[SECC] February 2004 QST - Op-Ed piece

[Bill Coleman]

I sent this to the QST editor, the original author of the piece, and to 
Dan Henderson N1ND. I've already heard from Dan, he says it was 
well-written and it was correct to send it to the QST editor.

On Feb 10, 2004, at 7:10 PM, Bill Coleman wrote:

> After reading the title on page 98 of QST this month, I eagerly 
> anticipated reading the article. Here, I thought, is a collection of 
> tips on how to find an operating frequency during a phone contest. I 
> was thinking of operating, not avoiding, the contest.
>
> Mr. Webb starts off by saying that we contestors and non-contestors 
> alike need to do more than point fingers. However, in the same 
> sentence he talks of contestors usurping the bands. In my dictionary, 
> to usurp is to take by force without authority. In other words, he's 
> pointing a finger squarely at the contestors, claiming they don't 
> belong on the bands.
>
> Indeed, his proposal indicates exactly that thought -- suggesting we 
> ban contestors from a substantial portion of the HF bands. I fail to 
> see the balance in his proposal. Where, I ask, is the 200 kHz of 
> contest-only spectrum given in return?
>
> Before we can have a constructive dialog between contestors and 
> non-contestors, each much acknowledge the legitimacy of the other's 
> operations. Mr. Webb has already passed judgement, seeing little worth 
> in contest operation.
>
> Mr. Webb twice dismisses the value of the 30m, 17m and 12m bands, 
> which are contest free. Where, I ask, is the 200 kHz of bands which 
> are contest-only? Moreover, he completely skips over the 60m band, 
> whose channelized nature and propagation seem tailor-made for net 
> operations.
>
> While the phone bands are certainly filled to capacity during a major 
> contest, the solution isn't to ban contest activity. The solution is 
> for everyone to recognize the validity of each type of operation, and 
> to work with courtesy and cooperation to minimize QRM during this 
> time.
>
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
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>
Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901