[PaQSO] Digital Component

[Jim]

My personal opinion on the digital aspect of PA QSO is
to say NO.  There are several reasons:

1.Typing on a keyboard is like using the Net, phone
and CW are radio.  That is also why I dislike CW
sending and receiving on computers.  Why bother to
operate at all?  You’re not doing anything.

2.Older hams do not have computers.  This is true,
although hard to believe.

3.This would seem to affect the record scores, since
more QSO’s would be likely.

4.Digital takes you away from the other modes.

5.Adds more cost and complexity to the station. 
Having done multi-ops before, you sometimes have
skeleton crew.  If this were permitted, you would need
an op to be competent enough to run it, who actually
shows up!  People are unreliable, so this is far from
a certainty.  

If this is added, I do not believe the scoring should
be on par with CW.  It should be like a phone QSO. 
Operating true CW takes great skill and should be
rewarded with extra points.

In regards to the 2m FM thing, I think there was a
misunderstanding.  I suggested that people leave the
radio scanning the common simplex frequencies for the
contest, keeping the radio squelched.  From time to
time, throw a few calls out.  I can’t understand how
this can hurt a score.  If someone is there, work
them.  If you get up for a minute, toss out a call or
two.  I never suggested camping on a freq and tossing
out continuous CQ’s.  If you have a beam, point it at
a large city in PA.  2m FM has been excellent for our
group over the past few years and others have given it
a try.  It also promotes the contest to newer hams and
non-contesters.  I have worked people on FM who jumped
over to HF to do the contest.  Sounds good to me.

Jim
N3PBH



		
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