K7SS Sprint CW

Wed Feb 15 13:01:00 EST 1995

Hi Dave, thanks for the note. RE 2 radios I would like to ask the public question: HOW MANY "EXTRA" QSOs CAME FROM THE SECOND RIG? and that question would 
go to all the top ten guys that had two radios. I would really change my
thinking if it only bought them one or two qsos. My thought is that it may
have made a 5-15% difference in their scores. It would really put this "issue"
to bed if we could know some real numbers.
As to the SSB sprint, I'd love top share SOME secrets with ya'll. Let me start
by telling you it was one of those nights that 20 never closed. Almost all my
time was spent there, with a brief fly to 80, and 40, where I was "fresh meat"
and had GREAT rate as a result. But spent very little time on those bands.
Figured that by staying on 20 I would have the best chance of getting "uniques"
and new mults. Also I was at W7XR who has 18 elements on 20 and can spray
from E to S with strong signals everywhere. I think the condx and the 
antennas bought me a great number of casual guys where "weren't in the contest"
but "glad to give you a point". There you have it, a combo of good timing
for condx, and the right artillery to do the job - net of 457 (about) QSOs.
By the way the rate INCREASED each hour, something Ive never seen before in 
a Sprint. High mult count is a result of high QSO number, they some in the 
volume...didn't spend time looking for any mults. ( A few years ago I remeber
trying to work Central America by looking low in the 20 m band and calling in
Spanish..got one or two and ran into several other Gringos doing the same
thing. Dont think thats a good way to max score.
(Dave I dont know if your message to me was direct or to the reflector; cant
telll with the header..so feel free to post this to the reflector. I would
do it myself, but others might not know who or why I was replying to. So post 
this and your reply for all if you wish.)
73 de K7SS  Danny Eskenazi

>From Jim Reisert AD1C  15-Feb-1995 1538 <reisert at wrksys.enet.dec.com>  Wed Feb 15 20:37:19 1995
From: Jim Reisert AD1C  15-Feb-1995 1538 <reisert at wrksys.enet.dec.com> (Jim Reisert AD1C 15-Feb-1995 1538)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 95 15:37:19 EST
Subject: CT 9.19 now up on CT BBS (508-460-8877)
Message-ID: <9502152037.AA01831 at us1rmc.bb.dec.com>

It fixes the bug that W1GD reported this morning, about using ALT-F1/F2 to
change band of a prior QSO.  In addition, ALT-M problem reported in CT 9.17
has been fixed.

    9.17

    * This should fix the TS850 CW upper/lower sideband commands.

    * The POLL command is gone.

    9.18

    * No good -- do not use.

    9.19

    * Fixes crashes in 9.17 and 9.18 updating old QSO's.

If you get a "no answer" dialing the BBS, this means that both lines are in
use - try again later.

73 - Jim Reisert AD1C
reisert at eng.pko.dec.com

>From Alan Brubaker <alan at nah.dsd.ES.COM>  Wed Feb 15 22:48:16 1995
From: Alan Brubaker <alan at nah.dsd.ES.COM> (Alan Brubaker)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 15:48:16 -0700
Subject: Upcoming version
Message-ID: <199502152248.PAA08608 at nah.dsd.ES.COM>

Hi Tree:

You wrote:

....stuff deleted...

>computers setup.  Also, we will have a competition going in the
>Sultans of Shwing suite.

Now, try saying "Sultans of Schwing suite" three times fast .... ..

Alan, K6XO

alan at es.com

>From Danny Eskenazi <0005720561 at mcimail.com>  Thu Feb 16 02:20:00 1995
From: Danny Eskenazi <0005720561 at mcimail.com> (Danny Eskenazi)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 95 21:20 EST
Subject: SPRINT BASHING
Message-ID: <52950216022025/0005720561PK3EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

Hey so whats with all the SPRINT-bashing?????  I dont think Ive heard such
thought-out eloquence about why someone DOESNT LIKE A CERTAIN CONTEST!
May I simply tell why I LIKE the Sprints?
1/

[A
[C. In 4 hours I can experience a compressed fulltime contest and enjoy
the adrenaline rush and intensity of a much longer contest.
2. I can (after a one hour decompression period) at 9pm return to the other
joys of a weekend.
3. I can call my neighbors and tell them Im gonna be active for 4 hours and
not sweat the torch-burning mob down the hill who, after 48hrs of Mr Alpha,
would surely not be as understanding.
4. I think IT IS A VERY GOOD TEST OF MANY ABILITIES. Anyone can sit for hours
and beam Europe and run, run run. The skill of hunting, listening, getting answers to cqs, and dealing with a band in total chaotic flux..is indeed a very
good measure of all-around skills. I must be flexible in a Sprint at all times.

The fact stated that no WRTC champs were showing up in top ten - looks like it
will continue, now that NA is not being used as a measure for WRTC ops.

The bottom line is FUN. We all like contests for that same reason. Guess with
all the different offerings in contesting we can ALL find our own fun.
73 de K7SS
Danny

>From Jim Stevens, KI4HN" <ki4hn at cybernetics.net  Thu Feb 16 04:15:32 1995
From: Jim Stevens, KI4HN" <ki4hn at cybernetics.net (Jim Stevens, KI4HN)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 23:15:32 -0500 (EST)
Subject: PCMCIA RS-232
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950215230210.22797B at server0>

I think it was Ken, WM2C, that last year asked about the availability of a
PCMCIA RS-232 card for adding extra COM ports to a laptop/notebook
computer.  At the time I didn't know of any that one could buy, but just
today I discovered that Options By IBM makes and sells a PCMCIA RS-232
card.  It is a Type II PCMCIA package that comes with a special cable that
goes from the back of the PCMCIA card to a 9-pin D-shell connector, a
diskette with software drivers and diagnotics, and a manual. 

With a card such as this one, your notebook would not have to be the end 
machine in a CT network.

This card is orderable from IBM PC Direct at 1-800-426-2968.  

I have heard rumors that another company also makes a PCMCIA RS-232 card, but
I have not been able to confirm the info yet.

73, Jim, KI4HN
ki4hn at cybernetics.net

>From Larry Schimelpfenig <lschim at mailstorm.dot.gov>  Thu Feb 16 11:28:43 1995
From: Larry Schimelpfenig <lschim at mailstorm.dot.gov> (Larry Schimelpfenig)
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 1995 06:28:43 -0500 (EST)
Subject: SPRINT; IN EUR; LOW POWER
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9502160643.B3800-c100000 at mailstorm.dot.gov>

The responses from K3ZO and K3WW to the question about Sprint
participation by the large eastern clubs made for interesting reading. I,
who happen to be a PVRCer, participate in the Sprints because some of the
tactics learned are very applicable to SS and to the DX contests, in
particular for one using fairly simple antennas and low power. In the dx
tests I run em when I can, but do spend a lot more time running around
s&ping. The bottom line is that I enjoy them, and as long as I continue to
improve will continue to enjoy and participate. 

To change the topic a bit, I was chatting with Jose CT1BOH the other day.
The discussion turned to the Sprints. Jose was active in the cw sprint on
40. He says his problem was that he had no prop to NA on 20, and as he sat
waiting for the masses to migrate to 40 he fell asleep. He did wake up in
time to work a handful of the deserving (40/50 q's as I recall). What is
interesting is that he told me they are going to start a European Sprint
this year. Don't remember the dates, but they are going to run fone and cw
twice a year as we do. 

Finally I would simply suggest that we consider running the sprints at low
power. I don't have fantastic antennas, but can easily work the west coast
on all three bands. What's more, I can work almost all of the scatter that
I hear. It seems to me that after every contest there is someone lamenting
the fact that he/she lost time or had to quit because of TVI, BCI or BI
(blender interference). I made the decision to stick to low power when we
built our current home. Granted there are times that I wish I had legal
power, especially on 160 and 80, but in three years of operation I haven't
gotten the first hint of interference to neighbors electronic devices. I
have to tell you that not having reason to fear that telephone call from
the neighbor more than makes up for what I miss in not running high power.
I must also tell you that my wife accepts contesting a lot better than she
used to because she doesn't have to worry about those calls either. Can we
justify running high power in domestic contests? If you make 50 Q's less
than you would have with high power, what's the difference? 

GL to everyone in the ARRL CW test this weekend. The A and K indices this
morning were still a bit high but dropping. Flux was at 85 (which is
better than the 81 earlier this week). The Scandinavians were fairly loud
on 15 earlier in the week, so who knows. 

73 de Larry K7SV in Virginia - lschim at mailstorm.dot.gov
Are we having fun yet?

>From k3lr <k3lr at telerama.lm.com>  Thu Feb 16 14:55:32 1995
From: k3lr <k3lr at telerama.lm.com> (k3lr)
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 1995 09:55:32 -0500
Subject: Dayton 95'
Message-ID: <199502161455.JAA08907 at tusk.lm.com>

While your listening to the contest this weekend, you can
dream of Dayton!  Make your plans now. 

PRESS RELEASE----From North Coast Contest Headquarters

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

North Coast Contesters and Frankford Radio Club will host the
"Contest Super Suite" Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights, April
27, 28 and 29, 1995.  The suite opens at 7:00 PM every night. 
Located at the Stouffer Center Plaza Downtown Dayton Hotel, 
Miami Room (2nd floor). Large ballroom suite with cash bar.  
Room for 400 Contesters and DXers.

North Coast Contesters,  Frankford Radio Club and other contest
clubs will host the "3RD ANNUAL CONTEST BANQUET" on Saturday Night,
April 29, 1995.  Dinner is at 6:30 PM. Seating is limited and
tickets are sold only in advance.  

There will be a special dinner speaker, prizes and new entrants 
will be inducted into the CQ CONTEST HALL OF FAME.

For more information send an SASE to: 
North Coast Contesters  
P.O. Box 59  
New Bedford, PA 16140.

****PLEASE PASS THE WORD IN YOUR NEWSLETTERS AND BBSs*******

73 and Good Luck in the ARRL CW DX Contest!,

Tim K3LR

K3LR at telerama.lm.com

>From Jirasak Visalsawat <syam at Glue.umd.edu>  Thu Feb 16 15:57:25 1995
From: Jirasak Visalsawat <syam at Glue.umd.edu> (Jirasak Visalsawat)
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 1995 10:57:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: More about Sprints
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950216104013.8480B-100000 at espresso.eng.umd.edu>

After due consideration of the several replies I have had to my comments 
on this subject, I feel that I should make one clarification:

Just because a contest  (the Sprint, in this case) provides a more level 
playing field for all of the players does not automatically mean that it 
is the BEST test of ALL contest skills.  It is the FAIREST test of many 
of the skills that it  takes to be a good contester.  I continue to 
maintain, however, that it NOT a good test of the skills associated with 
copying weak signals through heavy QRM, and of those associated with 
being able to accurately copy an unfamiliar callsign.  It is my very 
personal opinion that these are the two most important skills for a DX 
Contester to have, and therefore the Sprints provide little relevant 
practice for those to whom DX contesting is their primary interest.

                                Very 73,

                                 Fred Laun, K3ZO   