[SMCARA] Sweepstakes...

[Tom Shelton]

Hey all...

November Sweepstakes is in the bag, and the logs have been submitted.
For the CW contest, I worked 215 contacts and 66 ARRL sections for a claimed score of 28,380 points.
For the phone contest, I worked 153 contacts and 60 ARRL sections for a claimed score of 18,360 points.

Certainly not enough to take away any prizes, but if the object was to have fun and make more than a handful of contacts in a relatively short period of time, then I was more than successful.  However, the CW contest finished up my WAS award, and as soon as I get some extra monies I'll be applying for it. 

Every year that I've done this contest I try to get a clean sweep.  I've never done this, so it is a goal that I continue to strive for.  Having goals is a good thing.

As a side note - while I was scanning for contacts on 80 meters, I happened across a QSO between a couple of hams who were complaining about the contest.  One of them said, "I don't understand why anyone would want to do any contest."  I'd like to take a short moment to answer this.

Mostly, I contest because I enjoy it.  Given the number of people who participate in contesting, it seems I am not alone in this.

A good contester is a good Ham.  Their stations are optimized with the radios set up properly, the antenna's well tuned, the feedlines in good repair, the stations well grounded.  With only a few exceptions, their signals are clean with no splatter or hum.  Their communications are short, without extraneous comments, passing just enough information to make the contest exchange in the shortest possible time.  Their ears are as good as their mouth, copying the required information with minimal need for repeats.  Even given the "need for speed" they take time out to explain the contest and the exchange to people who may not be familiar with the exchange process so those hams can make more contacts.  If I had to pick a team to support emergency communications, a team of contesters would be my first choice.  In short, I'm a contester because I want to be the best ham, the best communicator, that I can be.  I want my station working at its best.  

Happy Thanksgiving - Hope to see you on the air soon...

Tom Shelton 

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