New blood vs. Young Blood
WR3O at music-city.tdec.state.tn.us
WR3O at music-city.tdec.state.tn.us
Thu Feb 29 16:39:40 EST 1996
Thought I'd jump in here with my two cents on the "new blood" issue.
The main point I would like to make is that while there is (and
should be) lots of focus on getting YOUNG folks interested in
contesting, don't forget about the not-so-young types who may be
prime candidates for a lifetime carreer in contesting.
A case in point: myself. I am 33 years old, and have been licensed
since 1976 (ex-call: WB3FAX). I held a General class license from
1977 until 1988 when I got the 'bug' again and started becoming
interested in DXing. After months of DXing with a wire and 100W,
my CW finally improved enough to upgrade.
Meanwhile, I'd heard the cacaphony of contests and wondered why
anyone would ever want to do that! My desire for more countries
led me to actually start having exchanges with some of these
'contest maniacs' so I could increase my country totals.
Then, one fateful night, I decided to enter a contest for the purpose
of seeing what kind of score I could make. This was the 1994 CQ 160
DX CW contest - and I really haven't been the same since. I finally
figured out for myself that contesting is SERIOUS FUN. See my article
in NCJ from that year. "Contesting - what's the fuss all about?"
Meanwhile, there is Billy Cox AA4NU - my contesting Elmer. Billy
had been working on me for a couple of years to get me interested in
contesting. My response was always a lukewarm "sounds interesting but
I just don't think that's for me..." I thought that after months of
"not interested" he would leave me alone, but no! He patiently continued
to present contesting and its assocaited challenges in a light that I
found more & more attractive. Bill has been the ultimate Elmer.
He makes me figure out stuff on my own, challenges me to improve my
station and technique, and provides lots of support and encouragement.
Most of all, he reminds me what is most important - HAVING FUN!
I know Billy has also worked with folks a lot younger that I am.
I am very grateful he hung in there and kept wotking on *this* OM!
Let me assure you, if there were more hams like AA4NU, you'd have more
new contesters like me. And today, I feel like I am in this game for
the long haul. I look forward to years of contesting. You (we) are an
*amazing* group of people!
So, don't forget about the older guys who may just be ripe for a new
challenge. New blood does not have to be just young blood.
And thanks to AA4NU for getting me into this mess!
73, Kirk WR3O
>From Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr at k1vr.jjm.com Thu Feb 29 09:15:20 1996
From: Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr at k1vr.jjm.com (Fred Hopengarten)
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 04:15:20 EST
Subject: Contesters/Stock Market Correlation
Message-ID: <31356eab.k1vr at k1vr.jjm.com>
On Thu, 29 Feb 96 21:31 EST, "Doug Grant"
<0006008716 at mcimail.com> wrote:
> Don't forget the K1AR-stockmarket correlation:
>
> AR works at Nixdorf - they go under.
> AR goes to Honeywell - they sell out to Bull and disappear.
> AR goes to Wang - ahem.
> AR goes to CQ - yikes! better subscribe to 73 now...
>
> K1DG
--
Fred Hopengarten K1VR
Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
internet: k1vr at k1vr.jjm.com
"Big antennas, high in the sky, are better
than small ones, low."
>From ea1au at jet.es (EA1AU) Sat Feb 3 12:59:54 1996
From: ea1au at jet.es (EA1AU) (EA1AU)
Date: Sat, 03 Feb 1996 12:59:54 +0000
Subject: IOTA TEST: ED1MC Scores
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960203125954.006aeb10 at jet.es>
IOTA - Contest Summary Sheet - Year: 1996 IOTA Ref: EU077
Callsign: ED1MC Total Claimed Score 1918226
Select 1. Single Single Op Multi
Op: ____ Limited: ____ Op: X
Select 1. CW: ____ SSB: ____ Mixed: X
Note: Multi Op entries must be mixed mode.
Contest DXpedition Station? Yes: X No: ____
Note: A DXpedition station is one where the antennas and equipment
were installed specifically for this contest.
BAND 80m 40m 20m 15m 10m Total
Valid QSOs SSB 30 94 737 209 0 1070
Valid QSOs CW 10 194 385 121 0 710
QSO Points 477 2181 7258 2302 0 12218
Multipliers SSB 16 27 39 25 0 107
Multipliers CW 6 25 12 7 0 50
Island name and/or station location: SALVORA (SISARGAS GROUP)
Give exact coordinates if island is not listed by name in Directory
TX/RX KENWOOD TS940 S + KENWOOD TS850 S
Power o/p 1 KW
Antennas YAGIS 10/15/20 + 1/2 Wave 40 Vertical + LW for 80
Operators EA1AKB, EA1AKB, EA1AU, EA1AWW, EA1BNW, EA1BXF, EA1DD,
EA1EVN, EA1GT, EA1MC
Comments Good conditions on all bands. Couldn't operate 10 M
because the antenna didn't worked.
EA1MC manager for ED1MC
I declare that this station was operated strictly in accordance with
the rules and spirit of the contest and within the conditions of my
licence. My report is correct and true to the best of my knowledge.
I agree that the decision of the contest organisers shall be final
in all cases of dispute. I agree to the data from this entry being
entered into a computer for the sole purpose of the contest adjudication.
Signed BATEA IOTA TEAM Date Aug 4, 1996
Name BATEA IOTA TEAM Callsign ED1MC
Address P.O.BOX 59
36080 Pontevedra
SPAIN
Carlos, ea1au at jet.es
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