[CQ-Contest] New contesters

[N6KI Dennis Vernacchia]

Martin,

I have been harping on this technique and it's importance for years as I 
train hams in So Cal area.

My success story is K6AM/ZF2AM who is a kingpin now in at W6YI and ZF1A
and more successful contest Ops to follow....I hope !

WRTC missed a good Op passing up on John who remains low key

73, Dennis N6KI
Sandy Eggo

Martin Luther wrote:
> Over the yearsI have attempted to introduce new hams to contesting.
> Recently I have found a new problem. They do not just need to learn
> about logging, pile up techniques etc they have to learn how to just
> listen on HF through the noise!
>
>  
>
> Increasingly entry for the young operator to Amateur Radio is via 2M FM.
> Unlike we old farts they do not serve an apprenticeship listening to
> short wave signals on a pathetic receiver with lousy antennas! Even when
> they get going many young ops start with adequate HF equipment that they
> have never learned how to drive properly. If you doubt this just sign on
> to the transceiver reflectors for more complex transceivers like Orion
> etc and see the level of knowledge.
>
>  
>
> The result is that many tune around a contest for a few minutes and
> simply cannot hear anything intelligible. Once taken through the way to
> listen, how to use your ears to focus on the signal not the noise, then
> they begin to get the hang of it! Without a mentor/helper they may never
> make the transition to listening on HF in a noisy environment. They will
> just join the incompetent operators that whine endlessly about contest
> QRM!!!! Simply because they have not learned how to listen on anything
> but a "clear" frequency! 
>
>  
>
> They will not learn this skill from their buddies as we did in the past
> because their buddies are suffering the same deficiencies.
>
>  
>
> If we want more contesters and good HF operators we have to get into our
> local clubs, fire interest and then show them  - patiently - how its
> done.
>
>  
>
> There is no magic answer, no silver bullet! Randy is correct on the
> awards etc you have got to learn to love playing the sport! If your
> enjoyment comes only from getting a certificate, plaque etc, it may
> surprise you to know that there are some of us that get quite serious at
> times but don't take much interest in results. For me after the contest,
> the contest is over!! The buzz, the thrill comes from the operating, the
> openings, the camaraderie  - that is what we communicate to the new guys
> - if they get a certificate that is great too, but don't just rely on
> that for your fun.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Martin VK7GN
>
>  <mailto:VK7GN at Bigpond.com> VK7GN at Bigpond.com
>
> Tel +61 3 62602600
>
>  
>
>  
>
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