[SOC] (Fwd) Nontesting - for beginners

[W2AGN]

I received the following on another list. While not strictly QRP, much of 
what is said reminded me of the recent antnna discussions, etc. 

------- Forwarded message follows -------

NONTESTING FOR BEGINNERS

Chateau La Garrigue is a very enjoyable wine from the vineyard of Derek 
F5VEX
and Val G4MCD Austin. It was whilst partaking of a few glasses of this
excellent Bergerac Red, during dinner at the Fredrichshaven Hamfest 2001, 
that
several well-known DXers and myself realised much had been written about 
the
science, art and discipline of contesting, but very little had been done 
to
encourage people to take up Nontesting. This article will hopefully 
rectify
the situation.

Definition of Nontesting:
An element of Amateur Radio that can be undertaken with least effort and
knowledge.

Skills Base
There are many skills that the disinterested nontest operator can 
develop:
Station Cobbling, Antenna Notworks, Bitofalift knowledge and Waffling to 
name
but most.

Station Cobbling - Simplicity is the keyword here. A radio with matching
speaker, fist or preferably desk microphone, all band antenna tuning 
unit, log
book, note pad and a supply of pencils.  There is a wide choice of 
radios.
Some people prefer the older type of equipment, with no bells and 
whistles
whilst others prefer the latest model with numerous bells and whistles. 
The
matching speaker is necessary to maintain the brand line. Desk 
microphones are
very useful when waffling since they have a lock button, which can be 
used to
keep the microphone switched on. It really is quite tiring when gripping 
the
pressel button continuously on a fist microphone for half an hour or so. 
When
choosing a tuning unit, you should take account of your local 
neighbourhood.
With close neighbours, many of the associated problems of interference 
that
you may cause can be reduced by choosing an SPC type. The main advantage 
being
that you will not need to reduce the power from your transmitter yourself
because the unit will do it automatically for you. Your favourite 
emporium, as
nontesters call their retail outlet, will stock various types and you may 
even
be able to find a matching one. Non-enthusiasts living out in the 
countryside
may wish to consider building their own matching unit, in this case the
parallel tooned circuit will provide more gain than the SPC type, though 
it
doesn=92t have the auto power reduction facility.

Antenna Notworks - The first point to learn here is despite all those 
knowalls
tell you, there is absolutely no connection between antennas and 
bitofalifts.
=93If you can hear them you can work them.=94 It is no secret that by far 
best
antenna is the G5, formerly known as the G5RV or sometimes the 5RV. The
half-sized version works just as well as does adding loading coils. Both 
can
be bought quite readily which not only means freeing up valuable waffling 
time
but also saves spending hours supposedly enjoying yourself assembling 
masts,
rotators, beams and antenna switching systems.  The G5 is a versatile 
aerial
that can be made to work on any band, but you do have to be careful on 
the
orientation. Remembering your theory, a dipole always shows the classic 
figure
8 pattern, hence the well known saying, =93My G5 lies East-West so 
therefore my
best direction is North-South=94 Usually heard on 80m from a nontester 
using a
G5 25ft high. This is a proven fact of Antenna Notworking and shouldn=92t 
be
confused with the mumbo-jumbo from so-called experts. These people often 
will
try to convince you that antenna height matters and will throw silly 
phrases
around such as =93High Angle Radiation.=94

Bitofalift is the technical word used to describe how nontesters use the 
radio
waves to establish waffle-mode with each other. It originated when a 
group of
nontesting enthusiasts observed that at certain times on 40m, 
particularly
when using a low G5, they were able to make contacts over a short range, 
say
within the UK or UK to near Europe. Don=92t worry, there is nothing 
technical
about bitofalift, though some of the techies like to talk about Spradic 
Ease
and Solder Flux.

Waffling - This is the real reason for taking up nontesting. The hobby is 
all
about transmitting and a good waffler is able to make long transmissions
without having to resort to the ludicrous 59 001 business. It is 
important to
repeat what the other person has said to you, partly because he will 
probably
have forgotten what he had said and also to let him see that in fact you 
were
actually listening to him. This will aid his confidence for his next long
over. It is considered polite and good technique to respond to his 
comments in
the order in which they were spoken. A detailed reply is helpful. After 
this
has been done, you may then make some comments of your own on other 
subjects.

Many wafflers hunt in packs, taking it in strict rotation who will 
transmit
next. This is most important, particularly with senior members as they 
may
otherwise take offence. There are several areas of etiquette to observe 
here.
Firstly, you should always =94Pass it to .=85 =94 ignoring any snide comme=
nts 
such
as =93but is IT contagious?=94 If you are in a Net, then always list who 
takes it
next and then who takes it and so on. This is much more gentlemanly. 
Using
phrases such as =93 =85. to take=94 and =93in the group=94 rather than =93=
=85. to take 
it=94
or =93and the group=94 will enhance your standing in the Net.

A very useful technique is to use QSL where-ever possible. This is the 
sign of
a seasoned non-operator. The voice should be slightly raised when saying 
this
to give the impression that you are making a statement and not requesting 
one
of those expensive card things. For instance, =93I am using a half sized G=
5
here, QSL=94 It also indicates that you have stopped transmitting.

At this stage, it is necessary to introduce some more advanced Nontesting
techniques, as a few Nontesters have admitted actually enjoying =93chasing=
 
DX=94,
as it is known.

Calling CQ is the best way, listening just wastes transmitting time, when 
in a
pack, you should always indicate this by adding =93=85. with company.=94 T=
his 
serves
two purposes, the choice DX can snag two Nontesters in one go, but more
importantly, your companion(s) will beam with pride at having the title
transmitted on the airwaves, (another good word to use).

It is a proven fact that CQs which are ended by =93Over, over=94 are 
guaranteed to
find more DX. This is possibly due to the extra transmitting time used.

If you do choose to listen for DX, you might here some very loud 
stations,
saying they want DX only. Ignore that and call them, because they 
appreciate
anyone telling them how load they are. These people are just egoists who
pretend they are working some distant station that you can=92t here.

The Leest, the final piece of advice and probably overall the most 
important
is wherever possible join a leest. If you here lots of stations on one
frequency, it will most likely be people trying to join a leest. You can
always tell because the controller will keep saying =93I have you.=94 The 
beauty
of a leest is that you actually get to work the station twice. Firstly, 
when
you hear the magic words =93I have you=94 then secondly when you are invit=
ed 
to
make a contact. Some people prefer not to bother with the second contact 
as it
just wastes time.

I do hope this article has been helpful and that it serves to enhance 
your
nontesting. You probably won=92t hear me as I will be working some choice 
DX or
operating in a Contest.

Chris Burbanks   G3SJJ




------- End of forwarded message -------
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  _    _    _    _    _  
 / \  / \  / \  / \  / \ John L. Sielke
( W )( 2 )( A )( G )( N ) http://www.w2agn.net
 \_/  \_/  \_/  \_/  \_/ QRPARCI, NJQRP, ARQrp,GQRP,RSGB
Ex- K3HLU, W7JEF, W4MPC, N4JS