[VHFcontesting] Did anyone else have fun in the January VHF/UHF contest?

[Chet S]

Hi John,

I believe you are misinterpreting the reports from the contest. These may be bragging reports, not disgusted tirades. The January contest presents challenges and problems for many, but hams like to persevere, engineers like to solve problems, and all like to talk about it afterward.

Think of it like sailors or fishermen having a few beers in the cozy pub after a big storm. Do they talk about how beautiful the storm clouds and sky were, or do they tell tales of how tough a time it was getting through it. Still had a kind of fun, maybe a man thing. 

73,
Chet, N8RA

-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+chetsubaccount=snet.net at contesting.com> On Behalf Of John Young via VHFcontesting
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 10:58 PM
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Did anyone else have fun in the January VHF/UHF contest?

So I have been reading the 3830 and ARRL Soapbox posts.  The vast majority of posts include a lot of commentary on poor turnout, poor conditions, dead bands and weather difficulties.  Some even question if its worth taking part in these contests. My experience and those of several others who worked FM in Northern VA or MD was very much the opposite. There was great activity from 2pm until 10pm Saturday and it wasn't what I would call slow (no 30 minute breaks between Q's) all the way up to 1 am.  Even when I got back on the air at 0330 Sunday there was activity to be had.  I didn't work through to the bitter end (or should I say bitterly cold end) but from the private emails it appears it never got boring.  Its not like we had great weather here by any stretch.
What made it so much fun?
Turn out and constant activity.  Working hard to get a weak contact.Rag chewing with truckers all night to add points as they cross grids.Making scheds with FM and multi-band rovers along with big fixed stations at "long range".Passing contacts between stations to build each others scores.Making a Q with people who never imagined a 100 mile Q was possible on FM simplexHaving a paraplegic 15yr old build a tape measure yagi so he can make a QSO with you (2017).People dusting off rigs they have not used in years or going mobile to a nearby hill top to give you another contact or multi.
A big part of what generated the activity was a coupe guys sending out a lot of emails to get people up on the air in our area.  That has over time generated a lot of turn out, both casual operators, new fixed site contesters as well as regional FM or FM/SSB rovers.  

Was having fun this January just an FM thing?  All our contacts are regional, propagation is not a big factor.  There are no digital modes, clickety Q, clickety Q.Its just you, a microphone, a radio, a cable and an antenna.  Pretty basic stuff.

Did anyone else have a good time?Post something if you did.  All that reading is pretty depressing right now.
73JohnKM4KMU






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