Subject: Morse and Contests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 4/27/2004 7:34 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Idly musing, I thought of this a few moments ago. It isn't a CW testing

question, but is related by being a CW operating question.

With the likely demise of Morse code testing, is there any reason to
have contests give double the points for Morse code contacts?

Sure...why not? It requires some REAL skill to do. In this regard, as in
any other pursuit in life, greater skill should be rewarded.

While of course all contest rules are inherently arbitrary, does it
make sense to have one mode of contact be "more equal" than others?

Not "more equal"...Just better compensation.

As a Nurse with my experience, credentials and skills, I expect to be
compensated accordiningly. So why not be "compensated" in a contest that
required using honed skills, too...?!?!

Put another way, if you think that CW contacts should be worth double
points, is it fair to have say, PSK31 contacts worth the same double
points such as in Field day? Our GOTA station racked up a fair number of
points operating PSK31, and it was certainly no more difficult than
operating Phone.

And how long would it take a "new" Ham to master using a keyboard?

I've seen a number of cases where a phone operator has worked hard and
logged a lot of QSO's, only to be beaten by a CW op with little more
than half that number.

Shudda been on the paddles!

Seriously, though...Most contests differentiatemodes in awards...

Steve, K4YZ

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Morse and Contests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 4/27/2004 7:34 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Idly musing, I thought of this a few moments ago. It isn't a CW testing


question, but is related by being a CW operating question.

With the likely demise of Morse code testing, is there any reason to
have contests give double the points for Morse code contacts?


Sure...why not? It requires some REAL skill to do. In this regard, as in
any other pursuit in life, greater skill should be rewarded.


True it does take some skill. But if we use Field day as an example,
there is so much else going on that I find it hard to make special
compensations for certain modes.

I would make an exception for "demonstration modes" such as the lesser
used modes such as sat ops, feld-hell, etc. I'd use these as multipliers
though.


While of course all contest rules are inherently arbitrary, does it
make sense to have one mode of contact be "more equal" than others?


Not "more equal"...Just better compensation.

As a Nurse with my experience, credentials and skills, I expect to be
compensated accordiningly. So why not be "compensated" in a contest that
required using honed skills, too...?!?!


Put another way, if you think that CW contacts should be worth double
points, is it fair to have say, PSK31 contacts worth the same double
points such as in Field day? Our GOTA station racked up a fair number of
points operating PSK31, and it was certainly no more difficult than
operating Phone.


And how long would it take a "new" Ham to master using a keyboard?


We had a kid come on and operate psk31 almost immediately. It was
amazing. I had picked it up quickly, but I did some reading beforehand.
This young fellow was operating like a pro in no time. In fact, I'm
modifying the setup for next year to allow more of the PSK frequencies
for the GOTA. The kid was transfixed, and sat patiently working 14.070
until he had worked the band clean.


I've seen a number of cases where a phone operator has worked hard and
logged a lot of QSO's, only to be beaten by a CW op with little more
than half that number.


Shudda been on the paddles!

hehe

Seriously, though...Most contests differentiatemodes in awards...


Just seems like the ones I participate in give double for the CW. I'll
need to look some more.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Subject: Morse and Contests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 4/27/2004 1:22 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

And how long would it take a "new" Ham to master using a keyboard?

We had a kid come on and operate psk31 almost immediately...(SNIP)

That's my point! Almsot anyone can do it. So why give it par-level
scoring with Morse Code?

Just seems like the ones I participate in give double for the CW. I'll
need to look some more.

I am contemplating a trip to VO1 for Sweepstakes this year. I had hoped
to go last year but a family emergency canx'd that idea. Not sure if I will go
for CW or SSB weekend, tho...Can't swing both!

73

Steve, K4YZ

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Morse and Contests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 4/27/2004 1:22 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:


And how long would it take a "new" Ham to master using a keyboard?


We had a kid come on and operate psk31 almost immediately...(SNIP)


That's my point! Almsot anyone can do it. So why give it par-level
scoring with Morse Code?


Just seems like the ones I participate in give double for the CW. I'll
need to look some more.


I am contemplating a trip to VO1 for Sweepstakes this year. I had hoped
to go last year but a family emergency canx'd that idea. Not sure if I will go
for CW or SSB weekend, tho...Can't swing both!


Now that should be a cool trip. One of these years I want to make it to
Newfoundland.


- Mike KB3EIA -

Subject: Morse and Contests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 4/28/2004 2:26 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Morse and Contests

I am contemplating a trip to VO1 for Sweepstakes this year. I had
hoped
to go last year but a family emergency canx'd that idea. Not sure if I
will go
for CW or SSB weekend, tho...Can't swing both!

Now that should be a cool trip. One of these years I want to make it to

Newfoundland.

Yeah...but in November...?!?!

I can hack wet, and I can hack cold...wet and cold doesn't seem to be a
very comforting combination...! I have put out a solicitation on my
"ER-Nurses" list server and have already received some responses from my
colleagues in Canada with info on lodging opportunities. I hope to find a nice
cabin somewhere.

73

Steve, K4YZ

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Morse and Contests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 4/28/2004 2:26 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Morse and Contests


I am contemplating a trip to VO1 for Sweepstakes this year. I had

hoped

to go last year but a family emergency canx'd that idea. Not sure if I

will go

for CW or SSB weekend, tho...Can't swing both!

Now that should be a cool trip. One of these years I want to make it to


Newfoundland.


Yeah...but in November...?!?!

I can hack wet, and I can hack cold...wet and cold doesn't seem to be a
very comforting combination...! I have put out a solicitation on my
"ER-Nurses" list server and have already received some responses from my
colleagues in Canada with info on lodging opportunities. I hope to find a nice
cabin somewhere.

Well, I went to the "Winterlude" in Ottawa this past February. Did you
know that Ottawa is the second coldest countries capital in the world -
the coldest is in one of the 'Stans! Anyhow, the people in Ottawa, after
being socked in during November, December and January, finally go
bonkers when the days get longer and the cold loses a little of it's
grip. They then pretend it is warmer than it really is, and have three
weekends of partying outside. Very cool, if crazy. I had a blast. My son
and I took a many mile skate on the Rideau canal, which freezes over
entirely during the winter. They even have concessions on the canal,
and flood it to resurface the ice for a good skate.

They really know how to do winter in Canada, so you'll be taken care of
well, youbet.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Sure...why not? It requires some REAL skill to do.

5nn QRZ ....


While of course all contest rules are inherently arbitrary, does it
make sense to have one mode of contact be "more equal" than others?

5nn vs you're five by nine

honed skills, too...?!?!
and it was certainly no more difficult than
operating Phone.

5nn 5nn

I've seen a number of cases where a phone operator has worked hard

Yep with one of those new fangled voice machines.

The above is in response to what one hears in contesting in addition to a
lot of bad manners and yes that happens on CW also ergo KI3R does his
"needle point" that weekend.

73 and 5nn de Tom KI3R QRZ .....

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"Tom" == garigue writes:

[...]

Tom Yep with one of those new fangled voice machines.

Ugh! You've hit my primary pet peeve with contesting.

Tom The above is in response to what one hears in contesting in
Tom addition to a lot of bad manners and yes that happens on CW also
Tom ergo KI3R does his "needle point" that weekend.

Those "voice keyers" annoy me more than anything, even "CW keyers". I
felt like jumping into a QSO Party a few weeks ago but *five*
different stations had voice keyers calling CQ every thirty seconds
and didn't acknowledge my response. Honestly, if you can't talk into
the radio for the length of the contest, then maybe you should take a
break.

Voice keyers in my opinion are just plain wrong.

Tom 73 and 5nn de Tom KI3R QRZ .....

Jack.
(thanks for pushing the button)
- --
Jack Twilley
jmt at twilley dot org
http colon slash slash www dot twilley dot org slash tilde jmt slash
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Jack Twilley wrote:

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"Tom" == garigue writes:


[...]

Tom Yep with one of those new fangled voice machines.

Ugh! You've hit my primary pet peeve with contesting.

Tom The above is in response to what one hears in contesting in
Tom addition to a lot of bad manners and yes that happens on CW also
Tom ergo KI3R does his "needle point" that weekend.

Those "voice keyers" annoy me more than anything, even "CW keyers". I
felt like jumping into a QSO Party a few weeks ago but *five*
different stations had voice keyers calling CQ every thirty seconds
and didn't acknowledge my response. Honestly, if you can't talk into
the radio for the length of the contest, then maybe you should take a
break.

Voice keyers in my opinion are just plain wrong.

Agreed, I don't like keyers at all. If I made contest rules, they would
be outlawed. Get caught using a keyer, and yer out!

I've been in contests where the timeing is set so close between CQ's
that there isn't time to get in a reply. I suppose the idiot wonders why
he's getting no one coming back.

hmmm, maybe an op could get mults for turning in keyers! 8^)

- Mike KB3EIA -

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"Mike" == Mike Coslo writes:

[... me ranting about voice keyers ...]

Mike Agreed, I don't like keyers at all. If I made contest rules,
Mike they would be outlawed. Get caught using a keyer, and yer out!

Sounds like a good deal to me. Make every contest night a straight
key night. Or paddles, or whatever, as long as it's by hand and
without assistance -- that means no keyboards either.

Mike I've been in contests where the timeing is set so close between
Mike CQ's that there isn't time to get in a reply. I suppose the
Mike idiot wonders why he's getting no one coming back.

I'm waiting for the day I hear "CQ contest, CQ contest, this is K1XY,
please QSY five kilohertz up..." repeated over and over. That'll
really tweak me.

Mike hmmm, maybe an op could get mults for turning in keyers! 8^)

Nah, imagine a Turing-like contest where you get points for
identifying different methods of Morse transmission, such as straight
keys, paddles, bugs, keyboard or keyers.

Mike - Mike KB3EIA -

Jack.
(talk about your obscure skills test)
- --
Jack Twilley
jmt at twilley dot org
http colon slash slash www dot twilley dot org slash tilde jmt slash
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