Topband: City boys on the gentleman's band?

[George Balint]

Gary, K9AY wrote:

>Beyond the competition, there are many positive aspects that are often 
>overlooked or forgotten...
...............................................
>The 'problems' recently discussed are nothing compared to my disappointment 
>that circumstances prevented me from operating the contest this past 
>weekend. I really missed all the key clicks, bad behavior and QRM!

Well said Gary. I would not missed it  myself for anything.

Gary's posting is the only one on the Contest subject, that warmed up my hart. The 'problems' discussed seem to me also miniscule against the positive things K9AY mentioned. My little pistol low power station on 120x50ft "acreage" is right below the 220 kiloVolts power lines. I can not pay attention to key clicks on the band, I am glad if I hear anything, since my ears are full with power line noise, DSL modem interference (sounds like a jamming between 1834 and 1845) and BCI from a dozen 50 kW AM station in the Toronto area. However I enjoyed the weekend contest very much. The bigger the pile up, the better. The contest was invented for the operator, who enjoys pile ups. Others, who prefer serenity in the DX Window could find it on top band around local noon time or in the Summer perhaps, and still enjoy the challenges of weak signal work in the lightning crashes. Of course, we all need better receivers to do that. But help is on the way, if I read it right on www.k3bu.us .

George
VE3NZ