[VHFcontesting] One "Idiot's" Reply - The Real WTX Story

[Hoffman, Mark]

If you can't work lots of other stations in WTX, why go there?

To win, because you can. That's why.

It's fun to win. I've never done it myself, but I've come close. I've built
a decent station (yeah, it's a crappy home station - i'm sorry) and don't
stand a chance in HELL of touching K1TEO or AA2UK or WA2FGK or K1RZ among
others. But I still rebuild, tweak, tune and optimize my junk just in case
the opportunity arises. The technical challenge is what gets me going, and I
can certainly appreciate what you've done to get your rover rolling. It
AIN'T easy, that's for sure. 

If you have to win, then go nuts. It doesn't bug me - I know that for all
the QSOs I make, I miss a bunch as well - and it's THOSE THAT I MISS which
drive me to improve the station every time. And I'm constrained - I can't
find a different route to drive to make my score bigger - I'm stuck in one
place. Sigh.

The DXer in me just HAS to ask: what's the longest 10GHz contact you've made
while roving during a contest? I must admit, my humble home station has only
worked a measly 320km. I'm sure that with such an advanced rover station
going to some amazing spots - you've got to have done WAY better than that. 

One km better distance than last year is a km distance improved. At least
that's how I measure success. 

(cynical mode off, nomex on)

Mark, K2AXX

> Many hours were spent calling hundreds of CQs on six and two 
> meters with NO 
> answers. Simply put, there is extremely limited activity in 
> WTX. I worked a 
> total of six stations other than my fellow rovers because 
> that's all there were 
> that I could hear. Had I been roving alone my score would have been 
> considerably less than a thousand points. I'm sorry, that's 
> not competitive.
> 
> The only way midwest or west coast rovers can be competitive 
> nationally is to 
> join forces. WTX is the best area of the country where 
> multiple convergences 
> are readily available close to major highways. I don't understand the 
> objection to grid circling when there is literally no one 
> else to work. Also, where I 
> go to operate is solely my choice.
> 
> This "idiot" is proud to be part of the group that raised the 
> roving bar this 
> year. If you think designing and building multiple reliable 
> and portable 
> ten-band rover stations including antennas isn't technically 
> challenging, try it. 
> This is a hobby, folks, where each of us gets to choose how he/she 
> participates. I respect your right to disagree but please 
> respect my right to participate 
> as I see fit. Isn't it interesting that, despite all the 
> recent clamor and 
> furor,  the ARRL just posted the rules for 2005 and made NO 
> rover changes. Flame 
> on if you must but you will not change my mind any more than 
> I'll change 
> yours. 73...
> 
> John, N6MU 
> 
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