If there are no CQs logged, try connecting with someone who's beacon is recent and shows a decent SNR to your station (say, greater than -15)
If you don't have any suitable beacons to use, try PSK RPT and see who is seeing YOUR beacon and try a Ping or Connect with a station with a reasonable SNR.
When I do the above I ALWAYS have someone to connect with.
Try this - what I do:
If there are no CQs logged, try connecting with someone who's beacon is recent and shows a decent SNR to your station (say, greater than -15)
If you don't have any suitable beacons to use, try PSK RPT and see who is seeing YOUR beacon and try a Ping or Connect with a station with a reasonable SNR.
When I do the above I ALWAYS have someone to connect with.
73...de KJ7ROX