Hi Chet: Spot on -
anyone's who's still VHF contesting as long as we have
are gluttons for punishment - bring on the pain we love it !
Lot's of good contacts made despite challenging condx.
-73 Ron WZ1V
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chet S" <chetsubaccount@snet.net>
To: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 08:59:41 -0500
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Did anyone else have fun in the January VHF/UHF
contest?
> Hi John,
>
> I believe you are misinterpreting the reports from the contest. These may be
> bragging reports, not disgusted tirades. The January contest presents
> challenges and problems for many, but hams like to persevere, engineers like
> to solve problems, and all like to talk about it afterward.
>
> Think of it like sailors or fishermen having a few beers in the cozy pub
> after a big storm. Do they talk about how beautiful the storm clouds and sky
> were, or do they tell tales of how tough a time it was getting through it.
> Still had a kind of fun, maybe a man thing.
>
> 73,
> Chet, N8RA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting
> <vhfcontesting-bounces+chetsubaccount=snet.net@contesting.com> On Behalf Of
> John Young via VHFcontesting
> Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 10:58 PM
> To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Did anyone else have fun in the January VHF/UHF
> contest?
>
> So I have been reading the 3830 and ARRL Soapbox posts. The vast majority of
> posts include a lot of commentary on poor turnout, poor conditions, dead
> bands and weather difficulties. Some even question if its worth taking part
> in these contests. My experience and those of several others who worked FM in
> Northern VA or MD was very much the opposite. There was great activity from
> 2pm until 10pm Saturday and it wasn't what I would call slow (no 30 minute
> breaks between Q's) all the way up to 1 am. Even when I got back on the air
> at 0330 Sunday there was activity to be had. I didn't work through to the
> bitter end (or should I say bitterly cold end) but from the private emails it
> appears it never got boring. Its not like we had great weather here by any
> stretch.
> What made it so much fun?
> Turn out and constant activity. Working hard to get a weak contact.Rag
> chewing with truckers all night to add points as they cross grids.Making
> scheds with FM and multi-band rovers along with big fixed stations at "long
> range".Passing contacts between stations to build each others scores.Making a
> Q with people who never imagined a 100 mile Q was possible on FM
> simplexHaving a paraplegic 15yr old build a tape measure yagi so he can make
> a QSO with you (2017).People dusting off rigs they have not used in years or
> going mobile to a nearby hill top to give you another contact or multi.
> A big part of what generated the activity was a coupe guys sending out a lot
> of emails to get people up on the air in our area. That has over time
> generated a lot of turn out, both casual operators, new fixed site contesters
> as well as regional FM or FM/SSB rovers.
>
> Was having fun this January just an FM thing? All our contacts are regional,
> propagation is not a big factor. There are no digital modes, clickety Q,
> clickety Q.Its just you, a microphone, a radio, a cable and an antenna.
> Pretty basic stuff.
>
> Did anyone else have a good time?Post something if you did. All that reading
> is pretty depressing right now.
> 73JohnKM4KMU
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|