Contesting is an art. Very difficult to explain in written form or even
video.
You might contact a local contester who will tutor you. Or let you observe
the drill.
Check for contest clubs or DX clubs in ur area -- see URL:
http://ac6v.com/clubs.htm

Here in So Cal we have a contest station who does this and has successfully
trained a dozen or so folks.

Also a great way to jump in is to go to a local club field day -- they are
always willing to help and get you into the field day contesting.

Be aware you don't have to submit logs and "be in the contest" to
participate. Contest stations will welcome ur contact as they are after max
contacts. Also in the waning hours of a contest, many big contest stations
are calling CQ test and no one answers (maybe worked most) so this is a good
time to call em.

For CW it is best to call stations. If you call CQ CQ TEST -- many will come
back at high speed. So until you get your speed up be the "callee" not the
"callor"

If you do call CQ in CW and can't copy -- send QRS (slow down) either they
will or if they are in a hurry -- will just go away (;-)
Really not a good idea as many want quick contacts which are essential to
those who will submit logs.

There are computer pileup trainers -- See URL:
http://ac6v.com/morseprograms.htm#PT

There are some books that cover contesting -- use Google
type in "CW contesting"

Jump in -- fun and completive or both
As they say -- Good Luck In The Contest.

Contest calendar and rules - reports etc -- see URL:
http://home.online.no/~janalme/hammain.html
Several coming up in January

Quote "covering over 200 events! And you don't need a sophisticated
calulator to figure out that this means an average of 4.0 per weekend"

There are no contests on 30M, 17M, and 12M

--
Caveat Lecter



"G. Doughty" wrote in message
news:4oYwd.6127$sf5.854@lakeread05...
Good Morning,
Just looking through the Dec. QST and looking at some of the special
events
and contests. As I have never done a contest, I am lost. I am interested
in the cw side of the lighthouse event but don't know what a "serial
number"
is that they want as part of the QSO. I am also unfamiliar with the
etiquette of contesting. Also, I am only sending and receiving 15wpm so I
can't keep up with half of the OM (and OL) that are sending so I can't
figure out what the etiquette is that way. I really would like to
participate in these events as practice makes perfect, but do not want to
step on anyone's toes.

As always thanks for the suggestions!

G. Doughty
ki4bbl