Topband: Contest in progress - few signals

[Andrew AC6WI]

Hi all,

As the person who did the majority of the running (and I use that word 
loosely given the conditions) on 160m at W3LPL this weekend, I think 
some explanation is in order.

I did work a number of US stations during the contest, in fact every 
single one that called me so I didn't ignore them.  It's quicker to work 
them instead of trying to argue about it and hope it doesn't result in a 
string of other zero pointers calling.

Now, in the case of Mike W0BTU, it's very possible it took a few calls 
for me to figure out which direction I needed to listen.  Consider that 
I was using Franks new 8-circle receive array, which has a much sharper 
and cleaner pattern than the Beverages we used to use, and that I was 
most likely listening towards EU at the time.  When listening towards 
EU, callers off the back side of this new array are attenuated a LOT! 
Combine that with a relatively high QRN level due to the storms running 
up through the North East, ie the direction I was listening, and the 
fact I wouldn't be expecting callers off the back side when I'm 
listening to EU, and it's not really surprising it took a few calls for 
me to figure out that I needed to listen in the opposite direction.

Thanks to everyone who persisted with lots of repeats over the weekend 
to make some very difficult Q's on 160m.

Vy 73,

Andrew AC6WI / GI0NWG



On 17/02/14 13:46, Jim Bennett wrote:
> I'd like to add my .02 to this thread, as an observer.
>
> There certainly are two sides to the story. The folks running "big gun" stations on top band in the contest are out there trying to garner points to win the contest, or at least their state/power level/section or whatever. So, I can almost understand their reluctance to answer a domestic caller. But on the other hand, maybe they ought to think about WHY that domestic station is calling him/her. Lack of rule knowledge. Perhaps. But maybe, just maybe that person calling has just gotten the station or antenna operational and is trying to see if others are hearing him/her well enough to make a contact. Or maybe the person is struggling to complete an award and needs your state or your county. On 160 meters, that is certainly a possibility.
>
> Is it going to kill you to answer the other person? Will the world come to an end if you do? Probably not. Are you going to create a huge pileup if you answer a domestic caller? Really.....? Sure, there are people operating in the contest who don't know that the contact is worthless -in the contest- but maybe that contact is NOT worthless to him or her.
>
> Let's have a little compassion and understanding for others in ham radio who are not operating exactly as you'd want them to.
>
> Jim / W6JHB
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