I look at it just like I looked at running 10Ks, half and marathons and
triathlons. I had no hope of ever winning one. As a long ago gym coach
observed, I stay too long in one place. Nevertheless, once I quit smoking
and started running, biking and swimming, I had a lot of fun, ended up
after quite a few painful months in terrific shape, set new personal bests
almost every time, got a lot of t-shirts, met some fascinating people, had
a lot of fun, and even though I never won, or even won my age group, I did
start scaring the guy who did win the age group, and managed some 5th's,
thirds, seconds etc.
I approach contesting the same way. You have all the fun without the shin
splints, sprains and runner's knees. I had a great time on Field Day,
battery powered QRP CW with a home brew S9v31 clone vertical. I made ~145
Qs in 6 or 7 hours, improved my CW operating prowess, got to know my then
new to me radio a lot better, and generally enjoyed the day.
I did the same in the SSCW this weekend, except that everyone sends a lot
faster in SS than FD, so there was some struggling. I might finish high in
the section. I beat last year's winning score in this section by >10,000
points, assuming I didn't screw up any of the exchanges! If so, terrific.
If not, no problem.
So, there is no need to feel bad if you don't have a winning effort or a
top ten score, etc. Just relax, enjoy it.
73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 6:58 AM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX <RMcGraw@blomand.net>
wrote:
> I'm really glad I DO NOT participate in contests. It seems like a very
> stressful way to have fun and enjoy the hobby. It seems no different than
> the outcome of the recent NASCSR event this weekend. That ended up in
> fistfight among drivers and crew members. I agree, the typical discipline
> of the operators, and this was observed this past weekend, is less than
> anything commendable.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP" <Rick@DJ0IP.de>
> To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 12:33 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] New Radios in the Future
>
>
> Don, I can assure you I had more fun operating that OLD stuff than I do
>> operating in today's computerized mode.
>> But I can't even come close to the score I make today, using the old
>> equipment and techniques.
>>
>> Part of the problem is the poor discipline of the operators of many of the
>> DX stations.
>> They changed the rules to where every station has to give his call sign at
>> least once per minute.
>> But they don't. In fact I saw several going for 5 or 10 minutes in the
>> recent CQWW SSB, and when they finally gave their call (just once), it was
>> buried in a landslide of stations calling them.
>>
>> Without a band scope or packet spot, I wouldn't even know who's on
>> frequency.
>>
>> There is nothing more frustrating than sitting on frequency of a huge
>> pileup
>> for 10 minutes, only to find out you've already worked the guy yesterday.
>> Using the lovely old station pictured on my web, that's what I would be
>> doing today.
>>
>> BTW, here is a picture of my 1980s contest station:
>> http://www.dj0ip.de/my-station/bremen-1981/
>>
>> The Drake Line was my run station, and I used the Omni and home-brew
>> amplifier to its left to chase multipliers on other bands. I had a quad
>> on
>> a pole in the back yard, and a beam on top of the house.
>>
>> THOSE WERE THE DAYS! ;-)
>>
>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don
>> Rasmussen via TenTec
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 5:42 AM
>> To: tentec@contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] New Radios in the Future
>>
>> I am sure that the computer could completely take over the station, and
>> run
>> it to much higher scores.
>>
>> =======================================================
>>
>>
>> All of this has already been done, and not that recently.
>>
>> No fun in that. In my mind the photo on DJ0IP Rick's page showing Drakes,
>> Dentron, TT, and a classic room with open tables just rules. How can it
>> ever
>> get any better than that?
>>
>> I was watching an ARRL Flex review on utube last night after all this talk
>> on the list. Reviewer says in summary "anything you could possibly think
>> of
>> is here, please just don't forget to operate" He was serious.
>>
>> =============================================
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Climbing into my flame proof suit... 73, Steve WA9JML
>> _______________________________________________
>> TenTec mailing list
>> TenTec@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TenTec mailing list
>> TenTec@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
|