[VHFcontesting] CW

[Eugene Zimmerman]

Bill Olson is exactly correct here.  Even operators who do not use c.w.
realize that it is the only way to go under really marginal conditions or
with unusual propagation like AU.  The trick is to encourage them to learn
the code better and to use it in contests under those conditions.  We can
all help by slowing down a little bit when we use the code and tailoring our
speed to match the station calling us.

We can also encourage HF contesters to turn their bandswitches to the VHF
portion of their HF/VHF radios.  Many have this capability but have never
tried it.  Do you recognize such worldclass HF contesters as K1DG, K7JA,
OH1BH and S50A?  All recent and not so recent recruits to VHF.  We need more
of them.  We also need to extend the hand of fellowship to the FM only
crowd.  Maybe the latter will not produce a high yield but they are worth
trying to entice.  Not only for contesting but for day-to-day operating.

73  Gene  W3ZZ


In reply to Bill Seabreeze W3IY/R <w3iy at fcc.net> who sez:

> >What do folks think about the possibility that CW QSOs count as
> >another same-points QSO (like in Field Day)?
> >
> >This would give incentive to do CW, and give us all a much-needed
> >boost in QSO totals.

Bill Olson K1DY <callbill at hotmail.com> replies:

> Hi Bill, I'll say this again, I guess.. What good does it do to give
> EVERYBODY in the contest a boost in QSO totals?? ("Thanks for the SSB qso,
> OM, now please go to CW") Besides it wouldn't be everybody! The entry
level
> contesters would most likely NOT see it as incentive to learn code, and
> would just make them less able to compete - a negative incentive.
>
> Plus, while I am a big proponent of CW in contests and ALWAYS use the
mode,
> what are we trying to accomplish here?? Get more operators on CW before we
> "lose the mode"?? It's not like the argument for utilizing our spectrum.
> THAT we do need to do by getting on the bands (as you say!) before we LOSE
> them. But changing the rules of the contest to make more points for using
CW
> does nothing to help our cause, it just makes the big scores bigger, some
of
> the middle scores bigger and the small guy stays the same. The VHF
contests
> are not like field day or the 10 meter contest. For one thing, there are a
> LOT less of us, for another thing, we are dealing a whole lot more with
> signals at the noise level, for another operators regularly use CW in the
> non-cw part of the band. The point I am making is that CW is and should be
> just one way to make a contact that you otherwise would not. It is just a
> natural part of VHF operation!
>
> The very best thing to do here is to use this forum to inform folks that
> operating CW *will* increase their score in the contest. Think about when
> there is an aurora. On 2M and above CW is essential. That knowledge right
> there is the incentive. Operators that are prepared will benefit.
>
> This whole thing reminds me of the grid square argument many years ago.
Many
> midwest and western stations really wanted grid squares as multipliers
> because they claimed they couldn't compete with the eastern stations.
> Stations in the middle of Wyoming only had a couple sections in range,
while
> east coast stations had many many sections because the sections were
> smaller. Well grid squares WERE a good idea but they certainly did not
help
> the western stations compete with the eastern ones! If anything it made
> things worse. What DID help was the rover class, but now that is
completely
> a different story!!!
>
> I don't think giving more points for cw contacts helps anything. It WILL
> alienate stations who do not or do not wish to use CW. Why do that??
>
> I will get off my soap box now (and just lurk for a while).
>
> bill, K1DY  FN54 Maine
>
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