New Categories - there goes the neighborhood

[JPontek at aol.com]

In a message dated 95-12-14 03:15:10 EST, lyndon at ve7tcp.ampr.org (Lyndon
Nerenberg) writes:
<snip>
>While you claim that a small station (such as VE7TCP) with an excellent
>operator can do as well as a megastation (such as VE7ZZZ) with an average
>operator, that isn't a valid comparison. The correct comparison is
>done with excellent operators at *both* stations. In this scenario you're
>going to have a tough time convincing me that the new category is
>meaningless.
>
>--lyndon

I agree with you, Lyndon.

It sounds like there are some "Mini-megastations" out there who will not have
as many "run-of-the-mill" stations stacked below them in the results, only
the MEGA's above them. Is this their real complaint? They won't look as big?

73, K8Joe"Palooka"
jpontek at aol.com



>From Gary Schwartz <garyk9gs at solaria.sol.net>  Fri Dec 15 04:49:57 1995
From: Gary Schwartz <garyk9gs at solaria.sol.net> (Gary Schwartz)
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 22:49:57 -0600 (CST)
Subject: The Ice Storm
Message-ID: <Pine.3.02.9512142255.A15738-b100000 at solaria.sol.net>

On Thu, 14 Dec 1995 W3MM at aol.com wrote:

<snip>

> At the FRC meeting this past Tuesday evening Stew, K3ND, 
> gave an interesting talk on the design of his station and ant's.
> Stew said "I make all of my wire ant's with Teflon Insulated 
> wire. Water does not stick to the teflon and the wire ant's do
> not get loaded with ice."
> 

I've used teflon wire in the past.  It works great!  The stuff I like to
use is #12 19 strand with each strand tin-plated.  Very easy to solder to,
remains flexible, even in the cold and very strong.  I've never noticed a
problem with stretching which I attribute to the tin-plate and the teflon
insulation.  Nothing sticks to the teflon, including ice and pollution.

If you hang your wire antennas in trees, the teflon is not only tougher
but slides over limbs very well without hanging up.

While we're on the subject of antenna wire, does anyone know of a source
for cheap BARE wire, 20-22 ga for radials?  The problem with enamel wire
is removing the insulation outside in an efficient manner, especially if
it is cold.  I had a terrible time laying radials on my recent trip to FP.
 The 30+ MPH winds didn't help either!  I've tried the usual wire
distributors and the only type of bare wire they carry is tin-buss wire,
which is pretty expensive when one considers the amount of wire needed to
lay 100 1/4 wave radials for 160M.  Plus, we didn't plan on taking the
stuff back home so for a one time deal, something cheap is desired.


73,
Gary K9GS    (You have to STOP the Q-Tip when there's resistance !)
         ________________________________________________________________
        |                                                                |
        | Gary Schwartz  K9GS           E-Mail: garyk9gs at solaria.sol.net |
        | Society of Midwest Contesters   Packet:K9GS at WA9KEC.WI.USA.NOAM |
        | Greater Milwaukee DX Association Secretary/Treasurer           |
        |________________________________________________________________|






>From Tony and Celia Becker <becker at shell.portal.com>  Fri Dec 15 02:59:31 1995
From: Tony and Celia Becker <becker at shell.portal.com> (Tony and Celia Becker)
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 21:59:31 -0500
Subject: New Blood and New Categories
Message-ID: <199512150559.VAA00782 at nova.unix.portal.com>

At 12:33 PM 12/13/95 EST, George, KQ4QM, wrote:
>The only real value of winning a contest is what the participant
>feels inside. Very few outside of the other participants in that category
>will care who won. Anyone who has taken the time to put the effort into a
>contest already realizes that only a few thousand out of the billion people
>on earth will even see the results of a contest. But, the callsigns in the
>BIG categories like Multi-Multi, and the Single High and Low categories will
>still be the ones recognized at Dayton, when they're seen at the bottom of a
>message here on the reflector or in the Alpha ads . :)

I think that this explains why some of the detractors feel so negative about
the new categories.  

I remember the furor last fall after the Sprint contest in which nearly the
entire group of regular top-ten box entrants voluntarily restricted
themselves to a low power, no computer, moderate antenna category of their
own invention.  Some of those who did better in this environment complained
that the lower level of competition made them feel the value of their
achievement was therefore less.

Now it seems that for some, seeing a guy you would otherwise beat get some
recognition for success on a lower but more level plane also detracts from
their feelings of achievement.  

All of these objections fail to recognize the fundamental diversity of the
species.  As long as humans remain a diverse group, the standards by which
they judge themselves and the things which motivate them will be likewise be
diverse.  Lets hope it stays that way or society will become tedious and
boring.  Suppressing recognition of others performance so that your
performance feels more valuable seems a little mean spirited too.

Seasons Greetings and 73

AE0M, Tony Becker - becker at shell.portal.com - Silicon Valley, U.S.A.


>From Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH at TGV.COM>  Fri Dec 15 13:06:28 1995
From: Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH at TGV.COM> (Trey Garlough)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 05:06:28 -0800 (PST)
Subject: traffic on CQ-Contest
Message-ID: <819032788.427529.GARLOUGH at TGV.COM>

In order to cut down the traffic on the CQ-Contest at TGV.COM mailing
list, I would like to propose the creation of a 3830 at someplace.foo
mailing list that would act as a place to post contest scores.  In
other words, after the contest you could report your score on 3830 as
well as the 3830 mailing list.

The purpose of this action would be to help preserve CQ-Contest as a
discussion list without filling up the mailboxes of those people who
are not interested in receiving a seperate message desribing every
effort in every contest.  Someone who is interested in score reports
for a specific contest could sign on to the 3830 list in time to
receive the reports.  Then someone could post periodic summaries to
CQ-Contest of the scores posted to the 3830 list (thanks floydjr! --
keep up the great work!).

I am interested in hearing your thoughts.

--Trey, WN4KKN


>From barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner)  Fri Dec 15 13:08:04 1995
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 95 13:08:04 GMT
Subject: The Ice Storm
Message-ID: <6NJ6FD3w165w at w2up.wells.com>

Gary Schwartz <garyk9gs at solaria.sol.net> writes:

> While we're on the subject of antenna wire, does anyone know of a source
> for cheap BARE wire, 20-22 ga for radials?  The problem with enamel wire
> is removing the insulation outside in an efficient manner, especially if
> it is cold.  I had a terrible time laying radials on my recent trip to FP.

Gary - Not sure if there's a down side with increased resistance, but 17 
ga electric fence wire is pretty cheap. Agway sells 1/2 mile spool for 
about 10 bucks here. I use it for my Beverage - IMO steel is fine for 
that since it is a high resistance, low current antenna, so losses should 
be negligible. 
I would expect it to be similar with a LOT of radials, since the current 
is divided by the number of radials. But have never used a vertical 
myself, so can't speak from experience. Comments from the gurus?
73 Barry

--

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
.......................................................................