[SMCARA] 28 years ago

[Tom Shelton]

It was the first full weekend in November, 1986.  I was a newly minted
Technician Licensee (KB6STF) working to increase my CW from the 5 WPM needed
for the Novice Ticket (I had upgraded to Tech while waiting for my license
to arrive in the mail) to the 13 WPM needed for a General Ticket., 

 

I turned on my Collins KWM2A transmitter with crystals for 40 meter CW band
(I had a jury-rigged 40M dipole mounted to my roof) installed and as the
tubes warmed up, I heard a lot of activity on what was usually a fairly
quiet band.  I did my best to copy what was being sent, but most of the
stations were sending in excess of 20 WPM and I just couldn't keep up.  I
finally found a station going slow enough for me to copy (barely) and after
a few exchanges I figured out that there must be some kind of contest going
on.  

 

I called my Elmer and asked him what was happening and he told me he'd be
right over.  When he showed up, he brought a copy of QST with the November
Sweepstakes announcement.  After reading the rules and operating guide and
sketching out a log, summary sheet, and dupe sheet (using a typewriter as
this was long before computers were common in the shack - you might be able
to find a picture of a typewriter on Wikipedia), I got on the air and after
a few tries, I made my very first Sweepstakes QSO.  

 

Over the course of the weekend I made 14 contacts and was absolutely
thrilled to submit my log and other paperwork by mail to the ARRL.  My Elmer
was not a contester, but he sat with me through the first few contacts and
encouraged me.  As a result of that contest weekend, I was hooked on
contesting and have since participated in November Sweepstakes every year
that I had a station to operate from.  I do a lot of other contests, but
because my first was Sweeps it holds a special place for me.

 

As my first Elmer did for me, I'd like to encourage you to try this contest,
whether this weekend with CW or the weekend of 15-16 Nov for SSB (or both).


 

The rules and operating guide can be found here:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20Operating%20Guides/2014/2014_ARRL_N
ovember_SS_Package.pdf

 

Here's an example exchange (modified from the guide above):

 

W1AW calls CQ: CQSS W1AW TEST (CQSS indicated calling for Sweepstakes
contest QSO)

ND3N replies: ND3N (Send my call once)

W1AW Reports: ND3N 123 B W1AW 28 CT (123 = sequential serial number, B =
Operating class [single op, high power, unassisted], 28 = year first
licensed, CT = Connecticut ARRL Section)

ND3N Reports: W1AW 48 A ND3N 86 MDC 48 = sequential serial number, A =
Operating class [single op, low power, unassisted], 86 = year first
licensed, MDC=Maryland-DC ARRL Section).

W1AW completes: ND3N TU QRZ W1AW

 

Find a strong station and listen for a few QSOs and you'll get the hang of
it.

 

Free and easy to use Contest Logging Program: GenLog -
http://www.qsl.net/w3km/

Still Free, but with more bells and whistles: N1MM -
http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php

Or you could use a typewriter, but I wouldn't advise it.

 

As always, if you need some help or advise with Nov SS or any other contest
operating, I'm only an e-mail away.

 

Tom Shelton, ND3N

Ham Radio, Motorcycling, and a Loving Wife who lets me play with both

What more could a man need