At 11:43 AM 5/31/03 -0400, K1DG wrote:
>......... However, packet has become a crutch for too many
>operators, who find the "point-click-yell-ENTER" style of operating easier
>to learn than the skill-based "tune the band-find a station-copy the call
>myself (correctly)-time my call-make the QSO" method.
Doug makes an excellent point, and this is sometimes a risky
crutch to use. I was the 80 meter operator at HC8N for the WPX SSB
contest this year. I was operating transceive just above 3.800 most of
the time, as the USA had very good signals, but when the band opened
to Europe, I would announce that I was listening on 3.737. It was sure
easy to tell when I had been spotted. I was amazed at the number of
US stations that called me on 3.737. There were more than 2 dozen and
several of those were not new callsigns. A sure sign of "point,click,call".
Packet may be great for chasing DX, but we all still need to listen and
tune the bands.
73, Ken K5KA
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