You know it's time to move to another band/mode when you tell like 5 stations
in a row that they're DUPES. This happened to me a few times this weekend!
Also sitting through 10 WPM, 2x2 replies to CQ FD on CW is frustrating beyond
belief...so are all the partial calls on phone. Patience is indeed a virtue
at Field Day, as someone pointed out.
Speaking of partial calls I had one truly memorable one though,
late Saturday night on 20m phone -- true story, I swear:
me: QRZ Field Day from KC4ZV
them: KC4ZV from *static crash* Yankee 1
me: Question-mark Yankee 1, we're 2A Alabama, complete your call
them: KC4ZV this is Juliet Yankee 1, JY1, you're 5x9 in the city of Amman
At that point I think I fainted from shock...
73,
-- ray // WQ5L // luckily I already have JY confirmed on 20 phone
rrrocker@ingr.com
>From oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) Wed Jun 29 22:54:20 1994
From: oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) (Derek Wills)
Subject: slow FD ops
Message-ID: <9406292154.AA10980@astro.as.utexas.edu>
What's frustrating is watching the "Shack-On-The-Belt" club
members trying to operate an HF radio for the first time.
Its all I can do to keep from telling them to get out of the
way so we can start making contacts.
Kris AA5UO
Yeah, we have to remember that the operating speed is pretty slow
for people on the contest reflector, but it's a challenge for the
non-contester. With luck, some of the latter will catch on and
become Real Contesters[tm].
Someone at our local DX/contest gathering, recognizing that FD
participants tend to be either serious operators or serious
"getting the antennas/rigs/generators going" people suggested
that local contesters team up with local clubs, have the people
who like doing the antenna thing do the antenna thing, and then
have the seasoned contesters slide into the operating chairs and
make boko points for the club, while the others can do the BBQ
and Beer Thing. That way, the two extreme types might both feel
more useful. Yes, I know we are all supposed to be all-rounders,
but we aren't. Some people have only a vague idea of how a dipole
works, but will happily sit up all night working CW at a decent
clip. Those who love the practical side but lose interest once
the rigs are all up and running will have done their bit as well.
In the larger clubs, both types already exist, but the above might
work for the smaller clubs.
I got on for an hour around Sat midnight (1D, air-conditioned)
and had a good run on 40 CW - apart from people who don't know
how to zero-beat, it was pretty efficient.
Derek AA5BT, G3NMX
oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu
>From Steve Harrison <sharriso@sysplan.com> Wed Jun 29 22:59:56 1994
From: Steve Harrison <sharriso@sysplan.com> (Steve Harrison)
Subject: FD operators
Message-ID: <Pine.3.87.9406291755.A5843-0100000@eagle>
>
> what!!??? excuse me!!!??? you knew my callsign when you called me!!
>
Uh...I hate to say this, but have a look at the CT manual, written by no
less than ole Ken hisself, back where search and pounce techniques are
discussed. I believe he states (he's talking about SS, but it's just as
applicable to FD) that once you change bands, everybody is new..so just
go tuning and scream out your call, because you can always get the other
guy's call in his exchange.
Actually, I think it is still illegal to work somebody without IDing at
the beginning and ending of the QSO. Despite this, I only made one QSO
all weekend where the other guy included his call as part of the
exchange, and we all know dang well none of us hot-shot contest-lovers
did. And I'm still smarting over working Whiskey Zero ???????? Victor
during a recent 2 meter sporadic E opening and having him ask me
repeatedly "KO0U, why are you calling me? I'm trying to work E skip!" 73,
Steve KO0U/4 <sharrison@sysplan.com>
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