A wise ham once said "RATE is KING" • There is no wasted time while Cqing, increasing RATE - but I'm struggling with the decision of when to abandon a run frequency and go S&P during contests. Last weekend in ARRL DX CW, I held 14.025 for 3 hours with declining rate from 120/hr down to 40/hr. Planning to work the bands that are open, follow the band openings. If two band are open work the one that closes first, then move to the other.

At what point do you guys switch from running to S&P? Is there a mathematical threshold (QSOs/hour) that makes it worth giving up frequency? I'm using WriteLog with packet spots, so I can see multiplier activity, but the rate vs. multiplier balance is confusing me.

Also wondering about band-change strategy - Research the propagation predictions for the contest operating time. There are plenty of websites and tools available to assist you. Use one during the contest to monitor the propagation patterns. How frequently should I check other bands during a good run?

General rule: if your run rate drops below 60/hour and you're seeing new multipliers spotted, it's time to S&P for 15-20 minutes. The goal of Amateur Radio contesting is to contact as many stations as possible during the contest period. Points per hour matter more than holding frequency - don't get emotionally attached to "your" frequency.

Knowing the bands, knowing how the propagation predictions may affect their properties and knowing when to operate and where paths are likely to be open and at what times gives stations a real edge over many others. Set up automatic band-checking every 10 minutes during slow periods. Quick CQ on 15m while running 20m can reveal unexpected openings. Don't abandon a decent run without checking!

As a newer contester, focus on consistency over rate optimization initially. Starting with smaller, less competitive contests and gradually moving to more challenging events is a good strategy. Work one band thoroughly before changing, and don't get discouraged by rate fluctuations - contest conditions change constantly throughout the weekend.