Hi Stan,
For the first 4 1/2 years that I operated from my present qth in Western CT
(1994-9), I used only LOW wires on 10 – 160 and competed in the SOABHP
NON-assisted category with the “big boys” rather than the Tri-bander category.
And I was barefoot on the 2nd radio!
Even with those enormous handicaps I still managed to come in 3rd in the 1995
ARRLDX contest at the bottom of the sunspot cycle and one year I actually had
the North American high score in WAE CW! And, in addition, I had mostly top 5
and ten 10 finishes in ARRLDX, CQWW during those years whenever I operated
almost full time.
I was amazed at how competitive I could be even though I was 15 – 25 db+ weaker
on the high bands with wire antennas lower than 50’ feet! And I wasn’t much
stronger on the low bands either.
I focused on developing and maximizing my skills and made every minute count in
the contest. I became much more effective as an opr and realized that how I
did was really mostly about my skill and attitude. I operated like I was a big
station and it made a HUGE difference in my results.
In Summer 1999 when I put up two towers with yagis on 10 – 20 and wires on 40
– 160, (which is what I am still using 19 years later) I was ready to take my
scores to the next level because I had already learned to compete against the
best ops with the best stations in the toughest category – even though it
wasn’t a “fair fight”. By setting my sights higher, it helped me to raise my
level of operating and expectations for myself and that directly translated
into better scores and results.
I chose not to group myself with the Tri-bander category but rather with the
“Super Heavyweight” class. And I would recommend that for anyone that is
looking to challenge themselves and become the best operator that they can be
and get the best results.
73 & GL!
Bob KQ2M
From: Stanley Zawrotny
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2018 1:12 PM
To: CQ-Contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Tri-banders/Wires
While discussing fairness, ask anyone who uses a wire antenna if they think
being grouped with amateurs that have tri-banders is fair? Sure is hard to
rotate my 80M OCF dipole.
Stan, K4SBZ
"Real radio bounces off the sky."
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