[PaQSO] PAQSO Party Changes

[n3xls at juno.com]

Yes Bob is right, 
It will take a while before the digital modes catch on. besides that the lies and excuses about RTTY operators having no reguard for CW and other opertions is very untrue. unless you have worked and operated a digital only contest you will find that digital contesters are more kind and courtious operators. this adding digital modes to the contest will also hopefully catch the eye of other RTTY and digital contesters to our contest. 
In my expecince all the lies and excuses i been  hearing about digital contesters happens no matter what mode of operation you are working. some times you just can not hear another station! so it sounds like the frequeincy is not in use. Besides that countless times when i was working RTTY contests i have had delibrit CW being sent on my RTTY signal, when i have had the frequeincy for more then a half-hour. it would think this would just be an error and my signal could not be hear however its pretty hard to operate CW right on top of a RTTY signal without the use of something to tune the RTTY signal in. 
So heres the case in point i'm trying to make no one is perfict and anything can happen in amateur radio so please stop making excuses and lets make 2006 PA QSO a fun time. 
Don't forget in just a month away is the ARRL RTTY Round Up now might be the time to bring those digital contest skills and test software before the next PA QSO ;)

-- "Bob Crossland" <Bob.Crossland at telcove.com> wrote:
And I think Bill has hit the nail right on the head.  

It's going to take some time for the digital modes to become anything
close to resembling a popular mode of operation in the PaQP, and I just
can't imagine that we're going to get flooded with RTTY signals on 40
meters in 2006.  And without at least giving it a try to see what
happens, I find it so very hard to believe that some of our most
popular, and immensely respected operators of this contest, are pulling
out just because of a fear that the bands are going to become inundated
with RTTY signals, and there will be no room to operate CW.

While I welcome the attempt to increase activity by adding the digital
modes, I really doubt we're going to see a mass exodus of CW and SSB
operators to the digital side.  Personally, I'm looking at the digital
mode as somewhere to go on Sunday, when the rates take their normal nose
dives, and I won't be expecting anything close to 30 or 40 per hour on
the rate meter.    

So before we all get too excited and start looking for other contests to
work on the 2nd full weekend in October, let's see what comes of this
new idea and take our best shots at working with it.

Bob, N3FR   




-----Original Message-----
From: paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:paqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill G. K3SV
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 11:07 PM
To: paqso at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [PaQSO] PAQSO Party Changes

I don't have a real problem with changing the rules to get more
interest, although I don't see any need to generate more interest. 
Consider the fact that the PAQSO Party is one (if not the number one)
QSO party that has stood the test of time.

Possibly the most active QSO party with maybe a close runner being the
CAL QSO Party (and maybe they would be number one). I've always
considered the CAL party as the "sister" party to the PA QSO party
because of the level of activity and the contest dates. When you look at
the CAL party rules, they are concise and straight forward, not alot of
"frills" just basic rules for a competitive contest. CW and Phone, keep
it simple, it ain't broke, don't fix it approach.

I suspect someone will sponsor a trophy or plaque for the digital modes
and someone will claim the prize, that said, no harm done. If you're
equipped to run RTTY, you can run 100 per hour, not quite up to the CW
or phone rates, but 100 per hour is not hard to do if the stations are
calling you. I doubt that 10 per hour will hit many operators rate
meter. If you look at top operators QSO totals, they won't have much
time or incentive to check the digital modes for big numbers of "fresh
meat" as it's called.

Will I stop operating the QSO party, nope, I really look forward to it. 
I'll operate CW only, or Phone and CW and have fun with everyone else
that weekend. I support the sponsors and the club that runs the Party,
and if the log checkers and bean counters want to keep track of the
added classes and entry categories....more power to 'em. Having scored
and judged contests, I don't envy the task.

I think the QSO Party has a life of it's own and will live on for many,
many years.  73 Bill _______________________________________________
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