Survey Comments
WPX
I was licensed in Janurary, and have since got my exrta. The WPX was my first major contest, other than a few contacts for a few small contests. I only put in about six hours, but it was a great way to start working on DXCC and WAS. I am running a TS-520, and a G5RV as an inverted-vee. The contest was also one of the first times I've use my HF equipment, and see how well everything got out. I also worked every continent other than Australia. I was a lot of fun, and I'm sure I'll be on many more contest! 73
-Tom, KB1JIJ
Posted by
KB1JIJ on 2003-04-24
WPX
This has been one of my favorite contests due to the number of participants and the "work all stations" format, good for Middle of the U.S. station. Participation seemed down some or perhaps it was just propagation. I don't keep track of WPX formally but this does bring out the unique ones.
Posted by
AE9B on 2003-04-17
No choice applies
Usually I jump into WPX to work friends, and to pick up a few new "band-countries." This year a temporary lack of antennas (recent move) and a need to work on my income tax return kept me off the air.
So my selection is "If I could have, I would have."
Posted by
K3YD on 2003-04-17
WPX Contest
I had a great time! Unfortunately, I lost some operating time due to an RFI call from a neighbor. I negotiated a silent period, and that satisfied him. After the silent period, I got back on, and while working, noticed (!) that the RF ground was disconnected from my rig. Fixed that, and then I was off and running. A few days later, just to verify the fix, I had a good friend go to the neighbor's house to observe while I tested (3 bands, fix on and fix off), to verify that (1) The problem was fixed and (2) that it really WAS the problem.
Thanks to my open-minded neighbor and my helpful friend. Next CQWW WPX I will have some more operating time, I hope. I love contesting, even though an independent observer (my XYL) might comment that it is boring to make 10-second contacts with no personal interaction. One thing that gives me pleasure is to work a DX contester who says "Hi Tom good to hear you again".
Posted by
AB5XZ on 2003-04-16
WPX Contest
I had a great time! Unfortunately, I lost some operating time due to an RFI call from a neighbor. I negotiated a silent period, and that satisfied him. After the silent period, I got back on, and while working, noticed (!) that the RF ground was disconnected from my rig. Fixed that, and then I was off and running. A few days later, just to verify the fix, I had a good friend go to the neighbor's house to observe while I tested (3 bands, fix on and fix off), to verify that (1) The problem was fixed and (2) that it really WAS the problem.
Thanks to my open-minded neighbor and my helpful friend. Next CQWW WPX I will have some more operating time, I hope. I love contesting, even though an independent observer (my XYL) might comment that it is boring to make 10-second contacts with no personal interaction. One thing that gives me pleasure is to work a DX contester who says "Hi Tom good to hear you again".
Posted by
AB5XZ on 2003-04-16
WPX Contest Survey
I'll add my vote to those others who commented that the answer choices were incomplete. In my case, I operate almost all CW contests but don't do very many SSB tests. You didn't provide answer choices like that.
Posted by
BILLAXELRODK3WA on 2003-04-12
RE: Afraid not
To K0XU, you got it right. You either answer yes that you DID operate and you like contests or you DID NOT operate the contest because you don't like contests. There is no answer for ops who like to participate in contest but did not operate this particular one for whatever reason.
Posted by
AD6WL on 2003-04-10
Afraid not
You left out my answer. Wanted to but didn't get a chance!
Posted by
K0XU on 2003-04-09
limited to a portion of the band
"Seems to me years ago contest were limited to a portion of the band so non particepants had a place to go. It would be nice. "
There are generally many places non-participants can go... during WPX SSB one could have gone to the CW portions of the bands...or to a WARC band. 73 Mike N2MG
Posted by
N2MG on 2003-04-08
59 QSOs
I worked about 15 new countries for the year (2003) and picked up a few new prefixes on SSB.
Posted by
AD1C on 2003-04-07
I HATE phone CONTESTS!
See y'all on CW...
Tree N6TR
Posted by
N6TR on 2003-04-07
Yes, Mobile
I was in Gainesville, FL, during the contest and worked a couple of hours on 20m mobile. Very interesting, I'm still learning what the Icom 706MkIIG can do. I forgot my Heil headset though, so I used a hand mike and external speaker. Lots of fun, I'll do a mobile effort again soon.
Bill, W4WNT
Posted by
W4WNT on 2003-04-06
contest
i love contest........it gives me an excuse to get out of the house and go fishing
Posted by
N4GDA on 2003-04-05
CQ WW WPX Contest
5 years or so ago I had not actively participated in contesting but decided it would be fun to try. Starting with 100 watts and a low mounted G5RV I jumped into the fray. Not really knowing much about it I stuck with search and pounce which is a great way to learn about contesting. Just listen to what others are doing and you will quickly catch onto the rhythm of things. Now I contest with up to 200 watts and a low mounted TA33 Jr and at times from my mobile FT-100 and Hamstick. Neither station is really competitive but even so I have managed to win a few contest certificates much to my surprise. Either way it's a lot of fun and a great way to work on your DXCC or other operating goals you may have.
Posted by
VE3BUC on 2003-04-04
WPX
Yes, I worked about 35 hours of the contest. I also worked the WPX contest for RTTY and in May I will work the WPX CW contest. Contest are the only reason that I have upgraded my station, and I am still in the process of improving my station and my operating ability. CW contest are a major reason that I am working on improving my CW speed. WPX is my favorite contest and I work all bands during the contest. Log is already submitted for the rookie catagory.
73
Posted by
AD6WL on 2003-04-04
CQ WPX contest
The last contest I participated in was in 1973 while I was overseas in Korea with the 8th Army Band as HL9VF - a friend and I manned the rig and we got about 2300 + some points with a Swan Cygnet. I haven't fooled with it since - Now on weekends it sounds like a contest most of the time, but it's really DX and expeditions on 30 meters - band is popping. I hadn't operated my rig since 1996 and am back operating now in 2003 again - we were doing manual logs in 1973. So I'm like the guy that says, I really might be interested if I can do some research as to how to do it efficiently, especially computer logging. Should be ready for a future contest in a few months. This site is a great one for research, so I'm going to find out how to do it.
Posted by
WB5FNW on 2003-04-04
WPX Contest Survey
Unfortunately I was unable to respond to this survey. Judging by the options available with the "no" responses suggest the survey was prompted by the "I hate contest brigade".
For the record I would have to had to answer "no" but due to the qualifications attached to each no response could not do so. If there are to be surveys at least make it possible for everyone to respond in a realistic way.
The reason I did not take part is because on this occasion I was pre-occupied teaching Scouts about Radio Electronics at the same time steering several towards going for an amateur radio licence. Any other time I might have taken part although probably not for the whole contest period.
Posted by
G0GDU on 2003-04-04
Contests
My first attempt at this posting was to say how I really fell about contests. (I have no interest in them and usually schedule a golf outing on contest weekends). (I hate golf too but I hate contests more). Then I got to thinking why I feel this way about contests. Its mainly because I have never tried one and probably wouldn't know what to do in one in any event. There is a group of contesters in my radio club and they have never once given a presentation on basic contesting to the club. They have also never invited anyone else to participate in a contest.
I also don't see any articles in the three major ham magazines I subscribe to on basic contesting 101. I have always subscribed to the "You might like it if you try it" school and I suppose if I knew more about contesting and how to enter and participate in one I would try it once. But Contesters in general don't seem to be interested in developing new contesters. Ham magazines and web sites don't seem to be interested in telling the rest of us what contesting is all about. Seems like the 10% participation of those who will actually send in a log makes a pretty good case that contesters are in the minority in ham radio. Why is that?
Posted by
W2CSH on 2003-04-03
CQWW WPX contest
I did participate mainly to try out my new htx-10 10 meter rig. I bought it on impulse since I have 2 hf rigs already. Since getting on Rtty, I have worked several RTTY contests and have enjoyed them. I have done Field Day in the past and always enjoyed it. I am not a contester per se, however they are great ways to check out how the antennas are doing and I have gotten some nice QSL cards as a result of contest contacts.
Terry N8CDN
Posted by
N8CDN on 2003-04-03
best choice for my answer
I didn't avoid the contest, and I didn't participate. I simply wasn't on. I'd love to sit down and try to rack up some contacts during some contest, someday, but that's not in the cards for me currently. Perhaps, later in life. Oh well, keep having fun, gang.
Posted by
N1VLQ on 2003-04-02
Seems to me years ago contest were limited to a portion of the band so non particepants had a place to go.
It would be nice.
Posted by
W1VO on 2003-04-02
Short fly-by
Nice weather and other plans limited my contesting to about 1 hour and 45 minutes, which translated into 21 "QSOs". Nothing new in there for me, but not a bad rate considering I'm running barefoot with a wire strung between trees :).
Cheers de NI0Z.
Posted by
AC0LT on 2003-04-02
A little
I worked the contest a little more than I ever had in the past...for about 3 hours total between the two days...about 120 QSOs. I thought that was pretty good for 100w and a dipole...we'll see as I intend to submit a log...since I was licensed in 2000, I am still a Rookie class operator for this contest.
Posted by
KB9WQJ on 2003-04-02
Had a great time!
I've only begun contesting this season, and I have little to offer in the way of big signals. On the other hand, I did make 402 qso's in about 20 hours of operating so it was great fun! I was disappointed in hearing very few Europeans here in Colorado though ...
Posted by
KC0IGY on 2003-04-01
Yea!
This was not my first conters, but it was sure the best. I made 543 QSOs and worked with 8 new countries for me. Unfortunately my 80 and 15m antennas were broken :(
Posted by
UA6JAD on 2003-04-01
WPX Contest
It gave me a chance to see if most bands in my radio were still working. When I heard 12 and 17 meters almost full, I knew it was working. I only work 2 contests a year semi-seriously, Field Day and the GA QSO party which is coming up real soon.....
Posted by
W4CNG on 2003-04-01
Great DX Tool
I am not a contester, but I do try to make the 4 major phone DX contests, the ARRL DX, ARRL 10 Meter, CQWW, and CQ WPX each year. At best, I may get in maybe 20 to 30 QSOs in each event. But each QSO for me means a QSL. Comtests are a great tool to pick up band fills, and maybe a 'new one'. If you are interested in DXing, give the contests a try.
Posted by
W4MGY on 2003-04-01
first contest (by accident)
Came upon the contest in the morning on Saturday - didn't even know there was one. I was mobile and had no idea how to participate, but a few minutes of listening paid off. 25W on my HTX-10 nabbed some great contacts for me. I'm new to HF and had made only 8 QSO's before the context. I made contacts while running errands, on the way to church, and sitting in the truck. Now I know I can reach San Francisco to Seattle to Brazil. I am now a contester! See you all on 10!
Posted by
KF4KWO on 2003-04-01
Yes!
Finally worked Tunisia on 40 after 3 years of trying!
I love the contest weekends for picking up the new ones. Great opportunity for trying out that new antenna or piece of equipment to see how it performs.
Posted by
VK5LA on 2003-03-31
CQWW WPX contest
Yes and why not, as a VHF'r I am back on HF to do a bit of catching up, 9G, 3V8, 5U, HC8, 5R, C5, blah blah, it makes a change from listening to white noise on 144.300, why not indeed ! although listening to aurora signals from G4LOH on 144.056 cw, I wonder if ???
Posted by
EI5FK on 2003-03-31
Laryngitis
I would have liked to, and have nothing against contests at all, but had bad laryngitis all weekend and stuck to CW!
Darnit.
Posted by
WB2WIK on 2003-03-31
There was a contest?
I didn't even know this contest was going on. So for the question above, I voted No, the Radio was off.
Now... would I have participated had I known? Oh, I probably would have got on, made a couple of dozen of the usual "Roger, you're also 5-9 but I can hardly pull you out of the noise" contacts, hitting stations in states I need for WAS and maybe some foreign countries it's not too hard to QSL to. Nothing major.
Posted by
AD7DB on 2003-03-31
I work on band fills during contests; and working test ops I've worked before. Nothing like sending one card out and getting multiple bands and nodes confirmed.
Have FUN
Bob
Posted by
RobertKoernerExAE7G on 2003-03-31
no SSB contest here
Shouting inside a small apartment will lead into a big trouble with my wife. Nothing against the phone mode or any other contest in general, but personally I stay away from working on phone contests. I enjoy CQWW WPX RTTY and CQWW CW contests, and always respect the organizer.
Posted by
JJ1BDX on 2003-03-31
Oh I love them!
Due to deed restrictions I have to operate with a compromise antenna and most of the time I put out a pretty weak signal and snag very few DX QSOs.
But during contests my signal springs forth and I am 59 worldwide!
Although, I think one OM gave me a 59 for needing me to repeat my call 5 times and report 9.
Posted by
WD5KCA on 2003-03-31
Oh I love them!
Due to deed restrictions I have to operate with a compromise antenna and most of the time I put out a pretty weak signal and snag very few DX QSOs.
But during contests my signal springs forth and I am 59 worldwide!
Although, I think one OM gave me a 59 for needing me to repeat my call 5 times and report 9.
Posted by
WD5KCA on 2003-03-31