KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
Operating Notes: Centennial points, QSO #15000, Why dont contesters ragchew?

Posted: 14 Dec 2014 08:16 PM PST
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kb6nu...m_medium=email


I reported in the past about the lengths some guys will go to make ARRL
Centennial QSO Party points. Well, today, I completed a series of QSOs with
the same station, making three on 40m (CW, AM, SSB), three on 20m (CW, AM,
SSB), three on 15m (CW, AM, SSB), and four on 10m (CW, AM, SSB, FM). Since
Im an Asst. Section Manager, thats 455 points for my friend. Hes a
Volunteer Examiner, so that volley of QSOs was worth 65 points to me.

I currently have 4,823 total points, but I dont think that these points,
nor the points I racked up in the 10m contest this afternoon are included
in that total. Im currently #87 in the state of Michigan and 5,685 overall.
Not great numbers. Im tempted to try to pump those up, but with only a
couple weeks to go, I doubt that I could move up in the standings very much.
QSO #15,000!

Tonight, I logged QSO #15,000 in my computer log. The lucky guy was HA8WZ.
Propagation was pretty good to Europe tonight on 40m. He was the second
European to answer my CQs. I hope that hell QSL the contact.
Why dont contesters ragchew?

Earlier in the day, I was chatting with a guy on 30m. We got to discussing
how busy the bands get during contests and wondered why we never hear those
guys on the air at other times. He especially lamented the lack of activity
on 160m, except during contests.

Ive often wondered about that, too. I enjoy a bit of contesting, but I
think that if thats all I ever did, Id get bored with that real quick. I
enjoy ragchewing, and love getting to know other hams. Ive met a lot of
interesting people on the air.

Perhaps contesters just dont like talking to other people. Thats about the
only reason that I can come up with? What do you think?

The post Operating Notes: Centennial points, QSO #15000, Why dont
contesters ragchew? appeared first on KB6NUs Ham Radio Blog.