wrote in message
oups.com...
KØHB wrote:
wrote

But it takes more than the average station to win.

Winning isn't about being average.

Agreed!

Average sailors in average boats don't win the Americas Cup.
Average golfers
with average clubs don't win the Masters. Average drivers in
average cars don't
win Indy. Average jockeys on average horses don't win the
Belmont. Average
radiomen with average stations don't win CQWWDX.

But the radiosportsmen take over big parts of the popular HF ham bands
when a contest is on. Which is more than a few weekends a year. There's
no real equivalent to that in the other contests.

And unlike the other contests, getting more radiosport contestants
helps, not hurts, the winners.

Life isn't set up to give plaques to "average joes". Winners
are above average.
Second place is "First Loser".

"Winner" has all sorts of definitions. Winning your section is
one level, winning your division another, etc. Just setting
a personal best score is winning.

Most radiosport contests have several levels of competition.
That's a good thing. My "Iron" class proposal doesn't reduce
or eliminate anyone's win.

73 de Jim, N2EY


In the for what its worth department;

I, W4NTI have been contesting seriously since about 1973 when I participated
in a major operation from DL5AY. (Army MARS station in Frankfurt). It was
the CQWWDX Phone and we had a blast. We had Americans, Germans, wives,
sons, daughters, company and Battalion commanders there. And great German
sausage and Beer. A fun time was had by all. We also made over 2.5 million
points. What a blast....

That is some of what contesting is to me. Soon I intend to go play with
some super stations of the South East Contest Club. These are by invite
only.

How does one get a invite? Be a contester, show improved scores and be a
good team player. Thats also part of contesting.

For me, my individual station is probably below par for the "average serious
contester". I have two radios....a MP and a TS-530s. I have two linears,
a old SB-200 and a AL-811H (with 572s in it). Both get about 700 out on a
good day.

I have no beams. Just loops, verticals, and dipoles. All on a 200 x 200
piece of property.

With this I manage decent scores and have put many certificates on my wall.
Of course no first place wins in CQWWDX. But I have placed first in my
section in ARRLDX and various sweepstakes contests, etc.

Why do I contest? To improve my score by improving my station and myself.

Its as simple as that.

Have a good day

PS; I worked a bunch of sporadic skip yesterday on six meters in the June
VHF contest.....with 8 watts and a 3 ele yagi at 20'.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Dan/W4NTI

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
ink.net...


[snip]

Why do I contest? To improve my score by improving my station and myself.

Its as simple as that.

Have a good day

PS; I worked a bunch of sporadic skip yesterday on six meters in the June
VHF contest.....with 8 watts and a 3 ele yagi at 20'.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Dan/W4NTI



I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators. On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass the
code (as some would have us believe)?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators. On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv

wrote:

too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Oddly enough, much of the advancement in ham rigs has
come about because of contesting.

For example, one of the first uses of computers in ham
radio was their use in logkeeping. I think one of the
university stations gets credit for that, using the
U's mainframe to dupe and print out their SS logs
circa 1968.

The improvements in receiver sections to have better
dynamic range, phase noise, and filtering is, IMHO,
largely driven by the contest/DX folks. And primarily
the big guns, who would plunk down big bucks for a
top-of-the-line rig if it gave them an advantage.

Then, of course, the technology that first appeared in
the top-of-the-line rigs worked its way into less expensive
ones. So we all benefit.

(makes me wonder if Hans has his IC-7800 yet...)

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote in message
oups.com...
wrote:

too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Oddly enough, much of the advancement in ham rigs has
come about because of contesting.

For example, one of the first uses of computers in ham
radio was their use in logkeeping. I think one of the
university stations gets credit for that, using the
U's mainframe to dupe and print out their SS logs
circa 1968.

The improvements in receiver sections to have better
dynamic range, phase noise, and filtering is, IMHO,
largely driven by the contest/DX folks. And primarily
the big guns, who would plunk down big bucks for a
top-of-the-line rig if it gave them an advantage.

Then, of course, the technology that first appeared in
the top-of-the-line rigs worked its way into less expensive
ones. So we all benefit.

(makes me wonder if Hans has his IC-7800 yet...)

73 de Jim, N2EY


Stop picking on Hans, I hear his...well at least his call, real regular in
the contests. g

Dan/W4NTI

Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Oddly enough, much of the advancement in ham rigs has
come about because of contesting.

For example, one of the first uses of computers in ham
radio was their use in logkeeping. I think one of the
university stations gets credit for that, using the
U's mainframe to dupe and print out their SS logs
circa 1968.

The improvements in receiver sections to have better
dynamic range, phase noise, and filtering is, IMHO,
largely driven by the contest/DX folks. And primarily
the big guns, who would plunk down big bucks for a
top-of-the-line rig if it gave them an advantage.

Then, of course, the technology that first appeared in
the top-of-the-line rigs worked its way into less expensive
ones. So we all benefit.

(makes me wonder if Hans has his IC-7800 yet...)

73 de Jim, N2EY

Stop picking on Hans,

Who's picking on Hans? If there's anybody who can get the
most out of an IC-7800, and deserves to be using one, it's
K0HB. I'm just wondering if he's got one yet.

I hear his...well at least his call, real regular in
the contests. g

I've worked you and he in SS many, many times. Thanks for
the points and AL, btw.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote in message
oups.com...
Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Oddly enough, much of the advancement in ham rigs has
come about because of contesting.

For example, one of the first uses of computers in ham
radio was their use in logkeeping. I think one of the
university stations gets credit for that, using the
U's mainframe to dupe and print out their SS logs
circa 1968.

The improvements in receiver sections to have better
dynamic range, phase noise, and filtering is, IMHO,
largely driven by the contest/DX folks. And primarily
the big guns, who would plunk down big bucks for a
top-of-the-line rig if it gave them an advantage.

Then, of course, the technology that first appeared in
the top-of-the-line rigs worked its way into less expensive
ones. So we all benefit.

(makes me wonder if Hans has his IC-7800 yet...)

73 de Jim, N2EY

Stop picking on Hans,

Who's picking on Hans? If there's anybody who can get the
most out of an IC-7800, and deserves to be using one, it's
K0HB. I'm just wondering if he's got one yet.

I hear his...well at least his call, real regular in
the contests. g

I've worked you and he in SS many, many times. Thanks for
the points and AL, btw.

73 de Jim, N2EY

My pleasure....same back to you.

Dan/W4NTI

wrote in message
oups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical in
nature way back in the early 60s.

And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI

Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical in
nature way back in the early 60s.

Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?

And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI

If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?

bb wrote:

Dan/W4NTI wrote:

wrote in message
groups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:


I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical in
nature way back in the early 60s.


Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?


And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI


If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?

It is used, "bb", but ops are attempting to maximize score by working
everyone, even those not using CW. I switch modes quite often during
the course of a VHF/UHF contest. During heavy aurora, CW works much
better than SSB. I'd have thought you'd have already known it.

Dave K8MN