I received MANY direct replies to my 'flaming' of Howard Hoyt for sending 8
messages to the reflector trying to unsubscribe. About 90 percent of the
messages shared the same frustration as I did, and most mentioned that they
had already send a direct message to Howard explaining how to unsubscribe.
(I had done that too.)
A couple people told me that Howard Hoyt is none other than K4PQL! Boy,
K4PQL is a great operator... how could this be?? Then the message I was
waiting for came in:
>> I am *****NOT***** originating the messages
>> and am well aware of how to unsubscribe.
>> Check again, if you will note, the messages
>> originate from an automated id on a bulletin
>> board that is not local to me. I have
>> emailed the BBS explaining how to properly signoff.
Ah-hah, that's it!!! A BBS gone wild, using Howard's name! I would like to
personally apologize to Howard, as it appears this was out of his control.
Now you know the rest of the story.
73 Scott KA9FOX ka9fox@aol.com
(now going out to the garage to bang my head with the heaviest blunt object I
can find)
P.S. One last call for NAQP CW Scores... I'll post a final score rumor list
later this week.
>From Jean-Pierre Frossard" <FROSSARD.J@calc.vet.uga.edu Wed Aug 17 16:32:59
>1994
From: Jean-Pierre Frossard" <FROSSARD.J@calc.vet.uga.edu (Jean-Pierre Frossard)
Subject: CW WAE SCORE
Message-ID: <CA9A972354E@calc.vet.uga.edu>
Single Operator, All bands
Band QSO QTC CTYS MULTS
80 28 28 15 60
40 97 97 20 60
20 239 239 37 74
15 3 3 3 6
------------------------------------
367 367 75 200 = 146,800.
While I was connected to the local DXPacketCluster, it didn't help me
much. I only picked up two new QSO's during the day Sunday I
otherwise might have missed. No new multipliers at all!
On the issue of PacketCluster use during contests, there is one
distinction which must be made: Those who rely on the general DX
spots made on the cluster, which are available to all connected, and
those spots sent directly to a contester by friends. The latter are
not generally available to all connected and thus are of the nature
of "personal help". Even worse are the instances where DX spots are
sent directly by packet, totally bypassing the PacketCluster system.
Let's consider these distinctions when discussing the use of packet
by contesters.
73! John - KB4GID (FROSSARD.J@CALC.VET.UGA.EDU)
>From barry@w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) Wed Aug 17 15:51:14 1994
From: barry@w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Subject: TIC Ring - another delay
Message-ID: <4Bg8qc1w165w@w2up.wells.com>
Spoke with Todd today re ring rotor ordered in May. It was first promised
for July, then early September. Now he says end of September....
Hoping for 1994 delivery... 73 Barry
--
Barry N. Kutner, W2UP Usenet/Internet: barry@w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
Packet Cluster: W2UP >K2TW (FRC)
.......................................................................
>From Charles Fulp Jr <0006313915@mcimail.com> Wed Aug 17 16:18:00 1994
From: Charles Fulp Jr <0006313915@mcimail.com> (Charles Fulp Jr)
Subject: PACKET AND BLIND DRUMMERS
Message-ID: <72940817151827/0006313915PK4EM@mcimail.com>
While I am ambivalent about seeing packet permitted in all single
operator efforts, I do not see all the analogies as making much
sense. We used to avoid fone contests, working only CW. While it
still would be nice to have only CW contests, some of the fone
contests are pretty much fun. Packet will influence contesting for
a long time to come, even if the major competitors do not use it.
Rates, especially on the low bands, probably are better for DX
operators. Pile ups are more "exciting" for everyone.
Implementing packet into your team approach to contesting,
certainly adds more information to the mix which we must process.
You may end up abandoning superior techniques for packet chasing,
or you may gain useful information from the packet network. If you
like busting pile ups more than generating points, then packet is
truly a blessing.
Tree says that people using a crutch to run in the race don't
belong there. I disagree. I would be embarrassed to be beaten by
a person using a crutch to run against me, on the other hand I
would be amused to see a kid on jet powered roller skates doing
circles around me. If I enjoyed running as much as I enjoy operating
in contests, I would run the race even if the guys on roller skates
won the prizes. If I don't like skates, I would stick to running
on foot, and check around to see how I compare to those doing
likewise.
Tree also mentions that to know who the best drummer is, you let
them set up the drums the way they are used to. Interesting
concept, the station design and perhaps even the antenna design are
a factor in determining who demonstrates the best "operator
ability." What then should we think of the efforts of guest
operators? Is the guy that comes to a big antenna farm and sets up
his own gear a better operator than the guy that comes and sets
down to whatever station is already there? Is the guy who builds
his own station and operates it a better operator than either of
the former?
I get a bit tired of the idea that contesting somehow measures some
mythical "operator ability". Certainly, over years of efforts,
some picture of operator ability emerges; however, no contest that
I have ever seen can provide any kind of quantitative measure of
operator ability. First we must define the specific skills we want
to measure. If accurately transcribing a call and exchange under
certain conditions and at a certain rate, is the primary skill we
wish to examine, then we could take two identical stations in
fairly close proximity and issue two hopefully equal and anonymous
calls, but if the noise level at station # 1 was even 1 S unit
higher than at station #2, then the skill needed for the op at
station #1 to perform at the same rate and level of accuracy would
be greater. The only way to fairly test these kinds of skills is
to use computer simulation. Each operator could have the
opportunity to hear the same thing under precisely the same
conditions.
On the other hand I love the opportunity to improve my skills,
improve my station, improve my antennas. Over the course of a few
contests I can usually tell when I am making progress. I love
running stations, I love pileups. I don't mind tuning the bands
when things are slow, but here in the East things are never slow.
The second radio lets you tune for multipliers and move multipliers
quickly, or run schedules while maintaining a run somewhere else.
I don't like schedules and I don't like moving multipliers. For
some reason, although it is a very effective contesting technique,
I would much rather dive into a packet pile up and make a non
prearranged contact for a new multiplier. Believe it or not
finding a packet spotted station does not guarantee a QSO, and
certainly does not guarantee productive time management. Packet
spots merely add more information, which must be processed and
dealt with. I have entered as a 1 op multi multi and find it no
worse being beaten by W3LPL than being beaten by K1AR.
I can see N6AA's point about unseen helpers, Single Op must mean
single op, but then again there is the Multi Single class in the
CQWW. Lets see Single there must mean single transmitter...but
...does it?
Of course next thing you know with packet altering our concept of
what is what in contesting, contesters will start working nets.
Oops I just remembered the tales of the 40 & 80 meter operators at W2PV
or some way up north Multi Multi milking the VE nets for QSOS all
through the daylight hours in the CQWW, and recall scarfing up a
bunch of multipliers in the occasional Sunday morning Caribbean rag
chew nets, maybe 20 years ago. Maybe contesting never has been what
we thought it was? Maybe most of them are big events where all kinds of
people demonstrate all kinds of things.
Chas K3WW CFULP@MCIMAIL.COM
>From Victor Burns <vburns@netcom.com> Wed Aug 17 16:54:38 1994
From: Victor Burns <vburns@netcom.com> (Victor Burns)
Subject: Monday Night Football
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9408170811.A5587-0100000@netcom4>
Mike-
What gives? Plans for CQWW SSB and CW? Let me Know.
Victor-
See me on 445.400 or get on the remote 2 meters 146.460. We monitor
almost all the time from 5,600 ft Palomar Mountian, or are you still an
ALERT member? I have been a member from day one.
73,
vvb
---
__
---==-------||-----==--- Victor V. Burns - KI6IM
||
---===-------||-----===--- V31DX - THE CUBA LIBRE CONTEST CLUB
|| PO Box 9794
---===-------||-----===--- Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
|| 619-744-6836
----===-------||-----===----
||
----===-------||-----===---- e_mail vburns@netcom.com
||
----===--------||------===---- "Has anyone ever told you you have a
|| very nice yagi?"
----===--------||------===----
~~
73, de Victor / KI6IM
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-----
>From Chris Gay" <KU4A@LEXVMK.VNET.IBM.COM Wed Aug 17 17:11:42 1994
From: Chris Gay" <KU4A@LEXVMK.VNET.IBM.COM (Chris Gay)
Subject: more on packet spots
I can remember working 40m CW one night during a G-land contest (Gs work
everybody else) and hearing what I thought was GD8xxx. So, I spotted
GD8xxx on the cluster. He had a good signal, but I called and called and
he wouldn't answer. About that time I got a one-liner from N4AR: "Chris,
it's probably ZD8xxx". Then I recognized the "xxx" as an active station
from ZD8, and I also knew why he wasn't answering: he couldn't work me
for credit. Embarrassment city! I had become a member of the Junk Spots
Club.
73 de Chris KU4A
Kentucky Contest Group
ku4a@lexvmk.vnet.ibm.com
>From eric%modular.UUCP@cs.arizona.edu (Eric Gustafson) Wed Aug 17 17:07:09
>1994
From: eric%modular.UUCP@cs.arizona.edu (Eric Gustafson) (Eric Gustafson)
Subject: Dollars per QSO
Message-ID: <9408171607.AA04138@modular>
Any antenna improvements will help both TX and RX. Power increases only
affect TX. The antenna improvements on RX help in every case where the
other station is marginal. This means that all the little pistol stations
are aided by this improvement - a potentially large number. The TX
increase only helps in cases where your signal is 1-2 dB marginal at the
other end. Since you are already running a respectable amount of power to
good antennas, what percentage of the time are you 1-2 dB marginal now?
Of course all that was to avoid having to tell you the truth. Which is
(for contest purposes) what you want to do is first do the antenna work.
Then call the current amp a driver. Run its output through a splitter into
2 ceramic furnaces and feed the output from each P.A. to half the antenna
stack. Because, in a contest you are 10-12 dB marginal much more
frequently than 1-2 dB. ;-)
73, Eric
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Gustafson N7CL | The mountains are high and the Emperor
6730 S. Old Spanish Trail | is far away.
Tucson, AZ 85747 |
INTERNET: modular!eric@cs.arizona.edu | You can't work 'em
CI$: 71750,2133 | if you can't hear 'em.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM Wed Aug 17 17:21:00
>1994
From: Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.clemsonsc.NCR.COM (Skelton, Tom)
Subject: FW: When is time to retirment? (Humor)
Message-ID: <2E525D37@admin.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM>
<del>
...Your wife points out that all of your children were born during
sunspot minimums.
-- Paul Valko, WB8ZJL
This is what I have frequently referred to as working low band DX
AFTER Dx'ing the 20 cm band!
<del>
...you're talking to somebody face-to-face in a busy place and you say,
"Let's QSY my office," and they know exactly what you mean!
-- Doug Renze, N0YVW
<del>
Even worse...in a job interview 17 or so years ago, the word "location"
was supposed to be used in my answer and I replied
" Q T... uh, I mean location." TRUE!
73, Tom WB4iUX (Tom.Skelton@ClemsonSC.NCR.COM)
>From Victor Burns <vburns@netcom.com> Wed Aug 17 19:47:21 1994
From: Victor Burns <vburns@netcom.com> (Victor Burns)
Subject: 160 Meter J-Poles - Kites - Baloons etc.
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9408171122.A21952-0100000@netcom14>
First I apologize for sending a note to KA6SAR that got CC'd to the
reflector, my stupidity as I am suffering from serious "Road Rash" after
practicing Asphalt Ballet on my Bike this weekend.
I am looking for information on making a J-pole for 160 Meters to fly on
a Kite or Baloon or small Blimp. I understand guys use them and make
them out of Ladder Line.
Any infomrtion would be much appreciated. We fortunately have good wind
in V31-LAND at night so I know one of those advertising Baloon/Blimps
would probably work fine.
Thanks and feel free respond direct-I will summarize and send back to the
reflector for thise who care.
Victor
__
---==-------||-----==--- Victor V. Burns - KI6IM
||
---===-------||-----===--- V31DX - THE CUBA LIBRE CONTEST CLUB
|| PO Box 9794
---===-------||-----===--- Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
|| 619-744-6836
----===-------||-----===----
||
----===-------||-----===---- e_mail vburns@netcom.com
||
----===--------||------===---- "Has anyone ever told you you have a
|| very nice yagi?"
----===--------||------===----
~~
>From hhoyt@k4pql.apex.nc.us (Howard Hoyt) Wed Aug 17 17:33:32 1994
From: hhoyt@k4pql.apex.nc.us (Howard Hoyt) (Howard Hoyt)
Subject: WAE CW
Message-ID: <L3k8qc2w165w@k4pql.apex.nc.us>
Condx were marginal with extremely high QRN.
I did have a 80 opening fri nite and 15 sat aft.
Activity sure was down.
I think I heard KC1XX giving out number twelve
hundred and sumpin on Sun A.M.- wow !!
I am all for elimination of packet, but do
think there should be some low band incentive.
73, Howie
---------------
K4PQL WAE CW 94
BAND Qs M X Mult
80 55 16 4 64
40 230 32 3 96
20 305 37 2 74
15 14 9 2 18
10 0 0 2 0
--- ---
All 604 252 (604 + 602QTC) X 252 = 303,912
*-------------------------*
| Howard Hoyt |
| Apex, N.C. |
| HHOYT@K4PQL.APEX.NC.US |
*-------------------------*
>From eric%modular.UUCP@cs.arizona.edu (Eric Gustafson) Wed Aug 17 22:09:46
>1994
From: eric%modular.UUCP@cs.arizona.edu (Eric Gustafson) (Eric Gustafson)
Subject: 160 Meter J-Poles - Kites - Baloons etc.
Message-ID: <9408172109.AA07140@modular>
Victor,
We (N7BXX, N7DD, N7CL) have been using a 160 meter J-Pole for the CQ WW 160
contest for the past 2 years. It is a good performer if it can be instaled
at an adequate height. Our antenna was made entirely from #14 bare 7
strand copper wire. We made the ladder line section out of the same stuff.
It was great fun making 140 feet of 6 inch ladder line from bare wire and
PVC tubing slats. The hot melt glue gun really got a workout. During the
last phone contest, we discovered that our insulator at the end of the
ladder line was not _quite_ long enough. About half way through the
contest the heat from the corona melted the wire in two. We were forced to
lower the antenna and replace the insulator with one twice as long.
I presented all that experience because to lift our antenna (which is just
barely able to withstand 1500 W output) would require a very serious
baloon. We pull it up with a pulley and rope. By the time the bottom of
the matching section clears the ground, there is quite a bit of tension on
the rope. Every foot of additional height above that point is also lifting
the RG213 feedline. I suppose that you could support the RG213 up to a
heght of 70 or 80 feet and let the baloon lift the rest of the structure.
But if you are going to be running full output, don't skimp on the
materials used to build the antenna.
Next year we may (or may not) be trying a new antenna I have modeled to fit
the site. It should not have any high voltage breakdown problems to
contend with.
73, Eric N7CL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Gustafson N7CL | The mountains are high and the Emperor
6730 S. Old Spanish Trail | is far away.
Tucson, AZ 85747 |
INTERNET: modular!eric@cs.arizona.edu | You can't work 'em
CI$: 71750,2133 | if you can't hear 'em.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From Steve Miller WD8IXE <millersg@dmapub.dma.org> Thu Aug 18 00:55:05 1994
From: Steve Miller WD8IXE <millersg@dmapub.dma.org> (Steve Miller WD8IXE)
Subject: Dollars per QSO
Message-ID: <m0qauoz-00014nC@dmapub.dma.org>
Tony, K1KP writes:
<del>
> Question: What is the improvement likely from going from 1100 watts
> output power to 1499.9 watts output power? (Let's not start the GAS
> thread again...) This increase in power is a big jump in cost, from
> the old faithful 2x 3-500 amp to something ceramic.
<more del>
> if another 1-2 db in amp power would be significant. Thoughts?
>
> -Tony, K1KP, fisher@hp-and.an.hp.com
I've seen 2x 3-500 amps run 1499.9 watts out - just add voltage and drive.
As for 1-2 dB, there have been many times where I have hoped JAs on 10
and 15 could have been just 1 or 2 dB louder.
73, Steve WD8IXE
|