[CQ-Contest] Re: new to contesting

[Hanlon, Steve]

i received a tremendous response - thank you for your insights and comments.  there is no doubt, i am hooked on contesting.  i WILL have my General in time for the ARRL 10 meter contest coming up in about a month.

i have been to a few of the mentioned websites in the past few days and even downloaded the "Training Tapes" from the NCCC site.  took a few listens to get some of the jokes and there it appears i am guilty of a few of the bad op habits.  with experience comes wisdom.  

although not a member of the club, i went to the Anne Arundel Radio Club's site to work with the AARC kids club (KI3DS).  i figured it would be a great experience seeing the kids work and not feel i was in the way.  

i am a member of the Maryland Mobileers club, and it is a great club for getting my feet wet in the world of amateur radio - many willing hams that take the time to help me become a better operator all around.  plus, i volunteer my time and skills with the local ARES group.

i worked the Maryland QSO Party is year and had a great time.  i borrowed a 2 meter mobile rig and drove around working only 6 or 8 contacts.  but i handed out 7 multipliers to a few of those contacts.  next year will be a more serious effort on the HF bands.  


again, thanks for the wealth of information.  glad to see a new contest so openly welcomed.  my other hobby, electronic music/synths has several closed groups that do not welcome many outsiders without them first proving worth.  glad to see that is not that case here.

the first thing i need to do is get a better callsign.  KB3KAQ is murder for fast CW...

-steve hanlon
KB3KAQ