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It's Just a Contest
Don (AE6AT)
on
June 27, 2003
View comments about this article!
..."Alpha Alpha one Kilo Sierra, 5 9 Suffolk County, New York", "QSL, 5 9 Suffolk, 5 9 Washington County, Maine", "Thanks for Washington County, 73, QRZ?";, Alpha Echo six Alpha Tango, "Whiskey Tango nine Uniform", "Whisky Tango nine Uniform, 5 9 Suffolk County, New York", "Copy 5 9 Suffolk, 5 9 Elkhart County, Indiana", "Thanks for Elkhart, 73, QRZ, November two November Bravo for the County Hunters QSO Party", Alpha Echo six Alpha Tango, "Kilo seven Zulu Zulu", "Kilo seven Zulu Zulu, 5 9 Suffolk Cou... ", aaaahhhhrrrrrgggg he's just not getting me! "DOOOOONNNNN !" Huh? What? (I rip off my headset.) "I thought your were painting in the basement?" Oh yeah, I just came up here for a minute and... "We have to get that done this weekend, remember?" "Next weekend Jim and Lydia are coming for a barbecue and I want to show them the new bedroom." OK, OK, OK I'm going already. Sheesh, you'd think a few minutes on the radio was a crime or something. I got three lousey QSOs and I have to quit already. I thought she was outside watering the cactus. Damn.
So goes my Contesting. I start out on the weekend thinking I can work in some time to make a decent score but something always comes up. I think from this prime location in the San Diego Mountains I could be a real competitor if I had a big Yagi on a tower with a rotator and an amp and a better receiver and more experience and... Oh well, maybe next weekend. All you Big Guns look out when I get myself in gear, you'll have to contend with the Greatest Mountain Contester that ever lived.
I love contests, I get all excited and when I get the time to do it, I can sit for hours. The cadence of calls and replies, the variations in band conditions, fading, noise, interference from nearby stations, zero beating, the accents of the callers, the friendly voices, the surprise and excitement of an answer to a CQ call. This all combines to create a landscape, a world in my mind where my surroundings disappear and I am in intense concentration and just having a blast. This is good for my psyche.
Now that I have come out of the closet and declared myself a contest junkie, albeit a casual one, I wonder if there are any government programs for this disability? It is obviously detracting from my domestic tranquility not to mention the bedroom paint. Maybe, like the needles given out to other addicts to keep them from getting sick, I could get a big Yagi from the government to promote my mental well being.
Respectfully from one operator to another,
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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It's Just a Contest
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by K5ZD on June 27, 2003
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It is a dangerous addiction! I can sneak into the radio room for a few QSOs and next thing I know it is 3AM.
I guess I am not much into rag chewing. I really love to make the quick QSO just to know that someone far away could hear me. Then on to the hunt for the next one.
One advice. Get into CW contesting. Then your wife won't hear the yelling and think you really are painting!
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by K4NVJ on June 27, 2003
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I do what I describe as non-competitive contesting. A few hours Friday evening, a few Saturday A.M. and if lucky some time on Sunday afternoon. I cannot run up a big score but it is enough to submit. And I can have some fun, maybe work a new country or two but without straining family relations.
You're right though, contesting is addictive. Once it is in your blood, it's with you for life! 73
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by KB1GMX on June 27, 2003
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RE: "it's an addicton"
I once spied a bumper sticker... "2m FM contester, prey for me" No that is not missspelled! <g>
While I'm anything but a rabid serious contester I do enjoy the VHF contest and often try new modes where possible. If anything else I'm there to be a point for some one.
" sorry om, not 432, wait how 'bout a 446 simplex FM?"
Allison
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N3XL on June 27, 2003
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Although those CW pileups sounded impossible when I first listened to a CW contest, I found it quite easy to participate in CW contesting once I tried it. For my initiation into contesting, I participated in a couple SSB contests, one at the Club shack for training, and one or two at home. I got familiar with contest exchanges, pileups and the general rhythms of contesting.
Then with very limited CW skills, I listened a bit and practiced a bit and decided, oh well, with a secret weapon I was ready to get my feet wet in a CW contest. To back track a little, early in the process of getting started in CW I discovered CWGet decoding software, which does a nice job decoding at speeds well above my capability to copy. This software also gave me a good tool to practice my sending, as well. Since sending is much easier than decoding, the software was a very good fit for my skills. I started my on the air CW experience by answering CQs, a lot of QRS on the distant end, and slow rag chews. (I also practiced my copy skills using Koch method and attempting to dig out some slow weak signals, but this really didn't pertain much to successful contesting.) Well, with my decoding software and a little practice to get my sending speed of a simple contest exchange up to speed, I felt that was basically ready to give a contest QSO a shot. Just like I found when doing SSB, where my ears were doing the work, I had to tune in on a CQ station and let my computer listen for a while to get the call sign down and prepare my log entry (not enter it yet!). With my CW decoding software's O'scope display I could tune right in on sending frequency and, depending on signal strength and the sender's fist, the software would start copying the CQ station's exchanges. With great anxiety I finally sent my call sign and I was amazed how easy it was to bust a pile up and make the exchange. Before long my CW QSO rate was much, much better than my SSB QSO rate had ever been.
A little technical note: For my everyday QSOs I zero beat the O'scope display and my send and the receive signals are both copied. But I found that to get the best results when contesting, I tune on the sender's freq and use a slight offset in my sending freq. In this process I don't get to see what I'm sending. This is just another another reason for some practce at contest speed (25 WPM) to develop confidence in what you're sending.
I'm by no means satisfied with my CW skills, as copying those weak QRP signals is beyond my computers's capability, except under exceptional propagation conditions, but great fun. So, even though I can contest CW, I have a long way to go with my copy skills. Nice fer OM like me needing a challenge.
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It's Just a Contest
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by N9AVY on June 27, 2003
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Sorry Don, there's no 12-step program for contesters. You'll have to deal with the addiction just like the rest of us.
Best way to deal with XYL (other than divorce) is to send her away for the weekends you want to contest. If that fails get her hooked on contesting.
BTW, when you find any government giveaway programs for towers, antennas, or rigs please let me know, BUT don't tell the rest of these guys.
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N4GI on June 27, 2003
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You forgot to mention the weekends before and after each contest that are occupied with antenna work.....so you can contest more.....which creates the need for more antennas.....
It's a vortex.
Blake N4GI
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N6AJR on June 27, 2003
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No problem Mates, I divorced the wife, bought my own home, and retired from work. NOW I can contest... 73 tom N6AJR
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It's Just a Contest
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by W4ROT on June 29, 2003
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Quick 0.02$ from a somewhat newbie. Contesting is a great way to get in there and operate. Its a bit difficult to pop in a start a ragchew unless you are very extroverted or you have a very good network of hams. Listening to the big guns work you through a fast exchange is pretty cool. It sure has helped me with my operating confidence. My liitle thing now is to pick a weak station in the havoc and make the exchange. Anyway, hats off to the contesters..you elmer and you don't even know it!!
Terry...w4rot
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by K3UD on June 30, 2003
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Ask my wife about the "I am just going to give out a few points" statement when I go into the shack during a major contest or a state QSO party.
Worked a bit of Field Day from the shack this year running a DX-70T and a one of those self contained $40 35 AH car booster battery I got from K-Mart. With the power cranked down to 5 watts or less, the battery lasted through over 200 contacts. I told my wife I just wanted to try it out and see if I could make any contacts. Try it out turned into about 8 hours of operation.
It can be addictive!
73
George
K3UD
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N2ERN on July 1, 2003
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If all the contests were suddenly eliminated, I wouldn't know it.
Now, DXing... that's another story...
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It's Just a Contest
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by AE7I on July 1, 2003
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First of all, my favorite thing to do is ragchew on cw. However, I have dabbled with contesting and have an observation from a contester newbie.
Having listened into many contests, I still can't figure out why RST is used since everyone seems to be "599", even if it takes 3 or 4 repeats to copy the other person's callsign out of the background noise.
We all know that not every contact is "599", so why do we even use RST in the exchange in a contest situation? I think that exchanging RST is a waste of time and adds nothing meaningful to the exchange given this traditional practice.
Just a comment from the inexperienced contester.
Craig, AE7I
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N2MG on July 1, 2003
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N2ERN wrote:
<<
If all the contests were suddenly eliminated, I wouldn't know it.
Now, DXing... that's another story
>>
I think you *would* notice - a lot of DXpeditions schedule their trips for contest weekends.
73 Mike N2MG
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by K0RS on July 2, 2003
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N2ERN wrote:
<<
If all the contests were suddenly eliminated, I wouldn't know it.
Now, DXing... that's another story
Not to mention that contests are the perfect time to DX. Especially for QRP or the antenna impaired.
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by K0RS on July 2, 2003
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AE7I asks:
I still can't figure out why RST is used since everyone seems to be "599"
Numerous contests don't use a signal report format. I Didn't hear any signal reports this Field Day. If you want to to try a contest with a challenging exchange, try Sweepstakes. Be ready to copy a serial number, callsign, first year licensed, power level, ARRL section and sexual orientation! ;-) VHF contests are just grid square. Been awhile since I did a Sprint, but if I recall that's name and location. What's more, some guys frequently change their names, or use a middle name, just to throw off competitors who THINK they know who they're working by the callsign. Get it wrong, lose points. Try a Worked All Europe sometime with its QTC's (relaying messages from previous QSO's). That'll keep you on your toes and score you big points if you do it right. If redundant signal reports bore you, just pick your level of difficulty and demonstrate to the world your copying prowess. Of course everyone KNOWS contesters can't really copy at those speeds they send. They just fake it cuz the reports are ALL 599...yeah, right!
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N3XL on July 2, 2003
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Some of these contests that have the signal report in the exchange have a long history. I read the YASME book and I seem to recall that once upon a time the RST report was eliminated from one of these contest's and at that time many DXers complained that the signal report should remain. The fact that it still remains and is now meaningless can be written off to tradition and no meaningful reason to change rules. Once upon a time I suppose the actual sig report was attempted to be given and compared in the scoring, but to make it easier on everyone concerned, over time it evolved and now everyone just uses 59 or 599.
73
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by AD6WL on July 2, 2003
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If we did away with contest my wife would have a celebration and the yard work would get done around the house.
Most contesters give out a 5NN but sometimes a non-contester will give a real RST. In either case I log whatever they give. I often wonder what would happen if I gave out real signal reports and logged what I gave and submitted a log. Would the QSOs not count for those who didn't log the RST properly? Anyway, if you want a challenging contest try the WAE contest with the QTC exchanges.
73 es gl in test
AD6WL QRZ
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by W9WHE on July 3, 2003
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K0RS writes:
"......contests are the perfect time to DX".
I respectfully disagree. With all the QRM and the "might makes right" mentality, contests are a terrible time to DX.
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N4GI on July 3, 2003
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W9WHE sez:<"With all the QRM and the "might makes right" mentality, contests are a terrible time to DX.">
I respectfully disagree too. Contests only sound like QRM to unskilled, inefficient operators.
Anybody can work DXCC in a single contest weekend, with much less Kluster-Klown and LASS-TOO leezard QRM to boot!
Blake N4GI
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by W9WHE on July 3, 2003
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N4GI says:
"Contests only sound like QRM to unskilled, inefficient operators".
Gee whiz Blake..... I forgot. Contesters are the super elete, superior skilled, hyper intelligent, masters of the universe. All non-contesters are just "unskilled" and "inefficent operators". Attitudes like that only ferment anti-contest sentiments.
Some people like to deal with the heavy QRM of thousands of "your 5/9 Delaware". Some don't. Its not a "skills" issue Blake, ....its a "preference" issue.
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N4GI on July 3, 2003
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<<Attitudes like that only ferment anti-contest sentiments.>>
Nope, it's "trolling" posts like your initial one that ferments anti-contest sentiment, sir. Hey, I'm no lawyer, but it makes me wonder why anyone who hates contests so much would even bother reading this thread.
<<All non-contesters are just "unskilled" and "inefficent operators".>>
Your words, not mine, sir. Re-read my post.
Perhaps you are projecting some inadequacy?
Troll, away-
Blake N4GI
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by W9WHE on July 3, 2003
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Blake, Come on! those are YOUR words, not mine. On June 3, 2003 YOU, Blake, wrote the words:
"Contests only sound like QRM to unskilled, inefficient operators".
When people can merely scroll up....and see what YOU wrote...you need to be more accurate!
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by HAMESCHEESE on July 3, 2003
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It's not just a contest, it's an obsession.
"Contesting is the ultimate test for station and operators. While you can be very successful in DX-ing with a simple station complemented with an excellent operator, you can only achieve top-notch results in international contesting with a well-engineered station and with the best operators."
ON4UN
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by N4GI on July 3, 2003
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Well, I refuse to argue the "interpretation" of my post with a lawer. Either you get it or you don't. W9WHE has obviously never worked DXCC in a weekend during a contest, as evident from his original trolling, inciteful, post. A skilled, eficient operator would know that this is indeed quite possible to do (despite the "qrm").
May the best station/operator win, dude. For those that don't think that way, there are always packetclusters and lists.
Blake N4GI
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by K0RS on July 11, 2003
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W9WHEeez sez:
"I respectfully disagree. With all the QRM and the 'might makes right' mentality, contests are a terrible time to DX."
Disagree all you want. The actual experience of hundreds of QRP stations (not mere opinions) say you are wrong. Everything ever written about DX'ing advises DX'ers (and especially QRP'ers) to participate in contests to avail themselves of easy pickings. You have no experience to draw upon to evaluate what is or isn't possible in any contest. You only have an opinion about contesting in general..."Contesting, ugh, bad."
Despite your myopic view, contesting isn't about "might makes right." By far, the most popular class in any contest is the 100 watt category. The fastest growing category in the last few years has been QRP. It's interesting that so many can find success with low power and simple antennas, yet you would have everyone believe that it's impossible to operate without a kilowatt and beams. N4GI is right.
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RE: It's Just a Contest
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by KY1V on January 14, 2005
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Poor Johnny...if he can't be a big GUNN, he doesn't want to play!
What a shame!
David ~ VP5X
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