I reported in the past about the lengths some guys will go to make ARRL Centennial QSO Party points. Well, today, I completed a series of QSOs with the same station, making three on 40m (CW, AM, SSB), three on 20m (CW, AM, SSB), three on 15m (CW, AM, SSB), and four on 10m (CW, AM, SSB, FM). Since I’m an Asst. Section Manager, that’s 455 points for my friend. He’s a Volunteer Examiner, so that volley of QSOs was worth 65 points to me.
I currently have 4,823 total points, but I don’t think that these points, nor the points I racked up in the 10m contest this afternoon are included in that total. I’m currently #87 in the state of Michigan and 5,685 overall. Not great numbers. I’m tempted to try to pump those up, but with only a couple weeks to go, I doubt that I could move up in the standings very much.
QSO #15,000!
Tonight, I logged QSO #15,000 in my computer log. The lucky guy was HA8WZ. Propagation was pretty good to Europe tonight on 40m. He was the second European to answer my CQs. I hope that he’ll QSL the contact.
Why don’t contesters ragchew?
Earlier in the day, I was chatting with a guy on 30m. We got to discussing how busy the bands get during contests and wondered why we never hear those guys on the air at other times. He especially lamented the lack of activity on 160m, except during contests.
I’ve often wondered about that, too. I enjoy a bit of contesting, but I think that if that’s all I ever did, I’d get bored with that real quick. I enjoy ragchewing, and love getting to know other hams. I’ve met a lot of interesting people on the air.
Perhaps contesters just don’t like talking to other people. That’s about the only reason that I can come up with? What do you think?
Jeff says
Most of the active contesters I know spend 12-24 hours in the pursuit every weekend. How much more time can they afford to put into chewing the rag? No clue, but I’ll bet the average contest op is on the air hundreds of hours more each year than the average rag chewer.
@ke9v
Dan KB6NU says
You got a point there. As Don says, to each his own.
A thought just occurred to me. Perhaps contesting has become so popular because it’s become much easier. Everything’s computerized now, not just the logging. For example, you can set up N1MM to do just about everything except copy the code, and for that you can use CW Skimmer.
Even so, it seems to me that ham radio is about more than making a bunch of 599 contacts over a weekend.
Don N4KC says
Dan, I’ve been chasing the W1AW portables, first to just get a W1AW WAS. Then I noticed I was in the top ten in my state so I got serious about it. Before I knew it, I was at enough Centennial QSO points to qualify for a second-tier certificate. About the first of December, I realized a top-tier point total was within reach if I hustled. With a couple of contests and a little help from a database compiled by N3FJP for his logging software, I may actually make 15,000!
Don’t know why, but I have really, really enjoyed the whole year’s worth of activities. It has been a blast and I hate to see it end.
On contesting vs. ragchewing: the question could be turned around. Why don’t more ragchewers contest? I love it all. I contest, chase DX, ragchew, play with antennas, do the digital modes…and I really have a good time at each. But some guys simply like what they like. There is nothing wrong with that! So long as what I like doesn’t get in the way of you doing what you like, then fine. To each his own!
73,
Don N4KC
http://www.n4kc.com
http://www.donkeith.com
Author of the new book RIDING THE SHORTWAVES:
EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF AMATEUR RADIO)
Dan KB6NU says
Well, I can’t really argue with you about to each his own. Like you, I enjoy it all. I enjoy contests myself, actually, especially the smaller ones like the state QSO parties. It’s all good, I guess.