[VHFcontesting] To submit or not to submit

[Paul N1BUG FN55mf]

Hi gang,

I am a bit younger but also starting to struggle with computers. Witness 
the fact that I am now three weeks into transitioning from one computer 
to another and still do not have basic shack functionality restored. 
Where did I put that big hammer? HI!

I got myself boxed into a corner. As my station grew, band switching 
with multiple transverters, amplifiers, preamps etc. and only one 
transceiver that has to cover HF, 6 (native), 2, 222, 432 (transverters) 
became problematic. I was making too many mistakes and was at risk of 
damaging stuff. So I automated band changes under software control which 
worked great, but prevented me from using contest logging software, eg. 
N1MM for VHF contests. Logging VHF contests with my everyday DX logging 
program is a nightmare. It requires too much user interaction. You would 
think it wouldn't matter in FN55 where QSOs are so few, but they come in 
furious storms where three stations are following me as I run bands and 
I get way behind on the logging tasks. I know some get left out or 
logged with errors. I don't submit logs because I don't want others 
getting dinged for my errors... and also it is just one more arduous 
task when I am overwhelmed every day as it is (also complicated by 
software limitations).

I wish I had a better solution for the station engineering and logging, 
but I don't. I can't go back to doing 3 or 4 manual tasks for every band 
change. I will mess that up way too often, especially in a contest 
situation when things get momentarily busy.

73,
Paul N1BUG



On 1/26/24 14:20, David Olean wrote:
> Hi Doug,
> 
> I feel your pain. I am starting to see the same issues. Most of it is 
> dealing with computers and digital modes. When you stack that on top of 
> trying to copy a weak station and then be thinking of the three people 
> who want skeds on different bands right after, it can befuddle an old 
> geezer pretty quick.  I have slowed down the participation in hopes of 
> keeping track of what I am doing. I stay off six meters for that reason. 
> I have a 3CX3000A7 amp and four seven element yagis on a hilltop. It 
> works  much better than I can take care of!! I send in a small score (if 
> I remember!!) heh heh
> 
> Dave K1WHS
> 
> On 1/26/2024 8:13 AM, Doug Allen wrote:
>> For many decades starting in the 1950s I submitted my VHF (and HF) 
>> contest
>> results to the ARRL. I also reported my results on 3830 kHz back in the
>> days, and on the 3830 web site since then. For some 30 years, I often had
>> competitive, top 10, VHF (and HF) results as W2CRS, W0AH, and K4LY.
>> I'm now age 83, and for the past ten years, I've not had the energy,
>> motivation, and concentration to operate the necessary hours to be
>> competitive despite probably still having a competitive station.  More
>> troubling than that, for me, is the realization that I make more logging
>> mistakes than when I was younger.  I don't know how long the following
>> contest rule has existed-
>> *"Contacts with call sign errors ("Busted") or that are not found in the
>> corresponding log ("NIL") are removed from the log and an additional
>> scoring penalty of the QSO point value of that contact is assessed."*
>> I think the rule, and computer error checking, are fine, but they have
>> eliminated my submissions because I don't want others to be penalized 
>> by my
>> mistake of not logging them.  With 8 VHF+ bands, three modes, 3 chat 
>> pages,
>> 2 computers, 2 rotators, and one failing briain (poor hearing, eyesight,
>> and memory), I  wish I were confident in my logging ability, but those 
>> days
>> are over, and so too, I guess, the submitting of contest results to the
>> ARRL.  I really appreciate the chance to submit my scores to the 3830 
>> site
>> and see how others have done.
>> Doug K4LY EM85wb
>> Inman, SC
>> _______________________________________________
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>> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
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> 
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