Contesting Protocol Question

If you're unsure the best thing to do is listen. Usually after a few minutes you'll figure out what the people you're listening to are working. Some contests are DX only, some are domestic only, some are a mixture and others are a mixture but only a little.

If you are a paper chaser (awards like WAS, DXCC, etc) there is no better way to get them than to participate in contests! Even if you're not a paper chaser contests can be fun. I know a few guys who moan, whine and cry when a contest comes around but they are the same ones to whine and cry about the lack of propagation and no DX to work until I tell them I worked africa on 10m from san francisco during the contest so I don't know what they are crying about there being no propagation, hi.

Even if you have to stop one contester to ask what the exchange for the contest is I say that is OK, although it would be better to just google it so you don't slow them down. If you do ask, listen for a bit until they aren't in the middle of a run and working lots of stations and ask what the exchange is and that should be fine. Contests DEPEND on the non-regular contesters for QSO's.