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Re: [CQ-Contest] Operator vs equipment was Skimmer - What shall we do?

To: <CQ-Contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Operator vs equipment was Skimmer - What shall we do?
From: "Michael Brown" <k9mi@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 01:58:18 -0400
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Gear + talent = Top 10    That's about as simple as it gets.

K9MI


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Davis" <bob@reconstructinghistory.com>
To: <CQ-Contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Operator vs equipment was Skimmer - What shall we 
do?


> Michael Coslo wrote:
>
>>My experience has been different. I do often find that a lot of
>>people think that you have to spend a lot of money to do well. While
>>if all things are equal, the "hotter" setup" will outperform a more
>>modest one. If I had to choose between the expensive setup or the hot
>>Op, give me the good operator any day.
>>
>>
> Amazingly enough, I agree with this. ;-)  Gear without skills is 
> pointless.
>
> That doesn't mean I'm contradicting myself, because what you're saying
> has nothing to do with what I said.  What I said is, quite simply, it is
> impossible for someone like me to operate SO2R without spending more
> money.  I have one radio, a couple of simple antennas, no bandpass
> filtering, no switch box for the radios, yadda yadda yadda.  I don't
> care if I suddenly develop mad skills and turn in to Gawd's Gift to
> Operators; if I don't have the equipment to operate SO2R, it is simply
> impossible for me to operate SO2R.  You dig?
>
>>>Sure, SO2R also requires skill.  But if you don't have the dosh to
>>>build
>>>what is essentially a second station, all the skill in the world isn't
>>>worth a bucket of warm spit.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Respectfully Bob, I have personal experience that the opposite is
>>true. I have my home station, which would be considered okay, but
>>nothing special, and access to a mountaintop station in a good
>>location, and the difference in operating isn't as big as described.
>>Probably the main difference is that my signal will be heard - i.e.
>>it stomps on others, at the mountaintop station. That doesn't make up
>>for operating skills though.
>>
> I appreciate your personal experience, even though it boggles my mind.
> You're going to have to explain how you can operate equipment that
> doesn't exist! Because that's what I was trying to express.  :-)
>
> To be crystal clear: I'm not denying that operator skill matters.  Far
> from it - a station full of the most expensive gear in the world isn't
> going to make a good operator.  A good operator can do well with
> mediocre equipment.  A better operator than I could come into my station
> and do much better than the station owner in any given contest.  But
> there's no way in Hell he could operate SO2R without my buying - or him
> bringing and installing - a lot more equipment than I already own.
>
> That's it, that's all I was trying to say.  Claiming that skill can
> completely overcome a lack of equipment is bollocks.  Partly, yes;
> completely, no.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bob NQ3X
>
> P.S. Thanks for all of your hard work with the PA QSO Party!  You rock!
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> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
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