[Moon-net] ARRL Contest 11/12 Nov Eastern VK Windows

[Doug McArthur]

Gentlemen
Here are my windows (East Coast VK) for the Contest.
You will note that we have Moon rise 1510 hours 
after it begins and very little 2nd Eu window.

rise Sat 11th Nov 1510z ... set 0040z
rise Sun 12th Nov 1540z ... still have moon at 
0000z (Contest close) where it has risen to 13° el in DL.

For the new comers a couple of suggestions that may help ..
- check your Sun noise before the Contest. It 
should be very close to that predicted. refer www.sm2cew.com EMECalc.exe.
- YYY means simply 'got my call .. send only 
yours' .. for how long? Well it is best to follow his lead for timing.
- it is best to look for and call other stations 
until you have cleared your own ground noise .. 
you could come up on some one already there!
- replying with QRZ's to a station calling CQ is 
not good etiquette! Nor is calling someone after 
the QSO if its not 'their frequency'. 'Dot 
dragging' is not a flash practice either.
- if you are a 'small station', and after working 
a 'big station' , move to ~025 and call CQ. 'Big 
stations' used to leave this area clear for 'small stations'. (025-030)
   You surely will have been heard and others are 
waiting to work you, but they don't always know just where!
- spread out .. listening to 1 minute of zero 
beat carriers is frustrating .. a single call 
sign when it goes quiet will often 'win'.
   If the other station does not come back 
immediately its a fair bet that he has suffered 
from heavy QRM and is waiting for a single call sign.
   It saves a lot of time, by being patient 
(silent) then coming back with YYY or ??? and 
starting the raucous all over again.
- and of course try to match the speed and 
weighting of the other station where you can. You 
can gather a lot about his Rx conditions by 
following his lead. Faster is better than slower!
- patience in a pile up. He will get to you ASAP. 
Generally its good practice working the weaker 
stations first. No time for niceties here so abruptness is not rudeness.
- look around .. endless CQ's on the same 
frequency can often result in a never the twain will meet scenario!

I will be listening simultaneously on 70 and 23cm.

Best wishes
73 Doug VK3UM