[CQ-Contest] ham radio is dead?

[Bob Macklin]

This is what I am observing here in Seattle. The 80M band is quiet until a
contest. $0M has a little activity. I often hear someone call CQ for a 1/2hr
with no apperent response. And the I hear someone call CQ three times and
either quit or move. But I see plenty of activity on 20M on weekends and
early evening.

30 years ago both 40M and 80M were very busy at night.

BTW:
Here I hear strong digital junk (not TTY) about every 50KC on 80M. It seems
to have about a 950Hz shift. Wider than TTY. I find a good bit of PSK on 20M
late afternoon. Especially on weekends.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ/7
Seattle, Wa.

"REAL RADIOS GLOW IN THE DARK"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mike l dormann" <w7dra at juno.com>
To: <macklinbob at msn.com>
Cc: <glowbugs at piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu>; <CQ-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 9:18 PM
Subject: ham radio is dead?


> i must comment, as i sit here filling out qsl cards (the bane of being
> ZK1DRA and 3D2/W7DRA, W7DRA/VC7, etc), listening to 40m cw on my HRO60,
> and hearing the watery EU stations talking to LOUD POWERFUL W6 stations,
> i hear a few others across the band but not many.
>
> the last night of the CX on 80m after everyone of CX ilk had gone, one of
> the benefits of ballroom dancing you are always on the air after everyone
> else in snug in bed.................
>
> i started calling CQ somewhere around 3550 (no way to measure my
> frequency), with 300 watts or so from my ARC5/805 pa and worked three
> guys, all in Washington state, no one making a single bleep until they
> called me
>
> .........................we need a new
> contest......................................................
>
> CX rules, but the contest lasts for a month. post your log summary here
> in glowbugs, for example
>
> W7DRA /  3 bands / 15 QSOs / 6 states / 4 manufactured rigs worked ( ie -
> icom kenwd tentec K2)
>
> scoring would be 3x15x6x4 = 1080
>
> and the winner is......................... (glowbugs)W5TVW! who edged out
> W7QQQ by one contact!!
>                                                        (CQ-CONTEST)
> K1TTT! who edged out K9DX by one contact!!
>
> and the winner receives  ONE 10K 1/4W RESISTER?
>
> you see what i mean
>
> ham radio is dying not because of contest activity, but lack of QSO
> activity
>