[SECC] Young potential hams - a contest secret weapon?

[Greg Davis]

"I have noticed that whenever there is a well-spoken young person (
one that knows "the drill" and is comfortable with the pattern of the
exchange, etc.) calling "CQ Contest" on SSB, there is usually a pile
up."

Too bad that isn't true for CW as well!! Actually, it should be an
even larger pileup! :)
^^ At least it isn't in my experience so far. (Then again, I used to
check into a phone net for a couple of years and they never knew I was
15-16 until I told them one day..)

Anyway, what you said sounds like a great plan to try to interest more
youngsters in our wonderful hobby.

73 de 17 year old Greg N3ZL

On 9/28/07, Scott Straw <scottstraw at mindspring.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> Friends,
>
> I realize that I am but a budding contester and heretofor my "hard core"
> contesting has been limited to mostly Field Day events, but in general and
> especially at that event, I have noticed that whenever there is a
> well-spoken young person ( one that knows "the drill" and is comfortable
> with the pattern of the exchange, etc.) calling "CQ Contest" on SSB, there
> is usually a pile up.  Additionally, when a contest station is working a
> pile up, I have observed that it is common to hear the phrase, "YL only
> please, others stand by" when a caller with a voice that is several octaves
> higher than the usual gruff old goats appears on the frequency.  Whether it
> is having a female or boy-soprano voice that makes contestants think they
> are calling / being called by a YL, the benevolence of giving a contact to a
> "newbie", or something about the pitch and timbre of the young voice that
> makes it stand out in a crowd, high-pitched voices seem to draw a crowd or
> cut through the clutter; at least that is my experience.
>
> If my suspicions are right, then maybe we have a cadre of contesting secret
> weapons at our fingertips that are going unused.  And, maybe by exposing
> them to the excitement of contesting, and the sucess of making as many
> contacts as I believe they might due to their unique attributes, we can
> ignite a fire that will draw them into Ham Radio. Imagine the excitement of
> telling their classmates that they talked to Ham Radio stations in all fifty
> states, thirteen provinces, and dozens of countries.
>
> If you don't have age-eligible children in your home, in-town neices and
> nephews make good candidates also.  Invite them over to visit with their
> uncle for a few hours one afternoon and let them help you.  Since most of
> them can operate a computer before they can ride a bike, start them off
> logging contacts while you do the calling.  Explain that you need them to
> operate the computer while you talk on the radio.  Let them listen to what
> you say, what the other station says, and give them a "play-by-play" so they
> can follow the action.  You might have to slow down your pace a bit so they
> can follow along, but that's OK, it will still be early in the contest.  A
> good clue that they are getting into the groove is when they can input the
> other station's call sign and exchange unprompted.  When that starts
> happening, you might even try feigning a bit of deafness and ask THEM who it
> is that is calling/returning. When they seem comfortable, let them take a
> turn while you log.  If they falter a bit or get "mic fright" coach them
> through it.  Tell the young boys to not be upset and take it personally if
> they are called "YLs."  The one or two extended exchange attempts while they
> "get the hang of it" should ultimately result in an ear-to-ear grin that may
> make it hard for them to talk for a moment.  Pretty soon they will be
> whizzing along, working pileups, busting pileups, looking for multipliers,
> and helping you rack up a good score.  Hopefully your computer skills will
> be good enough to keep up!
>
> Its just a thought; I welcome all differing, dissenting, and derogatory
> diatribes, but out of respect for the other members of the reflector, please
> send them to me directly at scottstraw at mindspring.com.  Affirming accolades
> should be sent to the reflector several times (just kidding).
>
> GLITC OM,
>
> Scott Straw, KB4KBS
>
>
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