Contest/DXpedition Radios

Wed Feb 2 17:16:58 EST 1994

From: Balmforth, Kevin D
Date: Wed, Feb 2, 1994 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: Contest/DXpedition Radios
To: CQ CONTEST
Ken WM2C asked for recommendations on contest/DXpedition radios...

I've used an FT-890 for a year and like it very much.  It is compact, has an 
internal keyer, and a very fast auto-tuner with memories.  The tuner is nice 
if you have a less than optimum antenna.  It uses the Yaesu C.A.T computer 
interface, and it puts out an honest 110 W.  You can put decent CW and SSB 
filters in it (the tiny ceramic stock SSB filter is marginally adequate for 
contests) and the IF shift and notch work well.  On the down side, the CW 
pitch is not adjustable (fixed at 800 Hz), the RIT is not "clearable", and 
there is no internal power supply.  I use an Icom PS-35 switching power supply 
housed in a small aluminum box; this combination runs all day long on CW 
without getting hot.  The FT-890 and power supply, along with 25' RG-8X and a 
dipole fit easily in a gym bag, which I carry on airlines for travel.  No, I 
don't work for Yaesu.

Good luck and see you in the Sprints.
73, Kevin NC6U (0015017 at msgate.emis.hac.com)

>From D. Leeson" <0005543629 at mcimail.com  Thu Feb  3 08:02:00 1994
From: D. Leeson" <0005543629 at mcimail.com (D. Leeson)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 94 03:02 EST
Subject: Bug Bite
Message-ID: <13940203080231/0005543629NA4EM at mcimail.com>

It sure seems that the old Field Day, when it was really a contest, was the
bug that bit a lot of us.  Forty years ago, three 15-yr old novices read
about FD in QST, borrowed a truck and a 16-yr old driver, and headed for
the mountains.  We called CQ without an answer for hours until we decided
we had loaded up the feedline, etc.  This was the start of the Pacifico
Radio Club, almost all high-school students at the time (we thought every-
body had the kind of time we did to get ready for FD!).

We were really serious, won several years (K6BAG - check it out), one year
had no oil in the generator, one year got 220 across the 110 lines, but
generally set QSO records, ran KW on every band, put wire Yagis up in 
big trees.  Curously, I don't remember any Elmers, we just figured it out
by ourselves.  Maybe a more serious contest element in FD would interest
new folks...and we probably would have benefited from adult guidance as later
provided by K6RU, now SK.

Was life simpler then, or am I getting rusty?  Cheers de Dave, W6QHS

>From CT1BOH <0006309523 at mcimail.com>  Thu Feb  3 12:41:00 1994
From: CT1BOH <0006309523 at mcimail.com> (CT1BOH)
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 94 07:41 EST
Subject: RE RE TOPGUNS
Message-ID: <60940203124106/0006309523PK4EM at mcimail.com>

WB2EKK writes about my note TOP GUNS NEEDED concerning 
revamping of the CQWW scoring structure, "Jim Neiger N6TJ made 
arguments nearly identical to BOH'S".
Well Pescatore that couldn't be far from the true as north pole is close to 
south pole. I realise the difference is subtle but the spirit of the two 
proposals is totally different.
When Neiger Proposed all Qsos should count three points this would 
definitely change the spirit of the contest that promotes international 
contacts by penalising with one point Qsos with your continent. His 
proposal wouldn't favour this quite the contrary. There would be an 
incentive for regional Qsos.
My proposal maintains the scoring system for USA/VE and EU. Yet it 
promotes activity from DX locations no one wants to go there now because 
under the current scoring structure there is no way of winning.
The only thing to change would be the quantity of winning places thus 
creating more competition.
This is not new.
The scoring system was changed years ago to stimulate activity in the 
Caribbean awarding 2 points for NA Qsos.
Why didn't they make this for Asia and the Pacific or even Africa?
Is it because these places are so far away from the USA?
Unfortunately in the USA there are those who tend to forget there is a 
different world out there.
Just to make a point I get lots of Qsls cards direct from the American 
operators. A significantly number of them don't write USA ( the name of 
the destiny country) in the SAE. I must complete. Try to think why this 
happens.
Again I sincerely believe we should change the scoring system of the CQ 
WW to:
	Qsos with your country count zero.
	Qsos with different country count three points.
	Exception 1: Qsos between USA and VE count 2 points (or 1).
	exception 2: Qsos between EU count 1 point.
This surely would stimulate activity from new areas, add increased 
competition, in the end more excellence maintaining the spirit of the contest 
proven correct for so many years.