On Wed, May 22, 2002 at 01:12:53PM -0400, Dave Pascoe KM3T wrote:
> On May 22, 2002 Tree N6TR <tree@kkn.net> wrote:
>
> > I think I have tried one or two skeds during a contest - and no QSOs
> > came out of it. I have decided I would rather operate the contest
> > without these - and use my radios to the best of my ability to
> > initiate as many QSOs as I can. This includes moving people to as
> > many bands as possible during the contest.
>
> And that's very admirable. And really in the spirit of what contests were
> meant to be. And should be. Believe me, I'm no major champion of skeds.
> I've just seen skeds as both a competitive edge, whether noble or not, and
> a way to encourage some activity in the rarer grids. I suppose there are
> better, more general ways of encouraging activity. We could just band
> together and email those guys prior to the contest to remind them of the
> event, etc. That might benefit everyone, rather than just the few who
> make skeds. And, in the end, probably better for the long-term survival
> of VHF contesting.
I have decided that I dont want to make skeds before the contest.
It never felt right to me to make skeds and I do not think I have
made a sked for a VHF contest is over 3 or more years and before that
it was only one or two in any given contest if at all.
> Activity on VHF is dwindling.
I find this comment interesting as it has not been the feeling I get.
There is no doubt in my mind that there are more folks on 6 meters
than there were 5 or more years ago.
I am fairly active on 2m SSB now that I have a station at home
and I can say that it sure seems like there is ALOT more activity
on this band than I can remember from 5 or 10 years ago.
Quite a few of these guys have higher bands, good stations
and know how to use them. Maybe that is just some sort of
odd growth within 400 miles of my QTH or something in the water.
--
George Fremin III - K5TR
geoiii@kkn.net
http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr
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