So I finally got my general license back in the spring and ive been mostly just doing some casual ragchewing on 40m and a little bit of digital stuff but my elmer keeps telling me i need to try a real contest at least once to see what all the fuss is about. He specifically mentioned CQ WW coming up and said it would be a good one to start with because of how many stations are active.

I guess my question is kind of twofold — one is like, where do I even start with the exchange and logging and all that, and two is honestly just whether its worth the effort for a relatively new operator who doesnt have a great antenna situation. Im running a G5RV in my backyard which is fine but nothing special. Also been hearing people talk about SOTA activations being a good low pressure alternative to big contests if youre not ready for the craziness, is that true? I looked it up and it seems like a completely different vibe.

Anyway any advice from people who have done CQ WW or Field Day or any of the big ones would be appreciated. I dont want to feel like a total idiot when i get on the air.

CQ WW is honestly one of the best ones to start with even if your station isnt super competitive because theres just SO much activity you'll be hearing stations from everywhere. The exchange is simple too — you send your signal report and your CQ zone, thats it. Zone 5 if youre in the midwest, zone 4 or 3 if youre further east, etc. Look up the zone map before you start so you're not fumbling around for it during a pileup.

For logging just grab a free copy of N1MM+ before the weekend, theres a learning curve but plenty of tutorials on youtube and it handles the dupe checking and multiplier tracking automatically so you dont have to think about it. Your G5RV will work fine, especially on 40 and 80 where propagation can be pretty forgiving. Dont stress about your score, just work as many stations as you can and enjoy the experience. First contest is always kind of chaotic but thats part of the fun.

SOTA is a totally different animal, more of an outdoor activator thing, you go hike a summit and operate portable. Still great but not really the same energy as a contest weekend. Do CQ WW first and then maybe check out a SOTA activation in the spring when weather is nicer.

yeah i remember my first Field Day feeling completely overwhelmed and that was with a whole club helping me out lol. CQ WW solo is a bit of a jump but honestly dont overthink it. just tune around, hear someone calling CQ contest, wait for a gap and give your callsign, copy their exchange and send yours back. thats really the whole thing.

one thing nobody told me when i started — keep a glass of water nearby, your throat will be wrecked after a few hours of calling if youre doing phone. learned that the hard way.