having not passed my CW requirement i can only listen to the HF bands. and
listen i do. during this past contest, i heard the usually congestion in the
mid-ranges of the bands, but higher up, things were quite relaxed, esp on 20
meters. i heard contesters 500k away from each other, but they clearly were
not bothered by it, maybe they couldn't hear each other. i heard rag-chewers
talking about the QRM from the contesters but they were civil and thanked the
manufacturers of their rigs for the fine filters and DSP's.
i moved to 40 and heard many of the same things - 500k away, ragchewers having
funny conversations, and the occasional (gasp) net. when i went to 75,
everything changed. a battle had ensued to hear some of the comments. it was
"us" against "them." imagine what it sounds like to a new ham who is working
on learning CW and wants to be an active ham on HF. from listening, 75/80 is a
place to be avoided at all costs. mean spirited individuals is a compliment
for some of these folks. i'm amazed some of these ops have tickets.
considerate operator and future HF contester
-steve hanlon
KB3KAQ
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