[UK-CONTEST] Attitudes to SSB and CW

[Roger Parsons]

FWIW. 

I don't do SSB contests. I find them much too
difficult - I just can't decipher the exchange if
there is the slightest amount of QRM, which there
always is. On the other hand I am full of admiration
for those that can do them well.

CW is just so much easier!

I do groan when there is an SSB contest on 160m
because it means that the band plan will be ignored
and I cannot then use my favourite band for that
weekend.

73 Roger
VE3ZI/G3RBP




> > From: "Chris Tran ZL1CT" <zl1ct at gm7v.com>
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Attitudes to SSB and CW
> contesting
> Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 10:55:13 +1300
> To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> 
> Saturday 19th March 2005
> 
> Hello all
> 
> This is something that's been on my mind for quite a
> few years, but I've
> never seen it discussed on either the cq-contest
> reflector or here on the
> uk-contest reflector. Many subscribers to the
> cq-contest reflector are prone
> to immediately flaming any postings that don't suit
> their (narrow)
> point-of-view so I thought I would post this here
> first and hopefully
> stimulate some more thoughtful discussion. I'd like
> to quote from a personal
> e-mail discussion that I've been having with 2 other
> UK contesters in the
> past week or two - this is a lengthy quotation but
> outlines the concerns
> very well :-
> 
> "I sometimes get the feeling that there is a rather
> snobbish view taken of
> SSB contests amongst some of the UK and WW
> contesting fraternity, never mind
> the view taken on contesting in general amongst some
> other parts of the ham
> world in general. The subtle and almost subliminal
> denegration of SSB
> contesting irritates me. I think this 'CW elitism'
> may actually do harm to
> contesting.
> 
> Any young contester coming along these days is
> likely (statistically
> speaking) to find CW quite tough and CW contests in
> particular. If the part
> of contesting they can more easily get right
> into...SSB...is somehow put
> down by some elder statesmen, there is a danger the
> newbies will not wish to
> be seen/heard doing something which is 'inferior'
> and just go off and
> operate data modes and the internet.
> 
> I fully appreciate that many do genuinely prefer CW,
> and that is absolutely
> their right to chose but with some, and I really
> mean SOME and not all,
> there is a feeling that SSB is not 'proper
> contesting'. Perhaps I am
> paranoid but how often have we seen comments like '
> xxx SSB contest coming
> up (groan)' or comments by those who feel obliged to
> point out that while
> they have or will take part in the SSB leg etc, they
> much prefer CW, as if
> they are embarrassed to admit that they took part in
> an SSB contest. And the
> worst ever was around last year's CQ WW events when
> one well-known US
> contester came out with the memorable sign-off to a
> reflector
> contribution...'we don't need no stinkin'
> microphones' (think that was what
> was said anyway) "
> 
> I agree 100% with these sentiments - in my
> experience of many SSB and CW
> contests, successful SSB contesting is every bit as
> demanding as successful
> CW contesting. I also think that sign-offs like 'the
> SSB contest was OK, but
> the real contest is at the end of next month' do
> more harm than good.
> 
> 73
> Chris
> ZL1CT (GM3WOJ)


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