[UK-CONTEST] Guest Operating

Thu Feb 24 03:24:44 PST 2011

Hi all,

A couple of suggestions for what I think might've helped us recruit new 
volunteers - and I say that as a group (Camb-Hams / G3PYE/P) who didn't 
do any contesting more than a year or so ago. This wasn't so much 
planned as just kind of happened, so I'm to some extent drawing 
conclusions in hindsight.

Firstly: get together at the pub! Chat about radio. Drink beer. Be 
enthusiastic. Talk about the contests you're going to take part in on 
the local repeaters on your way to work. Yes, you are allowed on the 
local repeaters. They don't bite, just like you need to let others know 
that contesters don't (generally!) bite :-).

Secondly: contest logging software nowadays is amazingly powerful, and 
lets us do some awesome things, and puts a wealth of information at our 
fingertips. To someone who has never used it before, it's going to be 
intimidating, though. Offer to sit with them, and you do the logging 
while they operate. That also gives a side-benefit that they don't need 
to panic if they don't copy the callsign first time, because you've got 
it! Along similar lines, invest in some headphone splitters and external 
speakers, so that as well as the operator who's almost certainly wearing 
headphones, others watching can hear what's happening as well.

Thirdly: encourage people to come on and see if they can make the really 
easy QSOs to those local to them. This particularly applies to VHF 
contests. This statement is probably making some of you think "ooh... 
cheerleading...", and that's actually how you want to sell it to your 
local amateurs. They feel good about helping out their mates at the 
club. BUT (and this is why I say it's a good thing): more often than 
not, they then carry on and work some more! And next contest, they work 
some more again, and soon they're enjoying themselves! We've had several 
people fall into this category. In SSB AFS, one guy who thought he'd 
just work a couple of us ended up making 50 Q's. They're then going to 
be much happier joining you at a "real" (to their mind) contest station 
in future.

Fourthly: portable operations. As well as being a great way to build 
that super station you thought was beyond what you'd ever manage at home 
(my back garden wouldn't fit a 3-ele on 15m, let alone 40m), I think 
it's more comfortable for people to come along and join you in a field 
rather than feel like they're imposing on you at home (however much you 
try and convince them they're welcome). It's also a great way to get 
those involved who don't (yet) much like contest operating, but who are 
more than happy to put their technical skills to work helping build the 
station.

Just some thoughts...

73,
Rob, M0VFC

On 24/02/2011 11:07, John Lemay wrote:
> We have difficulty too in getting new blood to join us /P for VHF contests.
>
> I expect that there is a cautious attitude to:-
>
> Using unfamiliar equipment, using unfamiliar software, operating alongside
> experienced ops and being seen as incompetent or inadequate.
>
> But I also think there is some apathy and a feeling that contesting is just
> "hard work". Well, getting top results in any walk of life requires effort
> and dedication - what's new ?
>
> CU
>
> John G4ZTR (G0VHF/P)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Andy P Hewitt
> Sent: 24 February 2011 10:42
> To: 'David G3YYD'; UK-Contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Guest Operating
>
> David,
>
> Are all clubs the same? I can only say SNAP!
>
> I have also been offering access to my station to other members of my club.
> I had all of two takers in a couple of years. Last year I became more
> explicit, they could operate using their own call signs, the club call or
> mine - so long as their class of licence permits it. Result zero.
>
> What can you do?
> Horses and troughs come to mind.
> 73
> Andy G3SVD
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David G3YYD
> Sent: 24 February 2011 10:13
> To: UK-Contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Guest Operating
>
> Returning to the original subject as per subject line.
>
> I often invite local club members to operate my station.  Not
> necessarily for a specific contest even casual DXing. I have had 1 taker
> in the last two years.  I would like others in the local club to
> understand what a reasonable station well operated can achieve. My hope
> being that this would increase their aspirations for their own station
> and improve in the long term the local contester ability and capability.
>
> I suspect but do not know that there is a degree of fear of being unable
> to cope with my kit or being seen to be an inadequate operator. Ideas on
> how to over come this obvious reluctance would be most welcome.
>
> David G3YYD
>
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