[CQ-Contest] Something we need to remember

[Zack Widup]

Heck, even contesters complain about contesters. I recall seeing
complaints about RTTY contesters going too low in the CW subbands, and
the same with European SSB ops in the CW subbands on 40.

>From what I've observed, it seems most of the people who are not
contesters and are complaining are people who have skeds or nets on
SSB over the weekend. As was noted earlier, I don't see too many
complaints by CW ops who are not contesters (if there are any!)  :-)

Also, some people seem to expect the world to know that they have
skeds on 14.2XX frequency every Sunday morning at a certain time. If
someone is there first, contester or not, these people need a back-up
plan. Every ARES and emergency group I've been involved with ALWAYS
had back-up frequencies in case something happened to make the regular
ones useless.

Do non-contesters complain about the sun when a Class-X solar flare
wipes out the spectrum for an hour or so?

73, Zack W9SZ


On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 6:42 AM, David Kopacz
<david.kopacz at aspwebhosting.com> wrote:
> "Contesters have an extremely bad name with the balance of the Ham
> community."
>
>
> I'd would suggest this single comment invalidates the entire complaint.
>
> If I were to say "Rag chewers have an extremely bad name with[in] the
> balance of the Ham community", and cited examples such as the mess on
> 14.275 with VE7KFM, or the way W4RHE or other non contesters have
> vehemently guarded "THEIR" frequencies even when not in use, I would be
> painting the amateur community with an extremely broad brush.
>
> Every contest someone complains. I am quite sure there are a few
> contesters that operate in a manner that is beyond reproach, yet I have
> met hundreds that deserve considerable respect for the way they conduct
> themselves during contests.
>
> Furthermore, I would suggest that any amateur that expects to find a
> "clear frequency" upon which to have a successful conversation during a
> major contest is clearly being unreasonable.
>
> Let me suggest to the entire amateur community, if you wish to make a
> complaint, make a reasonable complaint. Complain about a SPECIFIC
> instance and provide call signs, frequencies and times. If you can
> record the instance, do that too.
>
> I am sure the amateur contesting community would be far more receptive
> to complaints that are substantive as opposed to general complaints
> about contesting. I am also quite sure that the contesting community
> would put considerable pressure on a single [repeat] offender.
>
> Keep in mind, amateur radio and radio contesting are WORLD WIDE
> activities governed by different laws, cultural ethics.
>
> David ~ KY1V
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Randy Thompson
> K5ZD
> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 7:35 PM
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Something we need to remember
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>