[NLRS] Activity

[Brent Casavant]

On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, Matt Arthur wrote:

> Some one also mension about the behavyer during contest's well I think for
> the most part people are doing a good job of operating at least locally.
> you must remember things happen and every one hears different and we have
> people with different skill levels.
> If we all try and help each other out however it will all work better.
> that is it for me on this subject.

I'd also like to make a few observations.

First, in regard to non-contest SSB VHF activity, or the lack thereof,
I personally find that I can't participate because I cannot get an
effective permanent antenna installation up at my townhouse.  Thus
for the last four VHF contests myself and a few friends have set up
more of a field-day type of operation, with a large number of temporary
antennas, feedlines, and radios, all (usually) located far from the
neighbors.  I do wish that I could be on SSB more often, but it's really
not worthwhile to spend a half hour setting up, and another half-hour
tearing down, just in the hope that I may get a few minutes of QSO.
Like it or not, contesting is the only reasonable opportunity myself
and some others have to be active on VHF SSB.

Second, regarding contest behavior:  I don't buy into the original
complaint whatsoever.  I've never once witnessed a VHF SSB ragchew
during the contest that any contester interupted (though they may
try to get a Q or two in after the ragchew raps up).  I have, of
course, experienced (and likely caused) a lot of QRM -- but nothing
at all approaching the levels experienced during an HF contest.  But
more imporant than that is how I've learned how to be effective
in SSB communication.  I know much more about filtering, tuning,
zero-beating, compression, phonetic procedures, careful listening,
and *patience* (oh, and CW!).  I remember last January I tried and
tried for 30 minutes to make a particular QSO to the east coast on
6m during that wondeful opening, and in that one exchange likely
doubled my skillbase to pull that incredibly weak signal out and
complete the contact -- thus my operating practice improved.  I also
remember after September 2002 our contesting group caught a little
flack for sitting on the 6m calling frequency and causing a lot of
local QRM; this made us realize just how badly a nearby building
can interfere with reception -- we honestly never heard the stations
we were interfering with (truly, we felt like total heels when we found
out about this problem, and we would have more than willingly shut up
or changed frequency if someone had called us on 2m [where we could hear
just fine] and told us about the problem).

Personally, VHF contests are also what got me into the hobby as well,
with my elmer inviting me to the roof of a 15-story building where
they had 6m, 2m, and 70cm beams for the weekend.  I've seen VHF
contesting pull more people into the hobby than any other activity
I've witnessed.  Repeater activity is largely banal and boring
(I too am tired of hearing about arthritis, grandkids birthdays,
and the rig one is using), and HF activity requires an investment
in learning CW, so VHF contesting seems to me a "sweet spot" for
attracting new faces to the hobby.

All that to say that for some hams VHF contesting is the most we can
reasonably contribute to VHF+ SSB activity, is a remarkable way to
improve our skills, knowledge, and practices (not to mention a
remarkable way to lighten your wallet ;), and a good way to inject
some fresh blood to the airwaves.

Well, that's enough from me as well.  Sorry about the rant, but it
just had to come out.

Thanks,
Brent

-- 
Brent Casavant			http://www.angeltread.org/
KD5EMB				-.- -.. ..... . -- -...
44 54'24"N 93 03'21"W 907FASL	EN34lv