[VHFcontesting] [NEWSVHF] [Packrats] Contest suggestion
Walter Murphy
n2wmwalt at gmail.com
Tue Sep 17 21:00:21 EDT 2024
The W2LV VHF group is only about 6 operators and we mostly live in Poor
VHF locations so we Mountain Top in June and September!
Having 2 contests one for ssb/cw and a second for digital(FT-8)
will never work as at least the stations that Mountain Top will never
participate in 2 contests in January, June and September.
Only viable solution is in present contests allow 1
contact either on CW or Phone (FM,SSB etc) and one on digital (FT-8
MSK144 etc.)
The loss of phone qso's due to the Digital modes
eliminated easy coordination of movement to higher bands and a loss of
short QSO's to share info or even to say hello.
Walt N2WM (Mountain Topping since 1970
Trustee of W2LV
On 9/17/2024 8:13 PM, Paul Bourque wrote:
> Hi Phil,
>
> I was talking with Bart, W9JJ about this today and he suggested that the
> sprints might be a great way to test any changes.
> The dialog we have going on here is really good- there are lots of great
> ideas being presented. Believe me, we are paying attention here at HQ.
>
> 73,
> Paul N1SFE
>
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 7:59 PM Philip Theis <phil at k3tuf.com> wrote:
>
>> Folks, what we need to do is experiment with these scoring ideas in the
>> sprints. That's what they are, proving grounds. This is a great dialog
>> and I'm sure the committee is taking this into account.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Phil K3TUF
>>
>> On 9/17/2024 1:17 PM, Bob Fischer wrote:
>>> My view is that the digital modes have added more tools to our
>>> contesting tool box. A good mechanic knows what tools to grab from the
>>> tool box for a certain job. A good mechanic will never try to use one
>>> tool to do every job. I know some say "the world was built with a pair
>>> of vice grip pliers and a roll of duct tape", but I see no hope for
>>> them :-)
>>>
>>> I start VHF & Up contests on SSB for quick easy contacts. When all the
>>> workable stations seem gone, switching to CW will get some more
>>> stations that could not be worked on SSB. After that I go to FT8 for
>>> more contacts. At this point I don't just call CQ and let it
>>> automatically happen because that becomes boring. I scan the stations
>>> calling CQ for new grids, and call them first. If I see a new grid at
>>> -30 on the screen, I do a quick QRZ check for an accurate beam heading
>>> and most of the time work that station. Now that's fun and not boring!
>>> At some time after working all the new grids I can find, I will then
>>> just call CQ and work all the "locals" in close grids who mostly only
>>> work FT8 and no other modes. When all other options fail, I go to the
>>> ON4KST Region 2 Chat (another tool in the box) to see what stations
>>> are not in my log. If you tend to be a "stick in the mud" and believe
>>> that violates "the spirit of the contest" even though most sponsors
>>> allow it, you will be missing some contacts and grid multipliers in
>>> your log at the end of the contest.
>>>
>>> Don't forget to go back to the SSB/CW/ and FM modes regularly to see
>>> if the football game, picnic, calls from the XYL for help, etc are
>>> over and a whole new pool of contacts are available. When they run out
>>> again, go back to digital.
>>>
>>> In closing, I believe the digital modes will not cause the "end of
>>> VHF+ contesting as we know it". If we all open our eyes and spend as
>>> much time thinking about how to best use all the available tools we
>>> have. Rather than being frustrated, we can still enjoy the hobby
>>> we all share for years to come.
>>>
>>> Respectfully submitted es 73,
>>> Bob W2SJ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 11:26 AM Rick R <rick1ds at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Here's a thought—Even hours analog, Odd hours digital
>>> Or perhaps having an analog-only contest and a digital-only
>>> contest as has been suggested many times. Rick K1DS
>>>
>>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> *From:* newsvhf-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>> <newsvhf-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Paul Bourque
>>> <pbourque at gmail.com>
>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 17, 2024 11:18 AM
>>> *To:* k1ep at arrl.net <k1ep at arrl.net>
>>> *Cc:* Terry Price <terry at directivesystems.com>; News group mailing
>>> list <newsvhf at mailman.qth.net>
>>> *Subject:* Re: [NEWSVHF] Dave and Fred and all
>>> A couple of years ago, I posted in Contest Update and recommended
>> that
>>> stations call CQ and look for CW/SSB QSOs at the top and bottom of
>>> each
>>> hour. Of course, what really helps here is that some of the bigger
>> gun
>>> stations get on and call CQ. Maybe we should make this a thing-
>>> similar to
>>> how K1WHS is helping bring back life to 222. But we need to get more
>>> stations on board for this to work. I'm not anti digital modes, but I
>>> really find it more enjoyable to work stations on phone (working
>>> on my CW
>>> skills, but not anywhere near ready for prime time with that.)
>>>
>>> This past contest, I was focussed on 6 meters because I'm so close to
>>> getting my VUCC on 6 and that was my goal for this contest. I only
>>> heard
>>> one station calling CQ on SSB (W2EA), which I had already worked.
>>> The CQs
>>> from my little gun station went unanswered. But I tried- I didn't
>>> make a
>>> single contact on SSB as my time was being wasted sitting there
>>> calling CQ
>>> to an empty band. BTW- my goal for getting closer to VUCC was
>>> successful-
>>> I'm sitting at 99 confirmed grids right now- and hoping that a
>>> couple of
>>> stations that I worked confirm for my 100th grid.
>>>
>>> In June, I roved to 3 sites in FN31, FN32 and FN42- (SSB/FM only).
>>> When I
>>> was in FN32- basically in W2SZs backyard, I was expecting to hear
>>> them on
>>> all three bands I had (6, 2, 432)- but they were suspiciously
>>> absent from
>>> SSB and FM. I did catch them calling CQ on 446.0 when I was
>>> driving down
>>> the hill from my FN42 location. I thought for sure I'd hear them
>>> on phone
>>> being so close to them. In years past, W2SZ was my "beacon" during
>>> contests- it was a sure bet that I'd get them in the log every
>>> contest.
>>>
>>> I'm really looking forward to any suggestions on how we can
>>> breathe some
>>> life back into CW and voice (SSB, FM, AM..) during the VHF contests.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> -Paul N1SFE
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 10:23 AM Ed Parish <k1ep.list at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > If all of us abandon CW and SSB, then everyone will be on FT8.
>>> We still
>>> > need to call CQ on CW and SSB and make some activity there. It was
>>> > disheartening at tines to tune from 50.125 to 50.200 and not
>>> hear a single
>>> > SSB signal during the contest.
>>> >
>>> > On Tue, Sep 17, 2024, 09:44 Terry Price <
>> terry at directivesystems.com>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > I don't "care" for digital modes either but I have worked
>>> folks on FT8
>>> > that
>>> > > I could not work on cw so it does have it's place. As a
>>> contester, you
>>> > have
>>> > > to go where the activity is, do I wish there was more cw/SSB,
>>> heck yes
>>> > but
>>> > > it is what it is.
>>> > >
>>> > > ANY VHF & up activity is welcome, hell I'll work you on FM or
>>> AM if
>>> > > necessary !!!
>>> > >
>>> > > Terry Price - W8ZN
>>> > > Directive Systems and Engineering
>>> > > 703-754-3876
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 8:50 AM Ellis Foley via NEWSVHF <
>>> > > newsvhf at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > > I agree whole heartedly with you Dave and Fred, I do not
>>> work FT8, just
>>> > > > not a digital guy in that respect. tried lots of things
>>> Rtty, ASCII etc
>>> > > > just never got into or like the mode. and not seeking any
>>> awards so no
>>> > > need
>>> > > > here. But I used to work all the VHF contest thru and thu
>>> spent many a
>>> > > > contest til the wee hours of each morning working and
>>> sending in my
>>> > logs.
>>> > > > Have not done that last 5-6 yrs simply because I no longer
>>> put the
>>> > effort
>>> > > > in because every one is on FT8 or what ever other digi
>>> mode.I did not
>>> > > even
>>> > > > turn the rig on this contest. had no desire to even "dole"
>>> out points.
>>> > > > I'm seeing and hearing a lot more guys saying the same
>>> thing, but
>>> > do
>>> > > > not hear them on ssb or cw when the contest come around? so!
>>> unless
>>> > they
>>> > > > get off the computer and on the rigs it will remain the same
>>> or get
>>> > even
>>> > > > worse. Sad to see the empty air waves on ssb and cw. anytime
>>> not just
>>> > > > contesting. I monitor 50.125 all the time and have only
>>> heard one guy
>>> > on
>>> > > > and worked him in almost two months! And the clincher is
>>> just about
>>> > every
>>> > > > new rig today has 6m into it. ! and no one uses the band .
>>> oh well Que
>>> > > sera
>>> > > > sera.de <http://sera.de> EllisWA1RKS
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