There are many people who compete in contests and whilst I've never really had the bug, or even been bitten there are those who's major radio enjoyment is based around these events.
Friend......
This weekend saw me achieve a umber of contacts that I have found elusive. Not because of a lack of trying but because they're not always on the air. I really enjoyed being able to knock off a few countries off my scant country list. Morroco, Azores and almost Japan and Aruba to name a few. The latter two were just out of reach possible as a result of a few big stations from Europe running large linears. More likely due to my minnow station not quite up to the job.
Still the positive side was over 20 QSO's on one band without really trying too hard over a few short hours here and there in between the usual jobs at home.
Foe......
The bands were awash with contest stations, spilling out all over the place trying to find a piece of the spectrum that wasn't filled. I heard one station begging another to QSY away from the DX frequencies. Even sadder was that that station who was clearly in the right must have switched off or moved to another band just to avoid the melee.
Mixed feelings really is the only way to describe it. Fantastic that I can get to get some QSO's with people who actually want me to answer their CQ call, if only to get another entry in the log. Most of which have the decency to persist if the signal is weak and not particularly audible. Shame the airways are all but closed for ragchews, nets and casual QSO's and that the self regulation that works so well is tossed aside in the clamber for space on the airwaves.
I will be participating in contests, not as a competitor but as someone who's logbook is empty for large parts of the year.
I will never be a serious competitor in contests and I admit it can be annoying to turn on the radio and find that contest activity prevents you from doing what you want, but on the plus side as you say contests can be an easy way to make contacts with places that are hard to work the rest of the time. The WARC bands are always contest-free and if the worst comes to the worst, you can always do something else!
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right Julian. I had probably my most productive time this weekend and got a real buzz that I hadn't had since I first had a trans Atlantic QSO a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI did feel sorry for the guy who was begging and for ignored but there were so many people talking over each other it was obviously an important weekend
I just hope my daughter didn't add to the chaos with her mystery callsign :-)
Your feelings pretty much reflect mine, but recently I was invited to join a contesting group and thought I would give it a try. I entered my first contest a few days ago and quite enjoyed myself, learning a few things in the process. Up until now I have only bothered with giving points away in the VHF/UHF contests, which are not so manic as those on HF. There is no way I could compete as an lone station but as the member of a contesting group in the RSGB Club Championship I can do my bit and revel in the success of the club. Aside from that contesters have given me some amazing contacts when running QRP from SOTA summits. Maybe the answer is if you cannot beat them join them, but I'll have to let you know on that one.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. Like you I really enjoyed being able to get all the QSO's but felt as though the popular HF bands were swamped. I'm not sure I fancy sitting for hour after hour in a never ending pile up but I appreciate those who do just so us minnows can up the points or tick off an exotic or just plain locator.
So far I'm joining in albeit at the outer edge. Not bitten yet but I could be tempted where the playing field is leveled and the operating window is short.
I can feel myself being drawn in already