> ....I love contests, especially those with QRP categories AND, as a QRP
> afficionado, I do wish more hams would get on the air on Top Band just for
> the sake of making QSOs ----> I thoroughly enjoy working any ham on 160 CW,
> find out what my RST is, the other fella's power and antenna - that sort of
> general info - AND experience more about the
> Propagation Princess' vagaries.
> de Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV
I have never been a contest lover, but I did work the CQ 160m CW contest a
couple of times, back in the LORAN days, and once won top score for my state.
Only thing, there were but three other logs submitted from my state that year,
total. I still sometimes make it a point to get on 160m CW around high noon
local time during a Topband CW contest just see how far I can work and what
kind of signal reports I get.
But that brings up a problem with most contesters these days, the fact that
your RST is likely to be "599" regardless, even when the other op can just
barely dig you out of the noise. Same with contests on other bands, both phone
and CW. That nonsensical practice has eliminated what was erstwhile perhaps
the most useful function of contesting, and IMHO, diminishes the worthiness of
contests altogether. Back when the signal report was a real part of the
exchange and contesters tended to exchange honest reports, a major contest
could be an opportunity to determine how well your station got out, and into
what localities you put the best and worst signal strength, providing some
insight to improvements you might wish make to your transmitter and antenna
system.
I would find it extremely boring to spend hours exchanging meaningless numbers
in order to compile a long list of callsigns and states; I could find more
productive use for my time, but to each his own.
One thing I can guarantee, however, if you do happen to work my during a
contest you will receive an honest signal report.
Don k4kyv
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