A well written article by Scott Tuthill, K7ZO in the March/April 2011 edition of The National Contest Journal. The author looks at participation data as harvested from NK7U located in Oregon, implication of data on operating strategy, and the efficacy of pre-fill information. Tuthill's study illuminates what many of us feel that West Coast RadioSport is a different game unlike competing from the East Coast.
Tuthill compared North American QSO Party SSB participation data in 2004 and 2010. Interestingly, an exceptional 10m opening in 2004 resulted in a 20 percent increase in call signs worked on three or more bands compared to that of 2010 minus an exceptional 10m opening. His 2010 calculation suggested a 10 percent reduction in participation.
Tuthill draws a conclusion from this data that is population density and geography are factors influencing game outcome.
Additionally, Tuthill's nugget finding is the difference between CW and SSB participation, in different events. Overall, SSB activity exceeded that of CW, that is 83 percent of the stations logged in NAQP SSB are one mode only participants. Whereas, in their CW log, fifty two percent are CW only and 48 percent of those call signs also appear in their SSB log.
Overall, Tuthill concluded from his data that a casual participant, is more likely to operate SSB often making one contact, and less likely to operate Morse code. However, a CW operator is more likely to make contact on one or more wavelengths and is more likely to operate in a SSB event. Lastly, pre-fill efficacy at least for me, is inclusive.
Contest on!