[CQ-Contest] Feb 04 QST op-ed article

[Hanlon, Steve]

having not passed my CW requirement i can only listen to the HF bands.  and listen i do.  during this past contest, i heard the usually congestion in the mid-ranges of the bands, but higher up, things were quite relaxed, esp on 20 meters.  i heard contesters 500k away from each other, but they clearly were not bothered by it, maybe they couldn't hear each other.  i heard rag-chewers talking about the QRM from the contesters but they were civil and thanked the manufacturers of their rigs for the fine filters and DSP's.  

i moved to 40 and heard many of the same things - 500k away, ragchewers having funny conversations, and the occasional (gasp) net.  when i went to 75, everything changed.  a battle had ensued to hear some of the comments.  it was "us" against "them."  imagine what it sounds like to a new ham who is working on learning CW and wants to be an active ham on HF.  from listening, 75/80 is a place to be avoided at all costs.  mean spirited individuals is a compliment for some of these folks.  i'm amazed some of these ops have tickets.


considerate operator and future HF contester
-steve hanlon
KB3KAQ