> you find that you are sweating!
...
> I kind of like to see the sunrise and sunset, just to know
> it is still going on out there!
...
> Randy, K5ZD
>From one who knows: when Randy sweats, you don't wanna be
around.
When he operated at my place, he DID have a window. You woulda
thought he saw that thunderstorm coming before the headphones got
blown off his head. [Randy, my mom STILL talks about the look on
your face after the lightning bolt!]
73,
Tom, K5TM
----
Tom Morrison thm@rmc.liant.com
Liant Software Corporation
8911 Capital of Texas Highway North
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 343-1010 FAX 343-9487
>From gjk@hogpa.ho.att.com (Gerald J Kersus) Fri Mar 25 15:55:03 1994
From: gjk@hogpa.ho.att.com (Gerald J Kersus) (Gerald J Kersus)
Subject: WPX callsign rules
Message-ID: <9403251555.AA22161@hogpc.ho.att.com>
Looking at the rules, the only mention of signing portable is in section
VII, Part A: "...A station operating from a DXCC country different from
that indicated by its callsign is required to sign portable." Rules go on
to give examples, but there is no mention of different call areas within a
country. Last year, NC1A and I operated from my station here in NJ and didn't
sign (or get listed as) "/2".
Gerry, W1GD (not portable two)
>From bhorn@netcom.com (Bruce Horn) Fri Mar 25 16:33:26 1994
From: bhorn@netcom.com (Bruce Horn) (Bruce Horn)
Subject: Regional Top 5 Boxes
Message-ID: <199403251633.IAA09198@mail.netcom.com>
Regarding Jeff, KR0Y, feeling that the top 10 box is all that counts and that
regional top
5 boxes essentially reward mediocrity:
I understand Jeff's position. He is a world class operator who has been
successful against
the best competition. Once you've reached the top, you're not going to be
satisfied with
lesser competition. Sort of like a professional athlete at the top of his game
is not going
to be thrilled by winning an amateur championship.
That's fine that Jeff doesn't feel honored by being listed in a regional top 5
box with what
he feel's is a non-competitive score. However, I believe the regional top 5
boxes will be a
successful motivational tool for contesters working their way up. It fits
nicely into the
progression of recognition that the ARRL awards in their contests.
Let me use my personal experience as an example. Although licensed since 1963,
I had
only a total of a little over 500 QSOs between 1963 and 1990. I wasn't very
active! In
September of 1990 I got back on the air after an eight year absence with an
ICOM 765
transceiver and a Cushcraft R-3 vertical. Since I was interested in chasing
DX, I decided
to enter the CQWW SSB contest of October 1990 to work new countries. This is
the first
contest I had ever entered. My score wasn't much, but I increased my country
total by
about 25.
Continuing this idea of working new ones, I entered the ARRL DX SSB contest in
March
of 1991. Again using the same low power/vertical setup. Much to my surprise
I got a
first place certificate for the Los Angeles section in my category. Did I
think I was a hot
contester ? Of course not. I figured everyone else had used high power, gone
on
DXpeditions or had not seriously operated. But it was still nice to get some
recognition
for my efforts. Did I compare my score to the top 10 list. Yeah, for about 2
seconds.
My competitive area was Los Angeles. I didn't think beyond that.
In 1992 I again participated in the ARRL DX SSB contest in the same category
with a
barefoot transceiver and a new antenna: a Cushcraft R-7 vertical. Some
improvement,
huh ? Again, I was amazed to get a first place certificate for my category in
the LAX
section. Did I now think I was a hot shot contester ? Of course not. I
couldn't believe
my section was that non-competitive. However, I now looked around to see how
my
score compared to my division competition.
In 1993 I entered the ARRL DX contest knowing that the local contesters had
finally
figured out that the low power category was of interest. Sure enough, I got
trounced.
Did I feel bad ? Did I want to give up contesting ? No, I wanted some decent
antennas.
In 1994 I finally got to operate this contest with a tower and beams for the
high bands.
Although I don't know the result yet, my score should be very competitive at
the regional
level, and maybe with a lot of luck make the top 10 nationally. Then again it
may not.
My point is that the regional top 5 box is a natural progression of the ARRL
recognizing
section winners and division winners. It gives something to aim for between a
division
win and national recognition. It encourages inexperienced contesters (like me)
to strive
for the next level, and it provides recognition for those outstanding operators
who are
geographically challenged (except for those rare occasions of unusual
propagation).
Keep the national top 10 box and continue the trend to add regional top 5 boxes.
73 de Bruce, WA7BNM (bhorn@netcom.com)
>From alan@dsd.es.com (Alan Brubaker) Fri Mar 25 16:34:43 1994
From: alan@dsd.es.com (Alan Brubaker) (Alan Brubaker)
Subject: Signing portable in WPX.
Message-ID: <9403251634.AA28706@dsd.ES.COM>
I don't know about anyone else, but I will tell you why I
make it a point to sign /7 in the WPX and other contests.
First of all, if I didn't, I would just be another K6, and
who wants to work another K6? Secondly, I believe that
having a 7 somewhere in your call is worth at least 5 db.
Listen for Mark, KA1ODA, at the controls of K6XO/7 this
weekend, probably doing 15 meters single band. Good luck.
Alan, K6XO/7
alan@dsd.es.com
>From Steven.M.London@att.com (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763) Fri Mar 25
>16:55:00 1994
From: Steven.M.London@att.com (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763) (Steven M
London +1 303 538 4763)
Subject: Single-Multi
Message-ID: <9403251650.AA05640@bighorn.dr.att.com>
I have been stewing for a while, thinking about the "new level" to which
Single op-Multi transmitter has progressed.
For those of you who don't understand, here's the basic strategy for
single/multi in 1994: Virtually all the time you are listening on one
band (even while copying the other guy's exchange), you are sending CQ on
another band. You are never actually transmitting simultaneously on two
bands, but your "exposure" to other stations who are in hunt-and-pounce
mode has been greatly increased. This works best when the rate is
moderately high (Sprint, east coast-to-EU, etc.).
How did we get here ?
This seems to be an (un)natural evolution from the "older" single op-2nd
radio operating. I first became conscious of the use of the 2nd radio around
1978 (thanks to W2GD).
It's CW SS on Sunday afternoon. While sending an endless succession
of CQ's on one band, you can use the 2nd radio to hund-and-pounce on
another band. When I became aware of "2nd radio" use in SS, my
first reaction was that this greatly increases the station requirements,
effectively cutting out the medium-gun station from serious competition.
However, after further thought, I discovered that the additional hardware
requirements could be met rather easily - I borrowed a Drake TR-4, a
Heathkit keyer, and a 14AVQ trap vertical. Good enough for hunting-and-pouncing
on a 2nd band. Doable by any semi-serious competitor.
Now, back to 1994 and single/multi....
You now need two complete stations, both producing a commanding signal - You
aren't going to get too many answers to those "2nd band" CQ's with 100 watts
to a vertical ! You also need the right software to keep things straight.
(unless you are KR0Y, in which case the software between the ears handles
it all better than any computer !).
Admittedly, there aren't very many of us doing 1994-style single/multi...yet !
However, we have "upped the ante". Just as the 1980's-style 2nd radio has
now become the norm, the 1994 single/multi will soon be a requirment for a
top-10 score.
I am not suggesting that we try to stop progress. But I am concerned that
the need for so much hardware will discourage up-and-coming contesters.
Steve, N2IC/0
>From Rick, K7GM" <AONISWAN@ECUVM.CIS.ECU.EDU Fri Mar 25 18:56:42 1994
From: Rick, K7GM" <AONISWAN@ECUVM.CIS.ECU.EDU (Rick, K7GM)
Subject: portable ?
My reading of the rules says that I don't have to sign portable
as long as I am in my DXCC country. I agree with K6XO. A seven in the
call is worth something. I don't plan on signing portable unless someone
tells me that I am reading something wrong in the WPX rules.
Rick, K7GM
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