[CQ-Contest] Something we need to remember

[Julius Fazekas]

I heard one exchange on 20m in the SSTV activity area. It was a US ham, who didn't identify himself, asking a foreign ham to move because he was in the SSTV area. The US station was polite, I'm not sure that the DX quite understood the request.

Think I was more surprised how close folks were operating relative to the band edges.

I would definitely not have been overly thrilled to hold a non-contest SSB QSO or net this past weekend on 40, 20 and 15. Suspect folks will have to get used to the idea that sunspot activity will keep these bands packed during any major international event. I was running QRP and had reports of 20 and 30 over. There were a number of stations I could hear 15 kHz on either side at times. Way too many folks had messages that were distorted/overdriven, yet sounded great when the "real" person came on the mic...

It was both fun and painful at times. But suspect it will not get "better" if you're not in the contest.

72,
Julius

Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html
http://groups.google.com/group/tcg1?hl=en

Tennessee QSO Party
http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366
Elecraft K3/100 #1875


--- On Sun, 3/28/10, Randy Thompson K5ZD <k5zd at charter.net> wrote:

> From: Randy Thompson K5ZD <k5zd at charter.net>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Something we need to remember
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010, 8:34 PM
> During and after the WPX SSB Contest,
> I received a number of emails
> complaining about the behavior of various contesters on the
> bands.  We do
> all need to remember that we are sharing the road with
> others and must do
> our part to help get along.
> 
> I have copied one such message below that should remind us
> of this.
>  
> Randy, K5ZD
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 2:30 PM
> Subject: 
> 
> I have been an amateur for over 40 years. I am interested
> in many facets of
> Ham Radio, contesting is not one of them. That said, I am
> also aware that
> contesting is a very popular activity. Looking over the
> information
> available to current and prospective contesters I find
> nothing printed that
> suggests proper protocol. 
> 
> Contesters have an extremely bad name with the balance of
> the Ham community.
> When a contest is on it seems to bring out the "to heck
> with you, I am going
> to do what I want." attitude. As long as I can be heard I
> care not for what
> you are doing.
> Sadly most of the complaining is done amongst the Hams that
> are on the air
> most every day and not contesting.
> 
> This letter to you is to lodge a complaint. If the rest of
> us behaved during
> a contest with the utter disregard for the Gentleman aspect
> of our hobby
> that used to be known as "The Gentleman's hobby" I am sure
> that the contest
> community would also be complaining.
> 
> There is Ham Radio outside of contesting and those of us
> that enjoy this
> would really appreciate consideration by the weekend
> contesters. Do not
> blindly call "CQ contest" without listening to see if the
> frequency is in
> use, and if it is respect the stations using it.
> 
> Thank you for listening.
> 
> 
> 
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