[CountyHunters] NCJ Article about County Hunter Net

[w3dya@juno.com]

Thought you might be interested in a friendly article about CHing which
appeared in NCJ (July/Aug 2002).  I used to subscribe to NCJ, but it was
pretty much for serious contesters, which I ain't one of.

I'm not sure if this is a violation of the copyright rules....

73, Norm, W3DYA
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Brian Kassel K7RE writes in his column "Contesting for Fun";

For a taste of contest-style operating without a contest, I really enjoy
giving out counties on the CHN. Although SSB as well as CW nets are
available. I almost exclusively use the 20 meter CW net. If you are
mobile, and in a rather rare state or rare county in a populous state,
you  really need to jump on 14.057 MHZ and check into the CHN net. If no
activity is heard, just call CHN a few times and someone will probably
answer and conduct the net. These are great folks, and always
interested in new counties. Last year in a trip through Nebraska, South
Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and
California, I was able to give out some pretty rare counties to some
pretty anxious county hunters.

  They have even managed to make the QSL process painless. Each hunter
who wants a confirmation sends a card with as many QSO's as he/she has
made with you. All you have to do is sign the card after checking your
log. No muss, no fuss. I really like that.

  I even received a few awards myself even though I am not a county
hunter, just a county "giver." I was even able to work a number of
European stations that were also County Hunters.

  It's fun also if you happen to have a little setup going on a picnic
table. Jump down to 14.057 Mhz when you want to spend a lot of time on
the air with a ragchew and hand out your county. The CHN folks will be
appreciative, I can tell you."