Dear Contestants,
This letter is written to help those who have little or no experience in HAM radio contesting.
Due to the scoring system of YOTA Contest, QSOs made with OPs under 26 are worth more points.
How should you put this knowledge into practice?
As a young contestant, feel free to stay on a set frequency and call CQ Contest even if you think that it wouldn't benefit you in other contexts. Remember: those who can hear you answer their own CQ will be able to hear your CQ as well! When you have found the frequency you can call CQ on, post a self-spot on DX-cluster. This is usually implemented into contesting software (e.g in DXLog, use the Ctrl+S shortcut). Calling CQ is also generally an easier task than calling others back, and as long as you are able to receive callsigns, it's good fun.
Of course, calling others back is also crucial. The main difference is that while calling CQ, you will only make QSOs with whoever decides to call you back, when you call others back, it becomes your choice who you will make the QSO with. You can therefore prioritize stations to call back based on how many points the QSO will be worth, as well as multipliers.
Calling back is an effective and accessible tactic for complete beginners, because you only have to say your callsign and report. Assisted youth operators are therefore more likely to be successful calling others back.
Make sure to use up-to-date logging software, and make use of the available technologies! (CAT, DVK, etc.) Dont be shy, feel free to ask others to help you with setting these up! HAM Radio is about communication and community, we learn together and we have fun together!
Contest QSOs are significantly shorter than regular QSOs, so try to keep up with others!
CW contest QSO example:
STN A: CQ HA5YD HA5YD TEST
STN B: HA8RT
STN A: HA8RT 599 13
STN B: 599 26
STN A: TU HA5YD
SSB QSOs are no different, try only saying things relevant to the contest. Saying "hello" doesn't hurt, of course, but the more QSOs you make during the time limit, the higher your score will be, and that's the same for everyone else. Listen and learn: past years' winners are likely to compete again, do it like them!
If non-contestants call you back, tell them about the YOTA Contest, that it's a contest to encourage young operators, and that the exchange is their age. If they make QSO only with you but not with other contestants, it will not count into your score.
We hope we have piqued your interest. There's still time for antenna building and for downloading new software! See you in the next round of YOTA Contest!