[NLRS] activity

[Dave Aho]

>   Contesting is NOT activity, it is an excuse for
> poor operating practices.
>   People qrming qso's in progress etc. When vhf
> contesters go back to being
>   polite like they were  7 years ago I might come
> back, until then the radio
>   gets turned off. And the excuses like I couldn't
> hear you etc are lame, I
>   can hear stations 200+ miles away off the sides



Ummmm, contesting IS activity...there are people on
the air throwing RF and making contact...granted it is
only a number/section exchange for the most part, but
it is activity and it is a QSO...The exchange of
information.  I ragchew a lot on the various VHF
bands...not much on HF.  I contest on both.  It
(contesting) IS an excercise in less than perfect
conditions communication DUE to the mentioned QRM,
LIDS, and general mayhem, but it does help ones ears
by listening for the information you are trying to
gather.  

ragchewing is a good thing too, and I have burnt up
the airwaves doing my share or blathering on about
various projects, how to do this, what to do with this
antenna, etc...  On the other hand I don't care for
the ragchewing that I get sometimes while trying to
make a contact or what I hear on the air while tuning
the bands..which consists of the "textbook" content. 
Weather, health, how the cat is eating the lunch off
the op's plate, how Aunt Sylvia is making out with the
neighborhood assn...etc...  I like the technical,
learning part of ragchewing.  I don't care about the
weather in timbuktu, or how someone's authritis is
acting up.  to me that is about as meaningless as the
anti-contesters opinion on the contest exchange.

Activity is acticity, no matter what kind of hamming
one likes to do...when someone is out on the air,
there is activity, and we are heard.  Sometimes people
think a band is empty, but everyone might just be
listening.  I've woke up 10 meters many times going to
work, just by calling out...and the response
is..."Wow, there is someone out here"...it just takes
that first person to be "the littlest who" to break
the fog and get the "We Are Here!" out an on the air.

We all have our opinions, dislikes, and likes about
the hobby, but that is what makes it fun...we all have
many interests...otherwise life would become stale.

          Dave...N9TTX

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now
http://companion.yahoo.com/