Re: [CQ-Contest] TQP vs CQ RTTY

["ku8e" <ku8e@bellsouth.net>]

W4TV wrote : 

These are major international RTTY contests and activity will spread 
as needed to find room and avoid other contest QRM.  RTTY contest 
activity has probably increased by at least ten fold in the last 
ten years.  What new blood there is in contesting is much more 
familiar with computers than CW and the trend will only continue 
to accelerate. 


   I sure hope this trend reverses. It just shows how getting rid of the CW 
requirement and making it easier to get an amateur license has ruined our 
hobby. It's not surprising that modes like RTTY, that require minimal operating 
skills are growing. 

Maybe one of you diehard RTTY guys can explain to me what drives you to even 
want to operate a RTTY contest? I tried it once and I was bored out of my mind 
after about an hour. At least on CW or SSB you have to use your human sensory 
skills to copy a signal and pull out a callsign. Do you get that same "rush"  
and feeling of accomplishment with RTTY that you get after working that first 
ever EU station on 160 meter CW thru the static and a big pileup? On RTTY the 
computer does everything for you. I see no thrill from that. It almost sounds 
like doing a CW contest with a code reader.

 I agree with K8MR that there are too many RTTY contests that occur just about 
every weekend with the "everyone works everyone" format. Many of these RTTY 
contests ruin some established CW contests that have been around just as long. 
At least the State QSO parties are interesting - chasing mobiles around as they 
move from county to county is fun  Let's just hope someone doesn't make it 
easier to get on SSTV (like they have for RTTY) and they start having SSTV 
contests !!!


Ask youself this question... Why do we contest ? (besides to satisfy our egos) 
For years the official line has been to improve our operating skills so we are 
prepared during an emergency to provide communications when all else fails. I 
guess I just don't see where RTTY would fit in during a real emergency. 


Jeff  KU8E

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