Because KL7 is needed for WAS, DXCC, WAZ, and other awards and
because my call is used in the contests that we are multi-multi, I
receive thousands and thousands and thousands of qsl cards. They
never stop coming in. I receive cards every day of the week. The
qsl bureau in Anchorage has a pigeon hole for everyone but me. I
have a crate. I have done everything to try and keep up. It seems
at times an impossible task. I just read where someone was amused
that people would hire someone to do their contest cards. I have
hired people for years. Four high school kids and a W4MPY four
thousand card box will last a weekend. And the pile never gets any
smaller.
All this from a kid who would run home from school every day in the
early sixties to see if I had any cards in the mail. There was a
time I loved qsl cards. I liked to look through them and collect
them for DXCC. Now all I see is the bureau boxes (thousand cards
per) stacked up waiting to be answered. Always waiting. Never
ending.
But what a great idea. OH2BVE mention of sending back bureau cards
with a qso valid stamp. I like it. Can we do it? Will ARRL except
these cards for DXCC? I never thought of this before. Qsl cards
could have a return qso valid box for a signature or something.
Then non-contesters could qsl via the bureau having a better then
ever chance of getting a card. And if they wanted the station card
they could go direct as always.
Rich KL7RA KL7RA@ICEFOG.GCGO.NASA.GOV
>From Joel B Levin <levin@BBN.COM> Fri Feb 11 15:09:36 1994
From: Joel B Levin <levin@BBN.COM> (Joel B Levin)
Subject: computer keying
Message-ID: <25493.760979376@bbn.com>
|ps: Am I the last dummy that still operates CW contests
|with computer logging and doesn't key the radio from
|the computer???? I am almost embarrassed.... ;-(
Hardly. Though I not only don't key from the computer, I also don't
have the radio interface for tracking/setting the frequency. So
that's two things I really ought to buy or build.
Regards / JBL KD1ON
>From dcurtis@mipos2.intel.com (Dave Curtis) Fri Feb 11 17:34:25 1994
From: dcurtis@mipos2.intel.com (Dave Curtis) (Dave Curtis)
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <9402111734.AA17565@climax.intel.com>
howie, wb2cpu writes:
> Ultimately, I don't think it's too far fetched for contests to be logged
> to a central system in real-time. Remember, we'll soon have gigahertzes
> of interactive bandwidth coming into our houses. Again, for many of us
> here on the Net, with the right software, we could pretty much do it now.
Hmmmm.... let's see... use a high-speed techno-whizzy state-of-the-art
communications network to keep track of how fast people can send
trivially short Morse code messages to each other. The mind boggles!
I always thought my microprocessor controlled telegraph key was the
ultimate technological oxymoron, but I think it has been surpassed.
Of course, there are precedents. Computer controlled America's Cup
yachts, wind-tunnel tested bicycles, etc.
This is not criticism of the idea.... merely a moments contemplation.
-Dave ng0x
dcurtis@mipos2.intel.com
>From Ed Stratton 5637 <EStratto@chipcom.com> Fri Feb 11
>23:01:00 1994
From: Ed Stratton 5637 <EStratto@chipcom.com> (Ed Stratton 5637)
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <2D5C0ED8@msmailer>
yep this high tech world is going to kill us all in emails, to track emails
and databases.
I remember when!
AD8V
----------
From: CQ-Contest-Relay
To: howi
Cc: cq-contest
Subject: Re: Contest QSLing
howie, wb2cpu writes:
> Ultimately, I don't think it's too far fetched for contests to be logged
> to a central system in real-time. Remember, we'll soon have gigahertzes
> of interactive bandwidth coming into our houses. Again, for many of us
> here on the Net, with the right software, we could pretty much do it now.
Hmmmm.... let's see... use a high-speed techno-whizzy state-of-the-art
communications network to keep track of how fast people can send
trivially short Morse code messages to each other. The mind boggles!
I always thought my microprocessor controlled telegraph key was the
ultimate technological oxymoron, but I think it has been surpassed.
Of course, there are precedents. Computer controlled America's Cup
yachts, wind-tunnel tested bicycles, etc.
This is not criticism of the idea.... merely a moments contemplation.
-Dave ng0x
dcurtis@mipos2.intel.com
>From H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil@seattleu.edu Fri Feb 11 20:12:04 1994
From: H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil@seattleu.edu (H. Ward Silver)
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9402111203.C17508-a100000@bach>
With respect to "recording" a contest in real-time, start to finish...a
VCR records 4MHz of video data in real-time. The ham bands used in an HF
contest occupy less than that amount. A tape can hold 8 hours of 4MHz
data in SLP mode. So...if the bands are mixed separately up to UHF in a
contiguous piece of spectrum, then mixed back down to baseband, with a
30Hz sync field added for locking the servos...you could have the ENTIRE
contest, not just what you tune in, at any given spot on earth, on 6
tapes. With a little more brain work, we could probably come up with a
satellite summing system prior to mixing and get everybody
everywhere...still on 6 tapes.
73, Ward
hwardsil@seattleu.edu
>From H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil@seattleu.edu Fri Feb 11 20:33:41 1994
From: H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil@seattleu.edu (H. Ward Silver)
Subject: Lunatics Lacking
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9402111241.E17508-9100000@bach>
The Lunatic Fringe needs 4, count 'em, 4, ops for the phone sprint. Send
me an email message and I'll check my mailbox at noon PST tomorrow before
sending the roster.
So far:
W7WA
K7SS
N7LOX
VE7NTT
WA7FOE
AA7RN
(K7LR)-probable conflict
(N0AX)-probable conflict
C'mon, be a Lunatic!
73, Ward
hwardsil@seattleu.edu
>From Jim Hollenback <jholly@hposl42.cup.hp.com> Fri Feb 11 21:22:47 1994
From: Jim Hollenback <jholly@hposl42.cup.hp.com> (Jim Hollenback)
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <9402112122.AA13272@hposl42.cup.hp.com>
> With a little more brain work, we could probably come up with a
> satellite summing system prior to mixing and get everybody
> everywhere...still on 6 tapes.
And probably use up 3 bottles of asprin after listening to the pile-ups!
73, Jim, WA6SDM
jholly@cup.hp.com
>From Roland A. Anders ("Rol")" <AB88%CATCC.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU Fri Feb 11
>22:20:06 1994
From: Roland A. Anders ("Rol")" <AB88%CATCC.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU (Roland A.
Anders ( Rol ))
Subject: Hi tech throwbacks
Message-ID: <11FEB94.18722001.0069.MUSIC@CATCC>
With regard to using comdern computing database capability to
store inconsequential morse code exhanges, I once conceived the
notion of building an AMERICAN morse electronic keyer. I was
taught landline morse by an OT whose dad was a Railroad telegrapher.
I even got on 40 and called didihdit dididahdit (landline for CQ)
and got answers! So, I figger it would be neat to have a keyer
to do the sending. Of course, there are three different length
dashes, and two different sized character spaces to add to the
challenge. Never did it, as I figgered the market would be
miniscule :->. Anyone else ever think of (or better yet try)
anything like this????- Rol Anders K3RA AB88@CATCC
>From len@ariel.coe.neu.edu (Leonard Kay) Fri Feb 11 22:32:06 1994
From: len@ariel.coe.neu.edu (Leonard Kay) (Leonard Kay)
Subject: honesty
Message-ID: <9402112232.AA05587@ariel.coe.neu.edu>
>>>
>>I quite agree with you - HONESTY and integrity should be paramount.
>>With that in mind, why not eliminate QSLs as a requirement altogether
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>for awards and endorsements? Of course, that could have a serious
>>economic impact on DXpeditioners and DX stations in the lesser developed
>>economies of the world where a greenstamp and/or IRC has some significant
>>value.
>>Cheers de Sandy WA6BXH slay@netcom.com
>>
Many minor awards already have. Don't have my Awards Directory in front of
me, but the 'work 100 of our amateurs' etc. awards of many countries require
nothing more than a list of the relevant QSOs and a suitable affadavit. I'm
not sure we want to go this way with DXCC, though..... :-)
Len KB2R
>From robert penneys <penneys@freezer.cns.udel.edu> Sat Feb 12 00:42:09 1994
From: robert penneys <penneys@freezer.cns.udel.edu> (robert penneys)
Subject: BigTime NERDS Lineup, at Last!!
Message-ID: <9402120042.AA07022@freezer.cns.udel.edu>
Thankx everyone......lineup for phone Sprint is:
K5ZD
K7SV
KE3Q
WA4PGM
KI4HN
NY3Y
NY3C
KA4RRU
WN3K
WW3F (we hope)
The most we have fielded in the past has been four.
Please listen for us. Tnx agn.
Bob WN3K N.E.R.D.S. F.R.C.
>From modular!eric@cs.arizona.edu (Eric Gustafson) Sat Feb 12 00:52:05 1994
From: modular!eric@cs.arizona.edu (Eric Gustafson) (Eric Gustafson)
Subject: CQ 160 meter CW 1994
Message-ID: <9402120052.AA18128@modular>
Sorry this took so long. There is still one name I can't seem to confirm
among the operators. If I left anyone out, I appologize.
N7CL 160 METER CQWW CW EFFORT
This was our first effort at operating the CW portion of this contest. We
viewed it from the outset as a learning experience. Obviously, the only
reason to operate this contest from 7-land is to have a bit of fun. Our
two other main goals were:
1. Check out the antenna and equipment for the SSB contest. This included
KF7NR's mini-trailer station enclosure / operating position.
2. Learn a little about the nature of this contest so we can make a more
creditable stab at it in one of the upcoming years.
The operators were:
Gail Peterson, N7BXX
Eric Gustafson, N7CL
Dan Morrison, KV7B
Larry Pace, N7DD (yes, on CW!)
Ed Reiche, KF7NR
Bob ????? , NY1I
A.J. Polowski, KB7KZ
With the possible exception of N7DD, I don't believe that any of the
operators had any previous CW contest experience outside an occasional
field day stint. None had ever worked a 160 meter CW contest. As I said,
we were out to have some fun and learn.
Significant others (besides the operator's XYLs of course):
Ed Reiche, KF7NR - Station equipment, trailer, antenna setup and
teardown
Gail Peterson, N7BXX - Station setup & teardown, antenna
construction & testing, on site kibitzing,
general spark plug
Gary Wood, WE7Z - Antenna setup and tear down support
Bernie Sasek, W0YOY - Moral support & propagation advice, on site
kibitzing, laison to tower owners
J.B. Borden, WA7AHF - Moral support & donut delivery, on site
kibitzing
Equipment:
Transciever: IC781 + Henry 3K Ultra... approx. 1KW to antenna
Antenna: Full size 160 Meter J inclined 38 degrees from the
vertical, top of radiator approximately 420 feet off the
ground, suspended by rope / pulley from a 650 foot tall
FM broadcast tower.
First Night:
We fought with equipment problems and operator unfamiliarity with the
transceiver. True to form, Larry Pace, N7DD when allowed to control a high
power transmitter started causing fires. The tuner went up in flames early
in the evening. Tuner post mortem revealed that it wasn't Larry's
fault... but how come all the local RF fires have Larry as a starting
point? We're just glad the feedline was spared this time. The fire
produced some off time while repairs were undertaken. Later on, we
discovered that the receiving frequency had become offset from the
transmitting frequency by more than 500 Hz. We don't know for how long but
it _had_ seemed a bit slow for a while. My appologies to anyone we may
have stepped on! When things were working (and we were listening near our
transmitting frequency and we had only one receiver active), rates were
respectable and we had a lot of fun. No S&P the first night at all. Ran
out of operators at about 4 AM local (1100Z) and had several short no
operator periods throughout the night due to shortage of thawed out CW
operators at the site.
For us, this contest is kind of like a field day. We took a small travel
trailer, some equipment, and a generator out to a commercial FM radio
station tower south of town and hung our antenna from it. The first
night's weather was c-c-c-c-c-cold. We had freezing rain and sleet off and
on at sunset (not on site but in the area), then the sky cleared and the
air temperature fell dramatically throughout the night. In the morning we
had to leave Gail, N7BXX's VW bug on site and go get breakfast to give the
sun long enough time to melt the solid ice sheet off the car so he could
drive it home. He has no heater or defroster... hey! we live in the desert
southwest. We don't usually need these things. Hell, we don't usually
even need windshield wipers! The desert really was beautiful in the
morning though. All the cactus, mesquite trees, tumble weed, and creosote
bushes were ice coated. The whole area looked like an incredibly intricate
ice sculpture in the early morning sunlight.
Second Night:
We started late (just before local sunset - 0045Z). We found the band
already hopping. This was a big surprise since the last time any of us was
on 160 was the SSB section of this same contest 2 years ago as N7BXX. At
that time, we heard NO signals at all until well after dark. QSO rates
were bursty but pretty good until about 0330Z. After that we were forced
to go S&P for needed multipliers. Larry, N7DD and A.J., KB7KZ did a great
job of this and helped the score a lot by staying after it until the wee
hours of the morning. We had MUCH milder weather the second night. It was
so warm that Larry could go outdoors and have a cigarette occasionally.
Only one minor disaster this time. Ed, KF7NR's amplifier had some pieces
of broken capacitor drive chain floating around down in the power supply
shelf. At some point a piece of it got between the incoming 220 volts and
chassis ground _ahead_ of the circuit breakers. The people on site
reported that the generator was having trouble supplying the station. The
condition lasted a few minutes and then cleared itself. We found the burn
marks and chain fragments monday evening when putting the amp back together
in Ed's shack.
Results:
1. Got WAS on 160 meters in one outing.
2. Had a heck of a lot of fun.
3. Score (per CT) Q = 795, C = 12, S = 56, (after removing dupes)
Score = 125,256 points. (Is this good from Arizona? We really have no
way of knowing)
4. We learned quite a lot that should help in any subsequent effort.
5. We got the kinks out of the antenna system.
Speaking of the antenna... This antenna was designed specifically for this
contest using ELNEC. I was working under a number of constraints for the
design. These were:
1. Low cost of materials - less than $100
2. Must be erectable in less than 1 day including tuneup to desired
resonant frequency - no more than 2 person job
3. Must not require electrical contact with any of the potentially
available supports
4. Must not include local ground in antenna current loop
5. Must present good match (at resonant frequency) to 50 ohm feedline.
this was so we could tune it off resonance with an unbalanced T net
with no need for baluns etc.
6. Must not change characteristics in response to changing wind conditions
7. Must require less than 100 feet of 50 ohm feedline to get to feedpoint.
8. Resonant point must be easily shiftable to anywhere in the band
The antenna I finally came up with met all of those constraints. It has a
broad main lobe with about 4.5 dBi gain. Azimuthal beamwidth is about 270
degrees. Elevation takeoff angle 32 degrees (all according to model in
ELNEC). To us, it seemed like the final design was working OK. But we
really have no way of knowing if we were just audible or loud or quite
loud. I would appreciate reports if anyone can remember hearing us. It
really seems to play well on receive. We didn't have any beverages or
loops for receive. We may have a beverage for receive in the SSB portion.
If so, we will be better able to evaluate this antenna's receive
performance.
Thanks to all who worked us! I had no idea how rare Arizona apparently is
on 160. I'm already getting buried in QSLs (I was totally unprepared for
this). I will return QSL cards to 100% of those requesting who are in the
log. But first, I have to get some cards printed up...
Hopefully, we will have the same station up for SSB. If we do, the call
will probably be N7DD.
73, Eric
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Gustafson N7CL | The mountains are high and the Emperor
6730 S. Old Spanish Trail | is far away.
Tucson, AZ 85747 |
INTERNET: modular!eric@arizona.edu | You can't work 'em if you can't hear 'em.
CI$: 71750,2133 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) Sat Feb 12 06:02:38 1994
From: oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) (Derek Wills)
Subject: Happy Birthday
Message-ID: <9402120602.AA23453@astro.as.utexas.edu>
to KR0Y, who starts his 4th decade today. When will he
be too old to win the Sprint?
Derek aa5bt
>From Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM Thu Feb 10 19:38:00
>1994
From: Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM (Skelton, Tom)
Subject: FW: CT8.52 OK???
Message-ID: <2D5A905A@admin.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM>
What about the other contest programs? Do they need their own reflector,
use the CT reflector, or stay here?
73, Richard - K5NA
For WriteLog and N6TR Logging, I have been in direct
contact with W5XD and N6TR as they frequent this reflector.
73, Tom WB4IUX
>From H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil@seattleu.edu Sat Feb 12 18:02:08 1994
From: H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil@seattleu.edu (H. Ward Silver)
Subject: Happy Birthday
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9402121006.B11855-8100000@bach>
>
> to KR0Y, who starts his 4th decade today. When will he
> be too old to win the Sprint?
>
> Derek aa5bt
About the time we forget what Sprint is! ;-)
Ward N0AX
>From MSgt Bob Smith/SCSMH <smithb@GF-WAN.af.mil> Sat Feb 12 20:06:15 1994
From: MSgt Bob Smith/SCSMH <smithb@GF-WAN.af.mil> (MSgt Bob Smith/SCSMH)
Subject: BHCC Roster in phone sprint
Message-ID: <9402122006.AA01059@GF-WAN.af.mil>
BLACK HOLE CONTESTING CONSPIRACY Sprint Team Roster
The following was submitted at 2012Z on 12 Feb.
VE4VV
VE4GV
WB0O
ND1H
K0GU
W9UP
N0BSH
See ya tonight! 73 de Bob smithb@gf-wan.af.mil
|