[TenTec] Rigs at WRTC

[Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP]

Apparently you missed a couple of points, James.

When Rob says the number one criteria is, you have to enjoy using the rig,
then showing the list of radios shows what people prefer.  It's interesting
to see.  It is important that the operator be totally familiar with his
radio and can operate it "in his sleep".

I would also like to have seen which antennas were used.  You wanted to see
which code keys were used.  All of this information is interesting.

The world all-time records were broken on a dozen TS-850's in a time that
there were much better radios on the market.  Nobody said the radio doesn't
make any difference, we just said it is not the most important criteria. It
only has to be good enough.

Clearly the number one difference is the operator, assuming he is not dumped
into some pathetic QTH.

However you bring up a good point.
People are putting way too much focus on Rob's list. 
It shows just one aspect of how he found the radio.
You must read his entire test of each radio to get the full picture.

We can't argue with your statistics, but now factor in 'cost' and see how
many people are going to be able to use what the winners used.  In bangs for
the bucks, I guess the old TS-850 wins!

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8JHR
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2014 6:28 AM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Rigs at WRTC



On 7/25/2014 5:49 PM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:
> James, I repeat slowly so that you can take notes:
>
> T H E   R I G   M U S T   O N L Y   B E   G O O D   E N O U G H.
>
> Nobody says the rig doesn't matter.
> But the best rig doesn't help win, either.
> ____________________________________________________


RICK - You cannot be serious.  You cannot possibly say that with a straight
face after all the debate about what constitutes the best contest radio.
YOU ARE CLEARLY CORN-FUSED.  AND, yes, SOMEONE DID intimate the rig does not
matter.

Let's keep this in perspective.  Someone posted the list of radios used at
WRTC for a reason.  Why? TO MAKE A POINT about those radios. 
Otherwise, why bother?

We can only surmise the real purpose, but I submit he posted the list
because a majority of contestants chose K3s, and so this would promote the
K3 as the rig of choice among world class contestants.  He surely did NOT
intend to promote ICOM or TenTec radios!

BUT ... IT BACKFIRED.

Notwithstanding a majority of hopefuls selected the K3 in advance,
ultimately the top three winning teams used 5 ICOM rigs and one K3.

	This is not good really news for Elecraft.

Bob says only 16 % of K3 made it to the winner's circle, but the big news is
a much larger 33 % of the ICOM radios in the game made it.  That means a
majority of the losers used K3s, and the rest used something else.

Now, when this was mentioned, the poster attempted to rehabilitate his
position by suggesting the rig is, after all, irrelevant, because it all
turns on operator skill.

OK... if that is true, then the list of radios used in the contest has no
relevance, and proves nothing at all.  There would be no point in posting
it.  But, if one claims it does prove something, then it proves the winners
used ICOM radios, and the losers used more K3s than any other radio.  Again,
not a good day for Elecraft.

So...

	If the rig is really immaterial, as you claim,
	then STOP TALKING ABOUT WHAT RIGS WERE USED
	IN THE CONTEST - there is no point in talking
	about anything that could not affect the outcome.


Does anyone really buy this line of palaver?  I sure don't.

Let's face it, HAMS DO CARE what radios the winners used.  The guy who
posted the list thinks so, or he would not have posted it.  Come on, you
guys have been debating what constitutes the best contest radio for years,
and it would be totally disingenuous to NOW claim the rig does not matter.
You cannot say that with a straight face after all that has passed on this
reflector.

Yes, Hams DO consider the radio rig an important factor in determining 
the winner.   Moreover, every contestant selected the best radio he 
could get his hands on.  The winners cared enough to pick ICOM rigs over any
other rig.  And we all know that.  Let's be intellectually honest and admit
we really ARE interested in what rig won the day, and in this case ICOM
stole the freq-ing show!

But the, again, let's also be honest and concede he posted the list to
promote the Elecraft product, and intended to rub that in our faces here on
the TenTec reflector.  But it backfired and ended up promoting ICOM,
instead.

Common, of course we think the radio matters.

Consider this analogy:  Ferrari cars win the top three places at Monte
Carlo.  Does anyone ever say the car does not matter, because the race 
was won strictly upon driver skill and good fortune?   Really?   NOT.

Not that I care, but everybody who watches TV knows what brand underwear
Michael Jordan likes, but NOBODY knows or cares what the third string
players wear as they ride the pine.

Would you claim it does not matter what brand clubs Tiger Woods uses? 
OR what brand shoes Lebron wears.  Or what sports bra Skylar Diggins 
wears?   Really?  Try telling that to Nike, who writes the checks to 
sponsor them.

So it is incredible (to me, anyway) anyone would seriously say the rig used
by the champions is does not matter.

	IF THE RIG DOES NOT MATTER, then STOP TALKING
	about which is the best contest rig.

	IF IT DOES MATTER, then this list serves to
	promote ICOM and NOT ELECRAFT as the rig of choice
	among winners at the WRTC this year.

	And I am sure that is not the conclusion we
	were supposed to draw when he published the
	list.

OK, so, let's move on to something more logical and get back to talking
about TenTec gear.  OK?

----------------- JHR -------------------------
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