In my e-mail just now, I got the following:
Hi , Daniel
My name is Rick, and my call sign is XXXX. I’ve been a contester since 2004 when I became a ham, and I love it!
I wanted you to see this information from a friend of mine, Trippy, about a new contest that will be held in March of this year! I will be in it myself, and I hope to work you in it.
Please tell every contester you know about this new contest. I look forward to working you!
73,
Rick, XXXX
PS, contest letter and announcement from Trippy to you, is below
There were several problems with this e-mail. First of all, there was no attachment. Second, this was obviously spam. I don’t know Rick or Trippy, nor have I ever worked them on the air. Third, I just can’t excited about a CQ100 contest.
Here’s my reply:
Hello, Rick–
First, there was no attachment.
Second, as I hope you know, CQ100 isn’t really a new mode. It’s a computer program that simulates amateur radio contacts using the voice over Internet protocol (VOIP).
I’m not one of those OFs (old farts) who gets all hot and bothered about the use of VOIP in ham radio. I use EchoLink when it’s appropriate and feel that it does have a place in ham radio. Having said that, I just can’t get very excited about a “contest” that takes place over a VOIP network, especially one that you have to pay for! Operating a “contest” over VOIP is like shooting fish in a barrel.
If you’re having fun with CQ100, more power to you. I think, however, that you’ll have a lot more fun by actually radiating some RF energy of your own.
73!
Dan KB6NU
What do you all think?