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Chris, DL8MBS wrote an excellent article regarding RadioSport operating time, its relationship to power, and band conditions. His graphical analysis of the Russian DX Contest (RDXC) logs in addition to CQ World Wide DX logs suggested one’s power level correlates with hours of operating time.

Analysis.
His analysis of 2007 RDXC data revealed an average operating time of 9.7 hours (n = 984) out of (n = 1006) or 66.9 percent operated no more than 12 hours out of 24 available hours. Additionally, only 6.4 percent of the total, invested 23 or 24 hours in this event.

Furthermore, his 2009 analysis of available operating data, supported his 2007 conclusion that is, 69 percent operated less than 14 hours subsequently; due to band conditions, high power categories invested greater operating time.

The Long Tail.
I was struck by the distribution of operating hours for the CQ World Wide DX franchise. Chris, DL8MBS discovered Morse code operators remain in the chair longer than phone counterparts. His analysis suggested 90.47 percent of phone operators operated less than 24 hours while 80.5 percent operated less than 18 hours.

The average phone operation was 11.3 hours contrasted against 14.5 hours for Morse code operators.

Conclusion.
Perhaps, the competitive RadioSport reality is, as one begins investing financial and material resources toward the Box then operating time is proportional. It goes up. Likewise, one’s power level is an important factor when considering “how much” time to spend in the chair as well.

However, given Cycle 24 trends, low power operators may begin spending additional time in the chair?

My plan this weekend for the 2010 RDXC event will focus on high bands only. In effect, I want to spend about 12 hours in the operating chair, that’s average. The question I’m asking, “Is average good enough?”

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.

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