[Elecraft] [KX3] KX3 Setup For Contesting?

[Don Wilhelm]

Scotty (and all),

Field Day is different things to different people.  To some it is as it 
was originally intended - an exercise in setting up a station in a short 
time for simulated emergency conditions.  To others it is a time to go 
into the 'back country' and test out your latest homebrew transceiver 
and portable antenna and see if you can make some contacts under adverse 
conditions, and to others it is a time to get together with fellow club 
members and have some socialization while making some contacts under 
those simulated emergency conditions. For others it is a time just to 
see if you can set up a station in the field (independent of power 
mains) and make some contacts just to prove to yourself that you can do 
it.  Then there are the others who treat it as a contest - competitive 
groups trying to see if they can muster the best score.

Pick whichever group you associate with the most and 'go for it'. With 
folks of a like mind, Field Day can be a lot of fun as well as a test of 
your ability to set up a station in the field and make contacts.  There 
is room for everyone, just pick your group with care.  If you would 
rather go it alone, I suggest trying class 1B with a battery powered QRP 
station rather then trying to enter "contest' mode - just prove to 
yourself that you can set up a station and establish communications 
under simulated adverse conditions.  That practice might come in handy 
in a real emergency.

If you have a "Go Box" for emergency communications, try using just that 
for Field Day and you will see just how effective your "Go Box" is and 
make notes for what you need to add for the next time.  Think emergency 
preparedness and you will come back to the original intent of Field Day.

Yes, making contacts in crowded band conditions is an important part of 
the process.  While the "emergency" aspects in a real situation may not 
involve battling QRM, it certainly could be battling QRN and other 
distractions to communications. Confidence building in your capability 
to provide communications under emergency situations is the goal no 
matter how you wish to approach it.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/3/2013 7:24 PM, Scotty Long wrote:
> I said that and got laughed at...I beg to differ as it was key board to key board CW full contest mode rude operators on 20m...30 to 40+++ wpm CW... No casual fun operators it was full blow contest mode with everyone stepping on each other... Just saying ... This is from a rookie ham licensed about four years; that operates 99.9% other than optimal or nice operating conditions CW all the time not just ARRL Field Day...You definitely need a contest grade set up to compete in this non contest unless you work search and pounce during the full ARRL Field Day contest. My Elmer's have told me this as well, kinda sad. Try paper logging with a straight key or paddle running 22 wpm.  Maybe the other bands in the novice portions of the bands were better??? Who passes messages on CW nets at 40+++wpm... If I ever run field day again and have to run keyboards I'll use PSK31 or just use the cell phone and call around...Not being negative just personal observations... please don't take it t
>   hat way... has it been this way from the beginning... ARRL does call it a special contest in some of their advertisements...
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