[CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score

PaulKB8N at aol.com PaulKB8N at aol.com
Mon Dec 1 14:12:04 EST 2008


Ulli, Julius,
 
We talked about this in one of the articles for Contesting on a Budget  in 
NCJ a few years back.  I think that with some careful budgeting and  planning, 
you could do well with much less.  
 
You can find old computers and monitors almost for free, software is next  to 
nothing. For less than $100.00 you can probably find a computer and software  
that will work.
 
Used radios are not expensive, but you should find something with computer  
control.  The Icom 735 is still an OK radio and interfaces easily.   I've seen 
them for as little as $350 stock, or $400 with a filter.  I'd  recommend a 
pair of inexpensive radios in an SO2R arrangement over a single,  more expensive 
radio.
 
Wire antennas can be very competitive.  Spools of wire are cheap on  eBay, I 
buy the milspec, teflon-covered silver-plated copper-stranded wire for  
pennies a foot.  You can do wonders with low wires and wire beams!
 
You can make your own balanced feedline and wind your own baluns  
inexpensively.  Cheap lightweight mast?  Use the thinnest schedule PVC  you can find, buy 
a can of "Great Stuff", make a telescoping mast about 28' long  with three 
diameters of PVC, drill a small hole every foot and shoot the Great  Stuff in, 
let it harden and you have a very rigid mast for inverted vees and  other wire 
antennas.  If you wish, you can even embed 300 ohm ladder line  inside the 
mast before you shoot the foam inside, from what I can  tell, Great Stuff has 
pretty decent dielectric properties. 
 
What I've described is a SO2R station for around $1000.  You may not  make 
the top ten box, but you certainly can do well.  I think this  topic might 
warrant more investigation, and Ralph, K9ZO, is the new  columnist for Contesting 
on a Budget.  I've copied him on this if he  wants to pursue it further.  
 
Paul, K5AF
 
  In a message dated 12/1/2008 9:46:42 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
phriendly1 at yahoo.com writes:
 
Ulli,

I suspect it is tough to be competitive (SOAB) for under  $3K unless you're a 
really good scrounger. 

SOSB may be easier,  although taking first would still put you up against 
some very impressive rigs  and antennas. 40 and up you'll be competing against 
rotating arrays. 80 and  160 may be more level playing grounds as few have the 
real estate for decent  antennas.

Certainly you can buy a decent used rig that would be very  competitive for 
under $2K, maybe even under $1K. Used antennas seem cheap,  particularly 
yagis... Wire antennas can play really well on the lower  bands.

Sometimes it's a matter of luck... skills and location are very  important, 
but as Napoleon might say, give me a operator who is lucky  ;o)

I do find it interesting to think about the folks who put hundreds  of 
thousands of dollars and time into technical marvels (and they really are)  for a 
plaque that costs less than $100 and the prestige (or bragging rights).  
Competition is a funny thing... I'm sure there is a Doctorate thesis in there  
somewhere ;o)

Some of the fun for me is with the folks I compete with,  we have a bond and 
support each others efforts. Kinda like betting on the side  at a horse race. 
Beating your own best score is nice too, but it's more fun  sharing the build 
up and discussing it afterward. 

I like reading the  3830 posts from folks, not so much the scores, but how 
the event went. I  particularly like reading the LP and QRP stories.
NS3T has some good  stories too, on Radiosport.

73 & GL,
Julius

Julius  Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
TnQP  http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #3311
Elecraft K2/100  #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366


--- On Mon, 12/1/08, Ulli Grunow  <ulli.grunow at ospreyribs.com> wrote:

> From: Ulli Grunow  <ulli.grunow at ospreyribs.com>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso  score
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Date: Monday, December 1,  2008, 7:44 AM
> Dear contesters,
> 
> Contest  organizers.
> 
> This is just something I was thinking about when  looking
> through the scores
> of last CQWW CW 2008..
>  
>  
> 
> I am ON5KQ, (op Ulli) operating a very  limited contest
> station here in
> Belgium..
> 
>  Have just published my claimed scores (SOSB 40m) at 3830
>  reflector.
> 
>  
> 
> Seeing all the great score  of great people it came to my
> mind, that there
> might be one  factor for great contest results we never talk
> about.
> 
>  I just want to name it here once: the factor of money spent
> to achieve  the
> result.
> 
>  
> 
> I am not at all  saying, that it is the most important
> factor - but I have
>  never seen a below $3000 total cost station winning a
> contest  !
> 
> You may say it is trivial - with more input there is  more
> output - yes,
> partly this is true and that's a way you  can see it.
> 
>  
> 
> >From a sports  standpoint of view, I personally feel as
> if I try to become
>  successful with an old Volkswagen in a Formule 1 race.
> should I buy a  new
> expensive car te get in pool position next time ?!
>  
> I certainly enjoy the many impressive websites of the major
>  contest winner's
> - great to see ! Great technology and thank you  for
> documenting and share
> your experience with dream equipment  for almost everyone
> else.
> 
> Sometimes there are Single  OP's operating a super
> station build in many many
> years from  Multi/Multi teams. Is that real Single Operator
> contesting ?!?
>  
> Also the Multi/Multi teams spend many thousands of dollars
>  into the
> hobby..their neighbor ham's might be never be able to
>  do anything close to
> that, simply due to their very limited of even  tight
> budget.
> 
>  
> 
> So in what  aspect we talk about winning the contest ?
> Biggest station,
>  richest people ? Biggest equipment ?!?
> 
>  
>  
> I am happy to find the Triband/wires only category in some
>  contests.
> 
> How about a total below $3000 dollar category  ?!
> 
> Single band entries half.
> 
>  
>  
> My station is below $1500 incl. TRX !
> 
> I am proud of  my efficiency .. 
> 
> Want to hear/read about small stations with  good results -
> stand up guy's !
> 
>  
>  
> Ulli, ON5KQ
> 
> www.on5kq.be
> 
>   
> 
> P.S.: I am not against spending lots of money into  our
> great hobby - just
> wanted to tell a different  story.
> 
>  _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing  list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
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