RE: ARRL November Sweepstakes CW (Ron D'Eau Claire)

[Kurt Loken]

Hello all,

I'm a pretty new operator (a few months), and I was
really put off this weekend by the sweepstakes.
"Noise" from one side of the band to the other...not a
ragchew to be found.  I'm very glad it doesn't happen
that often...or I probably would have found a
different hobby...really.  

Is this really the kind of stuff that helps the hobby?
 If people argue that it is practice for emergency
traffic, wouldn't Nets be better tools for that?  

Kurt - ae6uj


               
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[Bob Nielsen]

There are many aspects of the ham radio hobby.  Most contests (other  
than SS) are either phone or CW and one can often find contacts on  
the other mode.  The WARC bands (30, 17 and 12 meters) do not have  
any contest activity and are often more heavily occupied during  
contests by those seeking a retreat from the contesters.

73, Bob N7XY

On Nov 7, 2005, at 9:44 AM, Kurt Loken wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I'm a pretty new operator (a few months), and I was
> really put off this weekend by the sweepstakes.
> "Noise" from one side of the band to the other...not a
> ragchew to be found.  I'm very glad it doesn't happen
> that often...or I probably would have found a
> different hobby...really.
>
> Is this really the kind of stuff that helps the hobby?
>  If people argue that it is practice for emergency
> traffic, wouldn't Nets be better tools for that?
>
> Kurt - ae6uj
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
> http://farechase.yahoo.com
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> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

Kurt, AE6UJ wrote:

I'm a pretty new operator (a few months), and I was
really put off this weekend by the sweepstakes.
"Noise" from one side of the band to the other...not a
ragchew to be found.  I'm very glad it doesn't happen
that often...or I probably would have found a
different hobby...really.  

------------------------------------------------------

That's what the so-called "WARC" bands (30, 17 and 12 meters) are for! To
me, keeping contests off of those bands was one of the best decisions ever
made. I have nothing against contesting or contesters, but it's really nice
to have a 'safe haven' for a little casual operating - especially now that
there are so many contests on the calendar.

Back in the 60's I got a smile when I started to seeing contesting called
"radiosporting" - mostly in Russian and European magazines. Shoot, up until
then I thought my staying up all night at the key to help the club roll up
our Field Day score was simply insanity.

It's certainly a popular activity. Some operators are those who use them to
help build ever more automatic exchange systems. That's an interesting
technical challenge all its own, although many contesters think it's
cheating. But then, I can recall when I got my 35 wpm CW proficiency ticket
the only "high tech" means of copying the text in real time was on a mill
(typewriter). Now, of course, you can get solid copy at almost any speed
with the right software.

Times change, but certain values don't. There are still those for whom
operating is a good rag chew, a bit of casual DX-ing or checking into a net.
Next time you get wall-to-wall bedlam on the bands, come visit on 30 meters.
That's where I'm hanging out. There's no rules against nets like the ECN
meeting on 30 meters either.  

Ron AC7AC



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[VR2BrettGraham]

AC7AC commented:

>There's no rules against nets like the ECN meeting on 30 meters either.

The 10, 18 & 24 Mc allocations to amateur service were originally
secondary.

Today, the 10 Mc allocation to the amateur service remains secondary.

There is no rule or anything of that nature to my knowledge as Ron
implies.

There are, however, ITU-RR requirements of services depending on
their status & an IARU recommendation against sponsoring of
major radiosporting events on the 10/18/24 Mc bands no doubt are
really the reasons why this is so.

Some rather interesting & at same time disappointing reading in this
thread - in particular the applicability of skills honed through
radiosport to non-radiosport operation & in general the characterization
of radiosporting enthusiasts.

73, VR2BrettGraham

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[N2EY]

In a message dated 11/7/05 12:49:29 PM Eastern Standard Time, [hidden email]
writes:


> I was
> really put off this weekend by the sweepstakes.
> "Noise" from one side of the band to the other...not a
> ragchew to be found.  

That "noise" is the glorious sound of hundreds of hams using Morse Code.
I never found the bands to be completely full.
>
>
> Is this really the kind of stuff that helps the hobby?

Yes!

Look at the features and performance of today's rigs vs. those of 20-30 years

ago. Many of the things we take for granted are there because contesters and
DXers wanted them, developed them and paid for them. They first appeared in
the expensive rigs and worked their way down to the low-priced stuff.

And for many of us, contesting is a way to develop and improve operating
skills and have fun at the same time.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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