Ulli, Julius,
We talked about this in one of the articles for Contesting on a Budget in
NCJ a few years back. I think that with some careful budgeting and planning,
you could do well with much less.
You can find old computers and monitors almost for free, software is next to
nothing. For less than $100.00 you can probably find a computer and software
that will work.
Used radios are not expensive, but you should find something with computer
control. The Icom 735 is still an OK radio and interfaces easily. I've seen
them for as little as $350 stock, or $400 with a filter. I'd recommend a
pair of inexpensive radios in an SO2R arrangement over a single, more
expensive
radio.
Wire antennas can be very competitive. Spools of wire are cheap on eBay, I
buy the milspec, teflon-covered silver-plated copper-stranded wire for
pennies a foot. You can do wonders with low wires and wire beams!
You can make your own balanced feedline and wind your own baluns
inexpensively. Cheap lightweight mast? Use the thinnest schedule PVC you can
find, buy
a can of "Great Stuff", make a telescoping mast about 28' long with three
diameters of PVC, drill a small hole every foot and shoot the Great Stuff in,
let it harden and you have a very rigid mast for inverted vees and other wire
antennas. If you wish, you can even embed 300 ohm ladder line inside the
mast before you shoot the foam inside, from what I can tell, Great Stuff has
pretty decent dielectric properties.
What I've described is a SO2R station for around $1000. You may not make
the top ten box, but you certainly can do well. I think this topic might
warrant more investigation, and Ralph, K9ZO, is the new columnist for
Contesting
on a Budget. I've copied him on this if he wants to pursue it further.
Paul, K5AF
In a message dated 12/1/2008 9:46:42 A.M. Central Standard Time,
phriendly1@yahoo.com writes:
Ulli,
I suspect it is tough to be competitive (SOAB) for under $3K unless you're a
really good scrounger.
SOSB may be easier, although taking first would still put you up against
some very impressive rigs and antennas. 40 and up you'll be competing against
rotating arrays. 80 and 160 may be more level playing grounds as few have the
real estate for decent antennas.
Certainly you can buy a decent used rig that would be very competitive for
under $2K, maybe even under $1K. Used antennas seem cheap, particularly
yagis... Wire antennas can play really well on the lower bands.
Sometimes it's a matter of luck... skills and location are very important,
but as Napoleon might say, give me a operator who is lucky ;o)
I do find it interesting to think about the folks who put hundreds of
thousands of dollars and time into technical marvels (and they really are) for
a
plaque that costs less than $100 and the prestige (or bragging rights).
Competition is a funny thing... I'm sure there is a Doctorate thesis in there
somewhere ;o)
Some of the fun for me is with the folks I compete with, we have a bond and
support each others efforts. Kinda like betting on the side at a horse race.
Beating your own best score is nice too, but it's more fun sharing the build
up and discussing it afterward.
I like reading the 3830 posts from folks, not so much the scores, but how
the event went. I particularly like reading the LP and QRP stories.
NS3T has some good stories too, on Radiosport.
73 & GL,
Julius
Julius Fazekas
N2WN
Tennessee Contest Group
TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/
Elecraft K2/100 #3311
Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366
--- On Mon, 12/1/08, Ulli Grunow <ulli.grunow@ospreyribs.com> wrote:
> From: Ulli Grunow <ulli.grunow@ospreyribs.com>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Date: Monday, December 1, 2008, 7:44 AM
> Dear contesters,
>
> Contest organizers.
>
> This is just something I was thinking about when looking
> through the scores
> of last CQWW CW 2008..
>
>
>
> I am ON5KQ, (op Ulli) operating a very limited contest
> station here in
> Belgium..
>
> Have just published my claimed scores (SOSB 40m) at 3830
> reflector.
>
>
>
> Seeing all the great score of great people it came to my
> mind, that there
> might be one factor for great contest results we never talk
> about.
>
> I just want to name it here once: the factor of money spent
> to achieve the
> result.
>
>
>
> I am not at all saying, that it is the most important
> factor - but I have
> never seen a below $3000 total cost station winning a
> contest !
>
> You may say it is trivial - with more input there is more
> output - yes,
> partly this is true and that's a way you can see it.
>
>
>
> >From a sports standpoint of view, I personally feel as
> if I try to become
> successful with an old Volkswagen in a Formule 1 race.
> should I buy a new
> expensive car te get in pool position next time ?!
>
> I certainly enjoy the many impressive websites of the major
> contest winner's
> - great to see ! Great technology and thank you for
> documenting and share
> your experience with dream equipment for almost everyone
> else.
>
> Sometimes there are Single OP's operating a super
> station build in many many
> years from Multi/Multi teams. Is that real Single Operator
> contesting ?!?
>
> Also the Multi/Multi teams spend many thousands of dollars
> into the
> hobby..their neighbor ham's might be never be able to
> do anything close to
> that, simply due to their very limited of even tight
> budget.
>
>
>
> So in what aspect we talk about winning the contest ?
> Biggest station,
> richest people ? Biggest equipment ?!?
>
>
>
> I am happy to find the Triband/wires only category in some
> contests.
>
> How about a total below $3000 dollar category ?!
>
> Single band entries half.
>
>
>
> My station is below $1500 incl. TRX !
>
> I am proud of my efficiency ..
>
> Want to hear/read about small stations with good results -
> stand up guy's !
>
>
>
> Ulli, ON5KQ
>
> www.on5kq.be
>
>
>
> P.S.: I am not against spending lots of money into our
> great hobby - just
> wanted to tell a different story.
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
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