CW Sprint comments

[km9p at aol.com]

Geez.  I won't ever sign my callsign again in the Sprint, even if it does get
me some free FOC QSO's.  There must have been 15 to 20 instances of the guy
on the other end of the QSO trying to make me KM0L!  One, even after I sent
the report said "QSL KM0L 73".  Are these guys using code readers or what?

20 = sucked.
40 = Awsome (Normal from GA)
80 = Awsome (Thank goodness for beverages.)   CQing didn't work here.  Found
almost all my Qs.

73, 
Bill Fisher, KM9P

>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Sun Feb  6 23:16:49 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 1994 18:16:49 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Imaging Problems....
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9402061853.A28496-0100000 at world.std.com>

On Mon, 31 Jan 1994, Richard Hallman KI3V wrote:

> As for AA7NX....I too had a VERY bad time with Loud sigs overloading
> the front-end of my 765.   Band was almost useless at times due to 
> all the Imaging going on in the Rcvr.   I noticed that LTA sells a 
> Front-End Mod kit for the IC-765.   Would this help??     I also tried
> the Attn and it didnt help much.
> 
YES!  I am using the LTA mods on my IC-765 and they do help.  I think the 
765 already has a great receiver, but with Tim's diode mods, the front 
end "seems" about 10 db better (more crunch proof).  Here in the center 
of heavy duty 160m activity, I only had problems with receiver junk a few 
times on weaker signals.

Contact K3LR c/o LTA for details.

Randy, k5ZD


>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Sun Feb  6 23:38:58 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 1994 18:38:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Contest software discut ssion
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9402061823.A28496-0100000 at world.std.com>

Speaking for myself, I am usually entering a contest seriously.  The 
result of my weekend of effort is a log.  To get me to use your software, 
you MUST demonstrate two things:
- The software will work (overcome fear of the unknown)
- The software must provide a feature set that is clearly better than 
what I have now.  I.e., it must help me improve my score.

Belive me, the second one is the most difficult to prove.  Good luck!

Randy, K5ZD


On Tue, 1 Feb 1994 W5XD at delphi.com wrote:

> As another "minor league software developer" watching the CT bug 
> discussion with some interest, I want to find out what it takes to 
> get contesters to simply try a different software product. I know 
> from personal experience that its NOT enough to:
> 1. advertise in NCJ
> 2. send you a demo floppy with an SASE requesting your comments (20
> of you requested such from me last May and ZERO responded)
> 3. switch to shareware
> 4. hand carry copies to some of you
> 
> Might it actually be in your best interest to give a little feedback
> to the masochistic non-conformist developers once in a while? Otherwise
> you'll never have anything better than CT.
> 
> Wayne 
> W5XD at delphi.com
> 

>From MSgt Bob Smith/SCSMH <smithb at GF-WAN.af.mil>  Sun Feb  6 23:34:35 1994
From: MSgt Bob Smith/SCSMH <smithb at GF-WAN.af.mil> (MSgt Bob Smith/SCSMH)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 94 17:34:35 CST
Subject: Contest QSLs
Message-ID: <9402062334.AA17084 at GF-WAN.af.mil>

Here's my two bits.  I've operated from two so called rare 
states, WY and now ND.  Needless to say, get lots of QSL 
card requests.  I did a study during 1993, SASEs vs non-SASEs.
I spent $75.00 answering non-SASEs.  So new policy in effect
this year.  Non-SASE's get filed in a round cylinder and 
purged via the local sanitation control authority.  The 
madness had to stop, either I support my awards chase, or 
subsidize someone elses.  
	It would be great if the league could support some
style of automated confirmation using contest logs.  I will
gladly email all of my contest logs.

73 de Bob ND1H, smithb at gf-wan.af.mil

>From Joe Staples <71045.2632 at CompuServe.COM>  Mon Feb  7 00:16:01 1994
From: Joe Staples <71045.2632 at CompuServe.COM> (Joe Staples)
Date: 06 Feb 94 19:16:01 EST
Subject: CW Sprint Scores
Message-ID: <940207001601_71045.2632_CHJ57-1 at CompuServe.COM>

TDXS NA Sprint CW
de Don, KI3L

K5GN - 341 Q X 43 M = 14,663
W5WMU (K5GA) - 331 Q X 39 M = 12,909
AD5Q - 287 Q X 42 M = 12,054
K5TU - 258 Q X 41 M = 10,578
W5ASP - 240 Q X 43 M = 10,320
KI3L - 239 Q X 40 M = 9,560
NT5D - 176 Q x 40 M = 7,040
K5RC - 176 Q X 36 M = 6,336                  
K5DX - 122 Q X 35 M = 4,270
NZ5I - 45 Q X 24 M = 1,080
Total (Claimed) 88,810


>From Lawrence A. Lake" <llake1 at services.dese.state.mo.us  Mon Feb  7 02:42:45 1994
From: Lawrence A. Lake" <llake1 at services.dese.state.mo.us (Lawrence A. Lake)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 1994 20:42:45 -0600 (CST)
Subject: MOONRAKER CONVERSION
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9402062045.A22229-9100000 at services>



NEED TO CORRESPOND WITH ANYONE WHO HAS HAD EXPERIENCE CONVERTING A
MOONRAKER 4 CB ANTENNA INTO A 10 METER AT 28.4.
WOULD PERFER TO MAKE THIS INTO A THREE ELEMENT UNIT.
WILL OPERATE THIS UNIT ON A 50 FOOT TOWER AT 100 WATTS.
ALL INFORMATION WILL BE MOST HELPFUL AND APPRECIATED.

73S
LARRY




>From len at ariel.coe.neu.edu (Leonard Kay)  Mon Feb  7 12:41:56 1994
From: len at ariel.coe.neu.edu (Leonard Kay) (Leonard Kay)
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 1994 07:41:56 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <9402071241.AA04129 at ariel.coe.neu.edu>

>>I think Ward has a great idea. Remember the days when DXCC accepted
>>contest QSOs for credit? As long as logs are submitted on disk, it
>>shouldn't be too difficult to implement for DXCC. What say ARRL?
>>73 Barry
>>

Y.A.R. (Yet Another Reason) in favor of requiring electronic log
submission....

Len KB2R

>From headrick at surf.nrl.navy.mil (Jim Headrick)  Mon Feb  7 14:00:17 1994
From: headrick at surf.nrl.navy.mil (Jim Headrick) (Jim Headrick)
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 09:00:17 -0500
Subject: [hwardsil at seattleu.edu: Contest QSLing]
Message-ID: <9402071400.AA10897 at surf.nrl.navy.mil>

N0AX says:
   
   "An idea I've had for a while is on-line QSL credit.  Really, most of the
   contest QSLs just want a QSO acknowledgement and couldn't care less about
   the card itself.  Most of the high-volume QSLs are nothing to hang on the
   wall...no offense intended!................  
   
   Just think, you could have a DXCC "account" which would forward verified
   QSOs to ARRL's DXCC computer for automatic credit!  And save all those
   cards and stamps and envelopes and time for filling out cards which go to
   those new friends overseas you work between contests................"
   
Years ago the ARRL would give DXCC credit for QSOs in submitted contest logs.
This is the way I got credit for several moderately rare countries that were
easy to work in contests but difficult to get a QSL from.  The time may have 
come for THE N0AX proposition. 

		Jim W3CPB   headrick at surf.nrl.navy.mil




>From lvn at fox.gsfc.nasa.gov (Larry Novak)  Mon Feb  7 14:58:27 1994
From: lvn at fox.gsfc.nasa.gov (Larry Novak) (Larry Novak)
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 94 09:58:27 EST
Subject: Sprint
Message-ID: <9402071458.AA01942 at fox.gsfc.nasa.gov>

This was my first sprint and I'm almost embarassed to post the score,
but here it is:

 Call:  K3TLX
 State: MD
 Op:    Larry

 20M: 20 Q's
 40M: 38 Q's
 80M: 35 Q'x

 Total:  93 x 31 = 2,883

 Equipment: TS-930SAT barefoot to multiband Carolina Windom at 60'.

 I got Tree's software from Internet to my PC at about 3 p.m. Saturday,
 skimmed the user's manual and had a practice sprint with about 12 Q's
 and then went downstairs for the real thing. Had no cable to send CW
 with the PC so part of the operation was still manual/memory keyer. I
 spent the first 20 minutes with my jaw on the table wondering why I was
 doing this. At 0022 I finally recovered enough to make my first QSO. At
 about 0200 the rate meter finally hit its pitiful peak at 54. After the
 contest I felt like somebody had just beat me about the head and
 shoulders, but after thinking about how poor my strategy was, I'm
 looking forward to the next one. At least I shouldn't have any trouble
 beating my high score!

 Tnx to everyone! See you next time.

 Larry, K3TLX  lnovak at cen.com

>From Steven.M.London at att.com (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763)  Mon Feb  7 15:11:00 1994
From: Steven.M.London at att.com (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763) (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763)
Date: 7 Feb 94 15:11:00 GMT
Subject: N2IC - Sprint
Message-ID: <9402071509.AA05217 at bighorn.dr.att.com>

--------Whining Starts Here---------------
----Cut here if that offends you---------

I knew in the first 2 minutes that this was NOT going to be a Colorado
Sprint.  For the first time in recent memory of Sprinting from CO, we had
no 20 meter propagation to W6/7.  KM9P, K4PQL, KZ2S and everyone in
Indiana were rock crushing, but that was it.  86 QSO's on 20 meters.

Tried to use Brand "T" software for the first
time.  Didn't find anything seriously broken with it, just incredibly
confusing for someone who has been using CT/NA since 1987.  It was kind of
like trying to use a keyer for the first time, after using a bug for 10
years.  I found myself spending more time/effort trying to figure out the right
key to press, than operating.
Sorry, Mr. T, no contest simulator can prepare you for a competitive
Sprint effort.  After accidently blowing away a QSO around QSO #90, I went
to paper logging.  Sorry to all of you who I tried to dupe on 40 and 80 !
I may try Brand "T" again in ARRL CW - if I have time to write a Brand T-to-.BIN
conversion program in case I get frustrated with Brand T again and want to
bail out.

Things went much better when I hit 40 meters.  It was nice to know that W6
hadn't fallen into the Pacific Ocean !  Tried going back to 20 to find a KL7,
but by then the 3Y0PI pileup had taken over the band.  80 and 40 were
outstanding.  Everyone was loud.

My mults stunk as usual - no VE1/2/3/4/6, Ia, Ms, Mt, Id, Ut, SC etc.
(I could make a comment about the FOC QSO's/mults available to a select few,
but I'll bite my tongue).

All in all, my worst relative Sprint performance since moving to CO.

----------Whining ends here----------

Another great Sprint contest has come and gone.
Approx. 321 QSO's x 40 mults = 12840 points

Steve, N2IC/0

>From David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu  Mon Feb  7 15:16:51 1994
From: David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (David C. Patton)
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 09:16:51 -0600 (CST)
Subject: K4VX/0 Sprint CW Score
Message-ID: <199402071516.AA06070 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>

                          K4VX/0  (WX3N op)
  QSOs   20-  69
         40- 125
         80- 110
--------------------
             304 x 41 = 12,464

Miserable condx reminded me of the bad old days.  Better activity
keeps us away from the scores of the bad old days however.  Amazing
how many mults come from the one guy in the state, and notably
absent?--N4DW/1, NL7GP, K0VBU, VE4VV/GV, any VE3, VE2ZP, W5XX, K0PP.

Wonder what would happen if no one operated from IL or TX?

Had to reprogram keyer shortly after start of test because of
intermittent in PS, and then discovered I had a broken wire in paddle
wire leading to keyer when I lost the dash side.  Of course when I
moved the paddle wire it tripped the intermittent on the keyer.  Too
bad that non-volatile ROM I bought for the KC Keyer never did work.

73, Dave Patton, WX3n

PS.  K6NA continues to be loudest from the West.