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Re: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score

To: ulli.grunow@ospreyribs.com, CQ-Contest@contesting.com, PaulKB8N@aol.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score
From: Julius Fazekas <phriendly1@yahoo.com>
Reply-to: phriendly1@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 12:23:26 -0800 (PST)
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Thanks Paul...

I recall the article(s)... They probably should be re-run periodically as 
newbies come into the sport.

"Sweat" equity goes a long way as does scrounging. eBay is a good source, but 
don't forget hamfests, eHam (etc.) and even some of the various reflectors for 
antenna fixings.

I think you can make the Top 10 boxes in the LP and QRP categories of some 
contests with a station well under $3K (and even well under $1K). Chances are 
it won't be CQ WW DX tho' (unless you travel to a very exotic spot)

Staying in the chair is a big plus ;o)
Cheers,
Julius

Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #3311
Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366


--- On Mon, 12/1/08, PaulKB8N@aol.com <PaulKB8N@aol.com> wrote:

> From: PaulKB8N@aol.com <PaulKB8N@aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score
> To: phriendly1@yahoo.com, ulli.grunow@ospreyribs.com, 
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> Cc: ralph.bellas@gmail.com
> Date: Monday, December 1, 2008, 2:12 PM
> Ulli, Julius,
>  
> We talked about this in one of the articles for Contesting
> on a Budget  in 
> NCJ a few years back.  I think that with some careful
> budgeting and  planning, 
> you could do well with much less.  
>  
> You can find old computers and monitors almost for free,
> software is next  to 
> nothing. For less than $100.00 you can probably find a
> computer and software  
> that will work.
>  
> Used radios are not expensive, but you should find
> something with computer  
> control.  The Icom 735 is still an OK radio and interfaces
> easily.   I've seen 
> them for as little as $350 stock, or $400 with a filter. 
> I'd  recommend a 
> pair of inexpensive radios in an SO2R arrangement over a
> single,  more expensive 
> radio.
>  
> Wire antennas can be very competitive.  Spools of wire are
> cheap on  eBay, I 
> buy the milspec, teflon-covered silver-plated
> copper-stranded wire for  
> pennies a foot.  You can do wonders with low wires and wire
> beams!
>  
> You can make your own balanced feedline and wind your own
> baluns  
> inexpensively.  Cheap lightweight mast?  Use the thinnest
> schedule PVC  you can find, buy 
> a can of "Great Stuff", make a telescoping mast
> about 28' long  with three 
> diameters of PVC, drill a small hole every foot and shoot
> the Great  Stuff in, 
> let it harden and you have a very rigid mast for inverted
> vees and  other wire 
> antennas.  If you wish, you can even embed 300 ohm ladder
> line  inside the 
> mast before you shoot the foam inside, from what I can 
> tell, Great Stuff has 
> pretty decent dielectric properties. 
>  
> What I've described is a SO2R station for around $1000.
>  You may not  make 
> the top ten box, but you certainly can do well.  I think
> this  topic might 
> warrant more investigation, and Ralph, K9ZO, is the new 
> columnist for Contesting 
> on a Budget.  I've copied him on this if he  wants to
> pursue it further.  
>  
> Paul, K5AF
>  
>   In a message dated 12/1/2008 9:46:42 A.M. Central
> Standard Time,  
> phriendly1@yahoo.com writes:
>  
> Ulli,
> 
> I suspect it is tough to be competitive (SOAB) for under 
> $3K unless you're a 
> really good scrounger. 
> 
> SOSB may be easier,  although taking first would still put
> you up against 
> some very impressive rigs  and antennas. 40 and up
> you'll be competing against 
> rotating arrays. 80 and  160 may be more level playing
> grounds as few have the 
> real estate for decent  antennas.
> 
> Certainly you can buy a decent used rig that would be very 
> competitive for 
> under $2K, maybe even under $1K. Used antennas seem cheap, 
> particularly 
> yagis... Wire antennas can play really well on the lower 
> bands.
> 
> Sometimes it's a matter of luck... skills and location
> are very  important, 
> but as Napoleon might say, give me a operator who is lucky 
> ;o)
> 
> I do find it interesting to think about the folks who put
> hundreds  of 
> thousands of dollars and time into technical marvels (and
> they really are)  for a 
> plaque that costs less than $100 and the prestige (or
> bragging rights).  
> Competition is a funny thing... I'm sure there is a
> Doctorate thesis in there  
> somewhere ;o)
> 
> Some of the fun for me is with the folks I compete with, 
> we have a bond and 
> support each others efforts. Kinda like betting on the side
>  at a horse race. 
> Beating your own best score is nice too, but it's more
> fun  sharing the build 
> up and discussing it afterward. 
> 
> I like reading the  3830 posts from folks, not so much the
> scores, but how 
> the event went. I  particularly like reading the LP and QRP
> stories.
> NS3T has some good  stories too, on Radiosport.
> 
> 73 & GL,
> Julius
> 
> Julius  Fazekas
> N2WN
> 
> Tennessee Contest Group
> TnQP  http://www.tnqp.org/
> 
> Elecraft K2/100 #3311
> Elecraft K2/100  #4455
> Elecraft K3/100 #366
> 
> 
> --- On Mon, 12/1/08, Ulli Grunow 
> <ulli.grunow@ospreyribs.com> wrote:
> 
> > From: Ulli Grunow  <ulli.grunow@ospreyribs.com>
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso  score
> > To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> > Date: Monday, December 1,  2008, 7:44 AM
> > Dear contesters,
> > 
> > Contest  organizers.
> > 
> > This is just something I was thinking about when 
> looking
> > through the scores
> > of last CQWW CW 2008..
> >  
> >  
> > 
> > I am ON5KQ, (op Ulli) operating a very  limited
> contest
> > station here in
> > Belgium..
> > 
> >  Have just published my claimed scores (SOSB 40m) at
> 3830
> >  reflector.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Seeing all the great score  of great people it came to
> my
> > mind, that there
> > might be one  factor for great contest results we
> never talk
> > about.
> > 
> >  I just want to name it here once: the factor of money
> spent
> > to achieve  the
> > result.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > I am not at all  saying, that it is the most important
> > factor - but I have
> >  never seen a below $3000 total cost station winning a
> > contest  !
> > 
> > You may say it is trivial - with more input there is 
> more
> > output - yes,
> > partly this is true and that's a way you  can see
> it.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > >From a sports  standpoint of view, I personally
> feel as
> > if I try to become
> >  successful with an old Volkswagen in a Formule 1
> race.
> > should I buy a  new
> > expensive car te get in pool position next time ?!
> >  
> > I certainly enjoy the many impressive websites of the
> major
> >  contest winner's
> > - great to see ! Great technology and thank you  for
> > documenting and share
> > your experience with dream equipment  for almost
> everyone
> > else.
> > 
> > Sometimes there are Single  OP's operating a super
> > station build in many many
> > years from  Multi/Multi teams. Is that real Single
> Operator
> > contesting ?!?
> >  
> > Also the Multi/Multi teams spend many thousands of
> dollars
> >  into the
> > hobby..their neighbor ham's might be never be able
> to
> >  do anything close to
> > that, simply due to their very limited of even  tight
> > budget.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > So in what  aspect we talk about winning the contest ?
> > Biggest station,
> >  richest people ? Biggest equipment ?!?
> > 
> >  
> >  
> > I am happy to find the Triband/wires only category in
> some
> >  contests.
> > 
> > How about a total below $3000 dollar category  ?!
> > 
> > Single band entries half.
> > 
> >  
> >  
> > My station is below $1500 incl. TRX !
> > 
> > I am proud of  my efficiency .. 
> > 
> > Want to hear/read about small stations with  good
> results -
> > stand up guy's !
> > 
> >  
> >  
> > Ulli, ON5KQ
> > 
> > www.on5kq.be
> > 
> >   
> > 
> > P.S.: I am not against spending lots of money into 
> our
> > great hobby - just
> > wanted to tell a different  story.
> > 
> >  _______________________________________________
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> > CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> > 
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