Theories on Contesting (Contesters Manifesto)
1. As a group, contesters are the most numerous category of hams active
on HF. This is particularly true if the related and heavily overlapping
category of "DXers" is included. (Most DXers make contest QSOs, even if
they do not consider themselves "contesters." Many top contesters do
consider themselves DXers, though many don't.)
2. As a category, contesters are the most skilled operators in ham radio.
3. As a category, contesters have the best equipped stations (inside and
outside) in ham radio.
4. Contesters' knowledge of station construction, in the shack and
outside on the antenna farm, is higher than any other group.
5. Given all the above, contesters are the group within ham radio who
have most met the commission of being "a trained group of radio operators
and technicians...capable of serving in emergencies," national and
internatinal crises, etc. Contesters are the most constructive group
within ham radio.
6. The stations contesters build and maintain at their own expense are a
national and international resource (and probably should be tax deductible).
7. Contesters themselves, by achieving and maintaining high skill
levels, are a national and international resource.
8. Given the above, contesters have at least as great a right as any
other group to use of the spectrum, arguably more, by virtue of their
greater numbers and greater contribution to the skill resource and
station resource pool.
9. It is often said that "Field Day is not a contest; it's an emergency
preparedness exercise." This has caused me to consider that: "There are
no contests; they're all emergency preparedness exercises or `operating
events.'"
10. Contests are a highly constructive aspect of ham radio, because they
inspire us to build large capabilities in terms of station and operator
skills. As operating events or "exercises," they are important in
developing high skill levels.
Note: Maybe I've been reading too many Thomas Jefferson biographies or
TV documentaries, hence the "manifesto" concept. hihi. My apologies;
don't mean to be too "high falutin'." But now that I've mentioned
Jefferson...it occurs to me that if he were alive today he would probably
be a ham -- as would Ben Franklin -- and they would both probably favor
CW. hihi.
73 - Rich Boyd, KE3Q
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