Well, the 1994 Beetle Valley QSO Party is history, and although nothing
is final until the results come out in the "Thorax," it certainly looks
as if (heh-heh) a certain N6 will soon be needing a larger trophy cabinet.
Not only did I apparently win, but I really had a good time. This not only
shows that all other contests are stupid, but also means that they should be
completely canceled or their rules changed to the Beetle Valley rules.
The All Asian contest is a perfect example of this. I was in New York once
during an All Asian contest, and heard two VE3s talking to each other on
75 phone. If the Beetle Valley rules applied, not only would the VE3s receive
All Asian contact credit for their QSO, but would receive multiplier credit
also. Talk about a contest missing a chance for generating international
interest. The Japanese may know how to build cars and television sets, but
when it comes to designing radio contests, those Beetle Valley guys
certainly could show them a thing or two.
The every-contact-is-a-multiplier and the multipliers-multiply-each-other
concepts sure do make for fun and big scores. There is no boring, hard stuff
like searching for new stations on Sunday afternoon or sending those awful
QTCs that others of those other stupid contests have. Clear out a spot on
the top of the scrap heap for the Sweepstakes and WAE Contest.
The BVQP rules are high-tech friendly and progressive. Contestants receive
the same credit for contacts made with stations found by themselves as for
stations found by others. The rules also simplify logging by giving the
same credit for copying the call correctly as is given for a good guess.
It's neat, too, to get full credit for contacts you made when the other
guy didn't realize he was, or should have been, working you. Boredom is
a thing of the past, even when the bands are dead.
It was great to be on the winning club team. Those other complaining clubs
are just sore losers. I am now motivated to go to a Beetle Valley Radio Club
meeting one of these days, especially if one of the guys will tell me
when they meet, and where Beetle Valley is.
The Beetle Valley QSO Party has the answer--fun, fun, and more fun, awards
for all, and the same feeling of personal accomplishment that you get
from watching the Super Bowl or World Cup. If all other presently stupid
contests had the Beetle Valley rules, amateur radio contests would obviously
soon surpass those two events in popularity.
The dinosaurs that control radio contests will no doubt fight progress
and try to keep their present stupid rules and traditions. This issue
is too important to be left to the amateur radio community alone. Please
write your congressman regarding this matter immediately.
73,
Dick N6AA
N6AA@Delphi.COM
>From mtrowbri@pen.k12.va.us (Michael Trowbridge) Sat Aug 6 22:59:28 1994
From: mtrowbri@pen.k12.va.us (Michael Trowbridge) (Michael Trowbridge)
Subject: VP2M Multi for ARRL SSB
Message-ID: <9408062159.AA64767@pen1.pen.k12.va.us>
A group of Woodbridge Wireless (Va) members ( WD4KXB, WB4NFS,
KJ4VG, KA4RRU) and others are planning to operate a multi
station from Montserrat VP2M?? During the ARRL DX phone contest
in March 1995. They will operate CW and RTTY before the
contest. If anyone has operated from VP2M land before please
leave me a note. Tnx es 73 Mike
Mike KA4RRU
mtrowbri@pen.k12.va.us
>From Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> Sun Aug 7 05:58:18 1994
From: Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> (Robert Penneys)
Subject: NAQP CW results
Message-ID: <199408070458.AAA15897@brahms.udel.edu>
Condx not so hot here.
160 19 12
80 73 32
40 112 37
20 203 40
15 31 19
10 14 11
Total 452 151 68,252
Worked all fellow N.E.R.D.S. WA4PGM, K7SV, K3TLX, P4PQL.
Tnx all. Bob
Bob Penneys, WN3K Frankford Radio Club N.E.R.D.S.
Internet: penneys@brahms.udel.edu Work: Ham Radio Outlet, Delaware
U.S. Mail: 12 East Mill Station Drive Newark, DE 19711 U.S.A.
>From k2mm@MasPar.COM (John Zapisek) Sun Aug 7 08:22:23 1994
From: k2mm@MasPar.COM (John Zapisek) (John Zapisek)
Subject: Beetle Valley QSO Party
Message-ID: <9408070722.AA18251@greylock.local>
:-)
Hi, Dick. Gee, look what I'd have missed if I'd unsubscribed.
> The every-contact-is-a-multiplier and the multipliers-multiply-each-other
> concepts sure do make for fun and big scores.
Shades of the old Zip-Code Contest where you compute your score by taking
all the zip codes you've worked and multiplying them together. This usually
busts most calculators and requires hiring a logarithm consultant.
Unless, that is, you work the off-course-checkpoint station. It's not hard
to get an STA from FCC/USPS for a special zip code. "N6AA this is KP1YL.
Zip code here is 00000. 73. QRZed from K-P-1-You-Lose."
73 and Don't Get None On Ya. --John/K2MM
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