Topband: CY9C

[kq2m at kq2m.com]

Hi Slavek,

I want to thank you for our many dozens of cw qso's and contest qso's 
through the past decades.

I'm 63 and have been a ham for 51 years and just completed DXCC Honor #1 
last year - my
"Lifetime Achievement Award".  Like you, I would like someday to 
work/confirm 300 countries
on 160, but it is not a serious goal as I am often not on when someone 
activates a country on 160
that I need.  When I have the time and the propagation is favorable, 
operating 160 cw can be a lot of
fun, but whether or not I get to 300 doesn't really matter. Other things 
are far more important to me.

Miserable, spiteful, nasty people have always been in our hobby because 
our hobby is a reflection of
the real world, and, thanks to technology, these people are far more 
visible now than in the past.
But it is also true that through this hobby I have been privileged to 
meet some of the most decent,
wonderful and interesting people on Earth, all of whom I would never 
know existed without our hobby,
much less being able to call them my friends.  It is a tradeoff that has 
greatly enriched my life!

Yes, DQRM and other annoyances SUCK and complicate our lives 
unnecessarily.  They steal away some of
our joy and happiness and sometimes make what should be easy, very hard. 
  But that is the "price
of admission"; no different than in "real life" no matter where in the 
world you live.

I have always believed that it is important to stand up for what you 
believe and to do what is right.
So I persist in the face of DQRM and jealous/nasty people to show them 
that I'm going to continue to do what
I love and enjoy despite their sickness and pathology.  While I am 
contributing to something worthwhile that
enhances my life, they are doing something hateful, self-destructive and 
very sad.  It is their loss in so many ways.
No longer operating would be a loss of enjoyment for me as well as 
rewarding them for their pathetic behavior
and I won't let that happen.

There are times when I feel like operating and other times when I don't. 
  It is easy enough to turn on the
radio on or to turn it off.  May I suggest the same for you?

You obviously have loved operating on cw and in contests.  If it doesn't 
feel good to you then stop.  Take a
break. Radio and contests are part of who you are and that doesn't go 
away.  It may take a few weeks,
months or years, but rest assured that your love of operating will 
return.  And when it does, you will feel
excited to get back on again.

73 and GL!

Bob, KQ2M



On 2024-09-07 01:31, ok1tn wrote:
> Hi dxers.
> 
> I am 78. I have all ctrs cfm. I had a dream to land 300 on 160m. I will 
> not
> complete the remaining 3 lands. I gave up no more dxcc. Not only the 
> FT8 but
> also the behavior of some of today's hams has discouraged me from
> continuing. All my life I have been perfecting the setup, especially 
> the
> antenna setup. I have carried out several expeditions, including to the
> Pacific, Africa, Asia, etc. I wish the rest of my friends to enjoy a
> wonderful hobby that will no longer bring me joy and pleasure.
> 
> Ch. Slavek ok1tn,