as CQWW, WPX, ARRL RU, etc. |
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Set a template for off-times, if required,
before the contest. |
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Schedule rest periods during slow periods of
activity during the contest. |
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Lay your station out for comfort without taking
away functionality. Use a
comfortable chair. |
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Use time-saving techniques. |
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Contesting software with callsign recognition. |
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Radio Control. |
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Shorten transmit buffers. |
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Selective calling in a pileup. |
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Dual decoding of the same RTTY signal. |
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Use a grey line map. |
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Use Dimension 4 or other s/w to set PC clock. |
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www.thinkman.com/dimension4/ |
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Improving station hardware will improve your QSO
count. |
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Use a modern transceiver capable of radio
control. |
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Use 250 hz or 270 hz IF filtering in the
receiver to improve print during peak crowded band condx. |
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Build up a spare equipment inventory in case of
failure. A spare P.S. should be
first on the list. |
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Add hardware enhancements when possible. |
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Use a linear amplifier during contests with no
separate power classes. |
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MMTTY engine is strongly recommended and it’s
free. |
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HAL ST-8000 is excellent but pricey. |
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HAL DXP-38 is a very good TNC. |
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Utilize dual receive on a single radio when
possible utilizing sound card & TNC in parallel to receive audio
signal. |
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Considered the best RTTY contest software
available on the market today. |
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Interfaces with MMTTY & DXTelnet. |
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Offers all necessary bells & whistles
including call recognition and super check partial. |
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Unparalleled Support with reflector and multiple
web sites. |
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Proven Winner. |
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Dayton Booth #307. |
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To improve your chances for more contacts and a
higher score, gain directional antennas are recommended for the high bands. |
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Improvements in the antenna system will results
in improvements in the score. |
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An inexpensive tri-bander will work wonders over
wires & verticals, especially in low sunspot years. |
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Try to have at least one antenna for each band. |
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Improve 40 & 80 meter antennas in low sun
years. |
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The #1 best way to improve QSO count and overall
score for single operators is to use a 2nd radio. |
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In the 1993 ARRL RTTY RU, SO2R increased my
score 41% over my 1992 score. |
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Double your fun. |
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Double your skill. |
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Have the best chance at winning. |
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Notes