W2LJ's Blog - QRP - Do More With Less.

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Some days it feels like everything is Radiosport

Posted: 15 Jul 2016 11:02 AM PDT
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Don't get me wrong. I love Field Day, I love the QRP Sprints (FOBB, FYBO,
QRPTTF, etc) but some days, just some days ....... it feels like everything
else has devolved to Radiosport. Everything has become a competition.

I've stated this plenty of times before. When was the last time that
you've had a DX QSO that wasn't "TU UR 599 QRZ?" I know DX ragchews still
happen as I get involved in one myself from time to time, but it seems the
majority now are to see how many stations can be worked in a given period
of time.

NPOTA, which I dearly love, is not much better in that regard. Every now
and then, you'll hear a few words go back and forth, but for the majority,
it has become brief, contest style exchanges and activation reports of, "I
was able to work XXX amount of stations in X hours." People have become
obsessed with their standings on the Leader Board, and how many NPS units
they have worked. To be honest with you, I haven't checked where I stand in
about a month or so. And at this point, I couldn't care less. I work new
ones to work new ones, to see if I can figure out how propagation is
working to where and to possibly come up with new antenna schemes. And my
purpose for doing activations is just an excuse to get out and operate in
the fresh air and sunshine, which I dearly love.

Even my beloved QRP Fox Hunts seem to now be focused on Teams, who worked
both Foxes for a two-fer and who worked the Foxes the earliest in the least
amount of time. It's driven me to the point where I've decided not to
participate in the Summer 20 Meter season and I'm highly doubtful at this
point that I will participate in the Winter season coming up this November.

I guess I'm just in a funk, maybe I'm just burnt out a bit; but I tire of
ONLY the competition aspect of Amateur Radio - I guess I'm what you'd call
a limited contester. Maybe it's just not being able to endure long hours
sitting, any more. Amateur Radiosport has it's place - just not everywhere!

There has to be more to Amateur Radio than "TU 599 NJ 5W". And yet, like a
moth to a flame, I inexorably get drawn back into it.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!