[VHFcontesting] Keep the true spirit of contesting alive

[Hoffman, Mark]

Bill, 

Some clarification would be nice, on your statement "Neither myself or
others  who keep it simple can compete with all of you who use additional
high tech devices". What are you talking about, high tech? 

Contesting, as radiosport, is intended to advance the state-of-the-art in
performance. SO2R is a prime example. A single person, now fully controlling
2 radios and using them to take advantage of both technology and their own
skills. Yeah - there is some fancy high-tech stuff involved here. 

CU2QSO, for example (which is what you're probably refering to) CAN be a
useful tool. It's NO substitute for (as WM5R wisely points out) roaming the
bands and making noise - but it's quite handy. I've used it in non-auto-tx
mode (where I have to push buttons to make it TX - no violation of rules
there) and YES - it was dang quiet all weekend. But, as a nice little tech
toy, it now holds a place in my shack.

I have a voice keyer, auto-CQer (for CW), SO2R controller (for 6m, 2m-432
automation) and other neat-o stuff that HELPS me take advantage of these
tech advances, in addition to honing my own op skills. THIS is the true
spirit of contesting, advancing the SOTA and making a good score. 

Isn't your IC-756ProII pretty snazzy high-tech? I don't have a bandscope in
my station. I can't check activity across a 200kHz span without tuning it
manually. Sounds like an unfair tech advantage to me!

-Mark, K2AXX



-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Burgess [mailto:braillist at sympatico.ca]
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 9:59 AM
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Keep the true spirit of contesting alive


As a ham licensed only 6 months, I read arguements posted here with much
disappointment about high tech and contesting.

I operated the CW WW VHF contest as a Rover and totally alone erected the
Cushcraft 4218 boomer and F9FT 5 el beams on 20 feet of pipe at 2 grid
locations and the F9FT alone at the last.  Used an Icom 756 ProII without
using voice recorder, 706 on 2 and straight key and am happy to report 171
contacts.  Powered by a 1400 watt generator. 

Neither myself or others  who keep it simple can compete with all of you who
use additional high tech devices.   Therefore you should be in a category by
yourselves, or have contests for yourselves, so the rest of us can stand up
and be counted.  I won many new grids and had lots of fun.

Keep the true spirit of contesting alive.
     
Bill

VE3CRU at rac.ca

Email: braillist at sympatico.ca
         
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