[CQ-Contest] SEA DX perspective

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

Charley's post about the ARRL can be applied to any contest.  When I  was 
in KH6 the WAE kinda stunk since the bands were only open a few hours to  EU. 
 
 
Most guys in KH6 don't operate the NAQP since they are not really  
positioned well for that one.
 
I don't do the All Asian since we on the east coast are not well positioned 
 for that.
 
The bottom line is:  If you don't like your location for certain  contests, 
either go portable for them, suck it up and operate from the  QTH you have 
or push the off switch on the rig.  No one made you move to  where you are.  
Deal with it.  I'd like to be at KH6 again for the  ARRLDX and CQWW, but I 
made the choice to move back to the mainland.  I  either operate or I don't .
 
Bill  K4XS/KH7XS
 
 
In a message dated 3/6/2013 1:19:27 P.M. Coordinated Universal Time,  
hs0zcw at gmail.com writes:

You  think the ARRL DX contests are boring... then do not operate them from
HS  because the typical openings to NA are a little over an hour at  local
sunrise and local sunset.  You may see that is about 5-6 hrs of  contest
operating total, Day One.  Add to that the fact that all bands  are jammed,
mostly with signals I can not hear even at the peak of the  openings;  I can
not get a run going because I am very likely to be on  top of a NA station
that I can not hear but who will block my signal entry  to NA.

It takes both a big signal and antennas pointed my way to even  hear NA, so
I work the 8 or ten stations on 20 that I can hear; the 5 or 6  on 15; and
squeeze out the fun of, at least, being heard those times,  usually with
comments on my good sig strength; NA ops say they are  surprised to hear HS
so loud.  Then, with 15 to 20 QSOs in the log, I  have checked often and see
10 is dead and 40 will not be ok for another 2  to 3 hours into the night.
I worked 40 out when it opened with about 25  NA.  I have been at the radio
7-8  hours for about 50 contacts,  filling out buro cards in between tuning,
and swinging my ants in the vain  hope of long path.

Second day is worse because dups are more frequent  than new ones.

Now extrapolate my experience to surrounding areas that  can include VU, 9N,
A5, Bangladesh, all of Indo-China, and some degree 9M  and Phillipines and
maybe even Singapore, as well as southern China.   You have to talk to the
VKs ZLs about their situation, but I think it is  not much better.  Then you
may see what boring really is and why even  during openings, few DX from
this area are on at all.

I am not  complaining, really I am not, because I know what is coming and
just plan  my daytimes to do other things, but I miss the action of a
contest where  everyone works everyone.  I have 5 el monobanders on these
bands and a  2el full size 40 quad and top of the line radios, so dont tell
me I am not  trying hard.

These are just the facts:  ARRL is an American club  and its contests are
mostly for Americans-- makes sense to serve  members.  I used to love them
as K4VUD.

Sign me as waiting for  March 30....  73,
-- 
Charly,  HS0ZCW
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