Enjoyed reading of Elecraft owners experiences during the contest. I can
offer a historical perspective. This used to be my favorite contest, as I was a CW geek (W2BHP, K2RE) and really enjoyed it even with my limited antenna setup. Got out of ham radio about 20 years ago, but am starting to get the bug again. Listened for about 8 hours with my ICOM R75 and random wire and certainly got the urge to be able to jump in again! Some comments on the top ten list: The new technology certainly makes a difference, both positively and negatively. The item that I noticed most is the continual CQ calling with limited listening by many many stations. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, back in my day we had to call CQ by hand rather than by pushing a button on the memory keyer. Now as fatigue sets in it is easier to push the button rather than listen and search the band for stations you havent worked. On the positive side, automatic antenna tuners have made the long tune-ups almost a thing of the past. I must say that in all my hours of listening, I didnt hear any objectionable tune-ups. As far as discourteous operators, etc. Id say it was not any worse or better than it was back in the old days. Mostly polite. So look for me next November with a new license and K2 or KX1! Id like to see more results here from Elecraft owners in the contest, especially QRP. I heard 75 sections here in Colorado. Craig D. Smith _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Craig D. Smith wrote:
>difference, both positively and negatively. The item that I noticed most is >the continual CQ calling with limited listening by many many stations. > > Ditto - I heard 3 or 4 cases where the station (note I didn't say operator, 'cause I'm not sure there was one at the moment) was sending CQ SS in a loop, apparently never listening, because they didn't answer any of the callers. No big deal - I just kept moving up the band in S&P mode, but I saw this enough times that it got my attention. /Paul W3PH -- Paul Heller [hidden email] _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
On all of those I assume it's because their receiver isn't as good as my K2.
It's the Elecraft curse: You can often hear people who can't hear you. In fact, bad receivers account for about half the things on the top-10 list. Craig NZ0R -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Paul Heller Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 9:03 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Sweepstakes contest Craig D. Smith wrote: >difference, both positively and negatively. The item that I noticed most is >the continual CQ calling with limited listening by many many stations. > > Ditto - I heard 3 or 4 cases where the station (note I didn't say operator, 'cause I'm not sure there was one at the moment) was sending CQ SS in a loop, apparently never listening, because they didn't answer any of the callers. No big deal - I just kept moving up the band in S&P mode, but I saw this enough times that it got my attention. /Paul W3PH -- Paul Heller [hidden email] _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Craig NZ0R wrote:
On all of those I assume it's because their receiver isn't as good as my K2. It's the Elecraft curse: You can often hear people who can't hear you. In fact, bad receivers account for about half the things on the top-10 list. ------------------- Bad ears too, or untrained 'ears'. When I said that Contesting didn't particularly teach "operating skills" I meant "general operating skills" of course. It takes real talent to determine that the burst of QRN that just erupted from the speaker was really the QRQ exchange from another contact. Or maybe it was just a burst of QRN. Oh well, it's in the log now... It's certainly true that a situation like the SS stresses operators and their abilities, and when people are stressed they make mistakes or choices they might not otherwise, and they certainly run into situations they don't encounter in 'normal' operations. That was my original point: contest operating requires many skills not frequently used in normal operating, and normal operating requires many skills not frequently used in contests. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
In reply to this post by Craig Smith
Hi Craig
We sure welcome you back to the fold. Please post your call when you get it. I heartily recommend the K2 if you have any expectiations of getting back into contesting. It really is a "kick butt" radio, whether at QRP or 100w levels. I think you will get more bang for your buck out of the K2, as it will allow you to QRO if you wish, work all bands 10-160, and has an excellent computer interface to access the logging program of your choice. Had an absolute ball in the cw SS this weekend with my 5w K2. Welcome home :-) 73, Bob N6WG The Little Station with Attitude -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Craig D. Smith Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 6:45 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] CW Sweepstakes contest Enjoyed reading of Elecraft owners experiences during the contest. I can offer a historical perspective. This used to be my favorite contest, as I was a CW geek (W2BHP, K2RE) and really enjoyed it even with my limited antenna setup. Got out of ham radio about 20 years ago, but am starting to get the bug again. Listened for about 8 hours with my ICOM R75 and random wire and certainly got the urge to be able to jump in again! Some comments on the top ten list: The new technology certainly makes a difference, both positively and negatively. The item that I noticed most is the continual CQ calling with limited listening by many many stations. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, back in my day we had to call CQ by hand rather than by pushing a button on the memory keyer. Now as fatigue sets in it is easier to push the button rather than listen and search the band for stations you havent worked. On the positive side, automatic antenna tuners have made the long tune-ups almost a thing of the past. I must say that in all my hours of listening, I didnt hear any objectionable tune-ups. As far as discourteous operators, etc. Id say it was not any worse or better than it was back in the old days. Mostly polite. So look for me next November with a new license and K2 or KX1! Id like to see more results here from Elecraft owners in the contest, especially QRP. I heard 75 sections here in Colorado. Craig D. Smith _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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