[PaQSO] The Contest 2011

[Michael Coslo]

On 10/10/2011 7:50 AM, w3prl ARS wrote:
> Hello All:
>
> My response is to the comment from WA3EOP concerning the nets or ragchews
> during the PA QSO..........as I was roaming the band on 80 Saturday evening, I hit 3820 only to find some of the most vulgar language on the
> airwaves.  Seems the party go-ers were interfering with their scheduled
> ragchew and no one wanted or CARED to move the standard 3kc away while
> the party was going on.


Some comments from me.

My N1MM screen on 75 meters showed me that the PAQSO party traffic was 
pretty well confined to an area in the middle of 75 meters. There are 
Operators on 75 meters who actually pick another Op to chase around. I 
heard several Ops involved in jamming.

No doubt, this is not all pure contestors aggravating the evil 
non-contestors, but rest assured that we are not running up and down the 
bands purposely interfering with other Operators. All of us are trying 
to engage in communications, and last time I checked, engaging in 
communications is on the legal side of activities, and purposeful 
jamming is not.

Even band plans can and will be stretched during contests. We don't see 
it as much during our weekend, because we have multiple modes. During 
mode specific contests, it does happen. And it isn't illegal, and it 
will happen.

There were many areas on 75 meters available for nets.

Unfortunately, for many of those who hate contesting, there is no 
solution other than contesters going away altogether. They do not want 
you on what they consider their frequency at all, or ever. That probably 
isn't going to happen. There are even safe areas where no contesting is 
allowed.

I can only imagine the hue and cry if there were bands set aside for 
contesting only.

Now on to the mobile window that someone commented about.

Yes, we do make a suggestion for mobile operation. but like all 
suggestions, including our operation frequency suggestions,  that is all 
it is. We can't enforce it, there is no legal issue involved, and not 
everyone is using a frequency agile logging program. I've operated 
mobile a number of years, and I don't even seek out the windows. I 
either search and pounce, or find a place to settle in and run. A fairly 
recent happening is that I QSO with someone who then very generously 
gives up the frequency so that I can run in some rare county. Wow, I 
guess that's why we call ourselves the friendly QSO party!

Anyhow, I guess the haters are gonna, and we can't do much about it. We 
do show the FCC that the bands are alive and well and populated, perhaps 
being of more service to the rag chewers than they might think.

     - 73 de Mike N3LI -