[CQ-Contest]re: NAQP and the (midwest)(south)east coast

[Kelly Taylor]

I think what we're seeing here is the typical disparity of opinions between
those who can easily work DX and those who cannot. For some, DX QSOs comes
as easily or easier than domestic QSOs do for others. So of course those
folk would like to be able to work DX in domestics.

A DX contest is not as fun from here as a domestic contest and from a place
like ND, a DX test is even worse. At least we can work Americans for credit:
from ND, Americans are all zeroes (points, that is) and DX just is NOT as
readily accessible as it is from almost any location closer to an ocean,
preferably the Atlantic, but West Coasters do get a lot more DX than we do,
even if they still feel disadvantaged against the East Coasters.

But the truth is, from even southern Ontario (in southern Ontario terms,
central Canada -- go figure), the layers of DX that are available that
simply aren't available here are amazing (and depressing). Often,
particularly during periods of low sunspots, we can only hear the first tier
of stations: lower tiers are just background noise. We'll see DX spots from
West Coasters working into Asia on 10 at times we can't even hear the West
Coast, never mind Asia. And from the East Coast, Europe is open for business
hours before it is here, and when it is open here, it's nowhere near as
fruitful as it is for East Coasters, so there's a double disadvantage. So
you start on Europe hundreds of Qs behind stations still working at a higher
rate than you'd ever be able to, no matter how good an op you are.

This is not to complain, merely to explain why some of us want domestic
contests left alone. It's possible to win NAQP or SS (as VE4GV and VE4VV
have proven) from here. Nobody will win a DX contest from here. You could
staff a 10-tower station with all the K1ARs, N5KOs, N6TRs, K1TOs, ZF2NTs and
K1DGs you want: give them 10/10/10/10/10s on all bands, Mark Vs and Alphas
at each position AND put a trillion dollars up for challenge and you still
will not win from here.

If you're in a position where DX comes easily, be thankful. Enjoy the DX
contests with our blessings. But please, don't turn fun domestic contests
into more dreary battles against things we have no control over. Let us have
at least some fun, OK?

The intrinsic disadvantages to working DX contests from here, truthfully,
limits enthusiasm for them among VE4s. Bringing those same disadvantages to
otherwise interesting domestic contests might just vaporize contesting
enthusiasm from here altogether. And then how would you ever get a Sweep
again?

73, kelly
ve4xt

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart Santelmann KC1F" <kc1f at adelphia.net>
To: "Leigh S. Jones" <kr6x at kr6x.com>; <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest]re: NAQP and the (midwest)(south)east coast


>
> > And, I'd have to point out that the reason that so many west
> > coast superstations and superb operators show up in an
> > NAQP contest is because remarkably few contests are
> > pleasant these days from the west coast.  For many top
> > west coast operators, DX contests must be operated from
> > DX locations to be any fun.  When I say this, read "for
> > example, ZF2NT".  The rare chance to get on the air and
> > compete on an equal footing with the rest of the country
> > brings top western stations out of the woodwork these
> > days.  And, until guys like KQ2M and K1EA are regular
> > participants in the NAQP simply because they are really
> > really hungry to get into the top ten, you won't ever know
> > what the potential for the northeast really is in this contest.
> > They'll have to be hungry like west coast operators in order
> > to overlook the fact that many consider the NAQP to be
> > a second tier contest.
> >
> > KR6X
> >
>
> DX contests are simply a lot more fun from New England than domestic
> contests.  I'd venture to say that most of you would rather run DX
stations
> at 150/hour than US stations !  I operate SS because of the tradition, and
> to get a mug.  NAQP and the Sprint fall off my list compared to family
> things, and doing antenna work for the DX contests.  Maybe I'll turn my
> antennas west for an NAQP and see how I do !
>
>                                 73 from still frozen NH, with Democratic
> candidates around every corner, and Go Patriots !
>
> P.S. To Leigh: your high pitched "Whiskey Six Hotel X Ray" is still etched
> in my mind after 30 years !
>
>
>                                                                 73
> Stu            KC1F
>
>
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