After reading a couple of these letters concerning the northeast boys not
enjoying sprint, I'm ready to throw-up.
The basic thing I get out of reading their letters is that they think a real
contester is defined by one technique,,,,pushing F1 all weekend long. These
boys don't know how to really "WORK" a contest. The sprint teaches how to
"WORK" a contest and to obtain maximum results. It teaches how to "WORK" two
or three bands at once but still maintaining single-op status. It teaches how
to MAXIMIZE multipliers count. It teaches superior MENTAL abilities, for
example, listening to two radios simutaneously with one radio in each ear. It
teaches how to respond to instanteous situations without missing a beat.
One poor soul said something about learning how to handle a pileup!!! Down
here learning to handle a pileup is just elementary basic stuff. Whenever we
do a multi operation, "RUNNERS" are considered as common operators because we
can teach them the use of the F1 and INS keys very quickly. Call recognition
simply comes with a year or two of operating.
I suggest you NE boys learn how to really contest. There is more to the art
contesting than hitting F1 all weekend. There are no geographical advantages
in sprint, so if you guys think that you're superior, then PROVE it. The
sprint contest is a good place to TRY.
73,
Bill K5GA
>From Danny Eskenazi <0005720561@mcimail.com> Thu Feb 16 19:12:00 1995
From: Danny Eskenazi <0005720561@mcimail.com> (Danny Eskenazi)
Subject: KH6RS (N0AX) in ARRL DX
Message-ID: <23950216191232/0005720561PK4EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Ward called from Maui and wants ya'll to know he will be using
[A
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[D'a
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[Dthe
MAUI ARC club call ** KH6RS ** in a low power all band effort from
the northeast shore of Maui. He will concentrate on 10meter
mults on Sunday, and is planning to run run run on Saturday.
ALOHA de K7SS for N0AX
>From k8mr@barf80.nshore.org (Jim Stahl) Thu Feb 16 18:48:33 1995
From: k8mr@barf80.nshore.org (Jim Stahl) (Jim Stahl)
Subject: CW Sprint from W8
Message-ID: <m4Pm1c1w165w@barf80.nshore.org>
Some 8-land CW Sprint Scores:
20 40 80
KW8N 273/43 100 97 75
K8CC 275/41 87 107 81
K8MR 220/45 68 63 89
W8FN 230/41
WD8AUB 229/38
WD8LLD 174/43 36 58 80
The consensus from here is that 80 was in good shape, but 20 and
40 sucked. Particularly 40. The only loud station I heard from
the east was VY2SS, fairly early. The closest loud one from the
west was KM0L. At 0100 the GA guys were loud, but by 0120 they
were a scatter path. Do I correctly assume that things are much
better in TX or CA where daylight was still a recent memory? Can
you work each other on 40? Even KW8N 30 miles away had a weak
echo afflicted signal.
I had the added local handicap of a line noise which occurs in
snowy weather. Sure enough the snow came at 2200Z, and gave me
an S7 noise on all bands. This combined with the scatter
propagation convinced me not to do too much CQing, since either I
wouldn't hear anyone and would become known as an alligator, or
would hear just enough to get a call but bust the exchange
anyway. I sat back, microwaved some popcorn, and basically
hacked away until 80 happened.
But in hacking around the mults just kept coming! Heard someone
working WB0O and K8JLF on the high bands, but missed ND and MA.
Never heard MN or FL. Didn't there used to be a group called the
Florida CW Contesters? Are they all up in D.C. trying to protect
their Social Security benefits or something? But thanks to such
guys as N8NA, N4ZR, K4IQJ, WQ5L, KM5H, N6YK, VY2SS, VE2AWR, etc.
for keeping the contest from being a total bore!
Jim K8MR k8mr@barf80.shore.org
(I tried posting this Tuesday, but it never arrived back. My
apologies if it is in fact a dupe)
----------------------------
Jim Stahl
InterNet: k8mr@barf80.nshore.org
Basic Amateur Radio Frequency, BARF-80 +1 216/237-8208
"Totally devoted to Amateur Radio" - 24 Hrs a day 8/N/1 14.4k-300 baud
>From jreid@aloha.net (Jim Reid) Thu Feb 16 13:29:00 1995
From: jreid@aloha.net (Jim Reid) (Jim Reid)
Subject: Candler High Speed CW Course
Message-ID: <m0rfFdk-000uIsC@hookomo>
Hi Doug,
Well, unfortunately, I did not receive a single positive response so far in
my search for present availability of the Candler System. I had the
program, similar to a present day corespndese course in some ways, back in
the late forties or early fifties, don't recall the exact dates anymore.
The course came as a series, of I believe it was monthly booklets for about
a year. Each booklet covered the same topics, but in increasing skill and
difficulty level. Candler taught mental "conditioning"; sort of like have
a positive attitude toward your code abilities. Also physical exercises,
for both overall physical condition (remember these were also the days of
the ubiquitous Charles Atlas body building ads) as well as specific arm.
wrist and even finger exercises for building skill at high speed sending
using both straight and "bug" mechanical keys. Each lesson closed with two
or three pages devoted to what he called, in the early lessons "high
frequency letter combinations and words", meaning frequency of occurence in
the written language of telegraph transmission. As these were the days even
before the wire recorder, one needed a partner to get much value from that
section of the lessons. Later lessons included short and longer common
phrases which you were to learn to copy after hearing the full sound of the
phrase, neither letter by letter, nor word by word, but the full phrase was
to go by before you began to copy, the begining of forced copy behind
skill. His lessons also included things to prcticed copying on the "mill",
the term used for the mechanical typewriter in telegraphy. Of course he
stressed acurate mill copy, as the typical code student of Candlers was
preparing for a career in commercial intrernational radio telegraphy, a
career field which was "wide open" in the 20's, 30's and 40's when Candler
was in business, tho I do not know when he first offered his course. He
held world speed records for copying and sending in the late 30's.
At the time, or probably actually before I ordered the Candler course
(from an ad in the then advertising section in the back of the ARRL
Handbook), I had been using a rented (like $5/month) the punched paper
tape, wind up phonograph motor instructograph to, first learn Morse code,
then build up my send and recv speeds to 13 wpm, at which time I drove 50
miles to Fresno very early one morning to pass my Class B amateur ticket
test. I had no way to prepare punched paper tapes of the Candler high
frequency learning material, so never gained any value from it at all.
To day one can buy any number of code practice tapes and software, but none
that I have so far found approches the skill as Candler did. I now have the
Morse Academy software, bought from W5YI Group, and want to be able to
enter the Candler high frequency of use stuff in what that course calls the
"Keyboard" session. You can type in about 7 minutes worth of text to be
plaayed back at 30 wpm, at 15 wpm, of course the material will take about
14 minutes, and so forth up to whatever speed you wish to attain. I don't
really want to improve my mill skills, rather up my "copy in my head" and
remeber what I copied skill! I have typed in about 45 minutes of text using
magazine articles etc for source material. The idea is patterend after some
material that was written in the March 1995 Worldradio magazine, pg 12,
titled "A basic course in handling Morse code - its easy" by M Gibson,
W7JIE, who learned the code in the military in 1938. I'll bet he was taught
very similarly to the Candler system in 1938, I plan to write and ask him,
also. He suggests preparing 30 minute tapes, in 5 wpm increments: 30 min at
15, 30 at 20, 30 at25, at 30, at 35, at 40, and so on as high as your
aspirations wish to go. Thats what he says he did, in effect. He claims 45
or 50 wpm is easy while copying in your head. He advocates never writing it
down until after you have learned to copy up to the top speed you wish to
reach, in your head. Then start copy practice, and be copying behind. He
claims two 30 minute practice session per day will get one up from 5 to 40
wpm in ONE MONTH with no effort except the expenditure of 30 or so hours of
practice; " no excuses adepted or offered. Just do it!" to quote his
closing lines. So I'm going to give it a go, even without the Candler word
and phrase lists, and see if I can meet W7JIE's challenge to meet him on
the air at 45 or 50 wpm in a couple of months or so. It certainly sounds
like its doable for me anyway!
73 and Aloha from beautiful Kauai!
Jim, AH6NB
73 and Aloha,
Jim Reid, AH6NB (Happily retired on the Island of Kauai)
Hawaii, USA Email: jreid@aloha.net
>From Randy Thompson <k5zd@iconics.com> Fri Feb 17 00:03:22 1995
From: Randy Thompson <k5zd@iconics.com> (Randy Thompson)
Subject: Embarrasingly low score for NA Sprint CW -- WB4iUX
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.950216190035.11500B-100000@genesis.iconics.com>
Thanks for giving me the SC mult Tom!
Here is how it works...
CQ NA WB4IUX
K5ZD
K5ZD WB4IUX 51 ELF SC
WB4IUX 123 RANDY TX K5ZD
Notice that when you are going to get the freq, you send your call at the
end. The good ops will then know you are the one who is staying and
immediately drop their call in.
If you are leaving the freq, bury your call in the exchange. This will
prevent an unwanted caller from bombing the station you are going to try
to get the exchange from.
This is not in the rules...it has just become the Sprint "etiquette".
Randy Thompson, K5ZD
---------------------------------------------
Note new address (9 Dec 94): k5zd@iconics.com
---------------------------------------------
>From Robert <w5robert@blkbox.COM> Fri Feb 17 02:19:51 1995
From: Robert <w5robert@blkbox.COM> (Robert)
Subject: TIMEWAVE 9+
Message-ID: <9502162020.aa26316@blkbox.COM>
FYI:
The timewave update eprom (ver. 3.00) arrived today with
manual & label. features:
improved voice mode noise reduction
remodulator for rtty
improved data filters
etc.
--
73 Robert WB5CRG w5robert@blkbox.com
(Feb. 16, 1995)
>From ccook@agora.rdrop.com (Craig Cook) Fri Feb 17 05:20:00 1995
From: ccook@agora.rdrop.com (Craig Cook) (Craig Cook)
Subject: CT 9.19 now up on CT BBS (508-460-8877)
Message-ID: <m0rfL7n-0001BxC@agora.rdrop.com>
>
> It fixes the bug that W1GD reported this morning, about using ALT-F1/F2 t
> change band of a prior QSO. In addition, ALT-M problem reported in CT 9.1
> has been fixed.
>
> 9.17
>
> * This should fix the TS850 CW upper/lower sideband commands.
>
> * The POLL command is gone.
>
> 9.18
>
> * No good -- do not use.
>
> 9.19
>
> * Fixes crashes in 9.17 and 9.18 updating old QSO's.
>
> If you get a "no answer" dialing the BBS, this means that both lines are i
> use - try again later.
>
> 73 - Jim Reisert AD1C
> reisert@eng.pko.dec.com
>
Who signed me up on the CT reflector? Was it a practical joke?
DISCLAIMER: (The proceeding post was meant as SARCASTIC humor).
(If you do not find it humorous, so sorry).
Wait a minute, the disclaimer was sarcasm also, have I created an endless
process?
>From Eugene Walsh <0004504465@mcimail.com> Fri Feb 17 07:06:00 1995
From: Eugene Walsh <0004504465@mcimail.com> (Eugene Walsh)
Subject: Sprint Bashing??
Message-ID: <91950217070619/0004504465PK1EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Gentlemen:
I am troubled by seeing 2 fellows I much admire
(K5GA and K7SS) missing the point so widely. Danny
is right, though, that there is enough in there for
all of us to enjoy. We do not have to make value
judgements about what folks like and dont like.
Charlie and Fred (K3WW and K3ZO, for the spectators)
were not bashing the sprint, per se, but reacting to a
pejorative statement (Made several times on here, almost
ad nauseum, by the same person) implying that anyone who
doesn't like the sprint is somehow impaired, either in
ability or intellect. Personally, I am grateful for both
of their rebuttals to this absurd notion, as they reflect
my own feelings fairly well.
The NA Sprint is a brilliantly conceived contest,
requiring great skill (However focused on this one activity),
and goes very far in equalizing the differences between
stations (But not really, as hyped, between geographical
differences). I admire the folks who have mastered this
style, but I have absolutely no interest in it. I don't
care who knows this, and I cannot believe that anyone
would even notice who does or does not spend alot of time
in any of these little tests. The idea that my lack of
interest in this activity makes me some kind of schmuck
is definitely not something that I will ascribe to.
I like all kinds of DX contests, having made serious
(Meaning really trying to do the best I can) efforts in
SPDX, HADX, CQM, GAGARIN, RUSSIA, ALL ASIA, JT, JADX,
ARRL10M, ARRL160M, CQ160M ETC. whoever allows single band
entries, as I have never been equipped for a multi-band
entry here and have never found the motivation to equip
myself with competitive antennas for all bands at the
same time. (Isn't that a great sentence? 7 lines.)
I even have a great time chasing mobiles in some of the
state QSO parties (Because it is great fun), which KM9P
has stated is for retards. Maybe K5GA can help me find
the results for the last Texas Bash, in which he was a
major participant. My heroes are folks who have shown
their mastery of 20 Meter weird mult finding, like K1AR,
K1DG, W1FJ, K1KI, KC1F, AA2Z, K2TW, K2VV, K2SS, KQ2M,
W2VCZ, K3EST, K3RV, K3UA, K3ZO, K3NA, KT3Y, N4RV, N7BG,
K5VT, KW8N, NA8V, WB8MAZ, N3RS, K3JJG, W3LPL (Not to
mention other great 20M ops like G3FXB, DJ2BW, UA9BA,
UN4L) and a host of others I have competed with over
the past 40 years, but I could care less how any of these
folks (If any) have ever done (If ever) in the Sprint.
This does not mean that I think that the Sprint is something
bad, it just means that I dont spend alot of time thinking
about the sprint; one way or the other. If K5GA really
thinks that anyone who doesn't like the sprint just sits
around and pushes F1, I have no way to respond to this as
it is so narrow minded it defies intelligent rebuttal.
To accuse K3WW and K3ZO of "Just pushing F1" in their
contest efforts (Because they are not Sprint fans) bespeaks
a certain DETACHMENT from reality on the part of the accuser.
Its all part of the "IF YOU DONT LIKE WHAT I LIKE,
YOU AIN'T NOTHIN'!" syndrome. We really do not need this!
I have never (REPEAT NEVER) been in a SS, NAQP or Sprint
contest, in 39 years of extreme activist totally committed
contesting. I have never liked them, and never felt motivated
to join in, except for the occasional "Point giving" type of
activity or getting a sweep and quitting. If anyone wants to
make any kind of value judgement about that, please do not
speak to me about it, because I do not care what you think.
I do not care how I stack up in the minds of people whose
opinions I do not care about. Get it?
My entire contest life has been spent, mostly, in
the CQWW DX test developing a love for chasing mults in
the weird hours on 20 Meters, because I love it. That is
what I love to do, and if anyone thinks that is nothing,
he can stuff it where the sun does not shine. I will
continue to enjoy it. Most of the Sprint winners will
not be as good at it, but I will certainly respect those
who are (As I will genuinely relate to them). I will
certainly not hold you any less a contester if you are
a Sprint freak. Honest!
The CQWW contest gets over 3000 logs per weekend!!!!
If anything ever happens to the CQWW contest, people will
be calling CQ CONTEST on the last weekends in October and
November for 20 years before everyone on Earth knows that
it is over. If anything happens to the Sprint, all 40
guys who care will know within microseconds and that will
be that!!!!!!!
73 etc, etc N2AA
>From Eugene Walsh <0004504465@mcimail.com> Fri Feb 17 07:39:00 1995
From: Eugene Walsh <0004504465@mcimail.com> (Eugene Walsh)
Subject: More!
Message-ID: <63950217073936/0004504465PK4EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Gents:
I forgot to mention that in addition to 3000++
logs in each CQWW contest weekend there are many
tens of thousands of participants world wide. Most
of these do not submit logs.
This, I submit to you, is a CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!!
The other stuff, for all of its ardor, is a gathering
of a few guys to impress each other with copying each
others call signs.
N2AA
>From JA3ZOH Mt. RF" <ja3zoh@qed.laser.ee.es.osaka-u.ac.jp Fri Feb 17 09:52:47
>1995
From: JA3ZOH Mt. RF" <ja3zoh@qed.laser.ee.es.osaka-u.ac.jp (JA3ZOH Mt. RF)
Subject: CQ WW DX 160m CW at JA3ZOH Mt.RF (result)
Message-ID: <199502170952.SAA02478@qed.laser.ee.es.osaka-u.ac.jp>
1995 CQ WW DX 160m CW at JA3ZOH Mt.RF
-------------------------------------
SCORE: 236 qso, 28 countries, 22 states = 93,800 points
BREAKDOWN: NA 106, EU 62, AS 65 (JA 53), OC 3, AF 0, SA 0
OPERATORS: JG3MRT, JG3WDN, JE3MAS, JH3PRR
RIGS: IC-760, TS-950, TL-922
ANTENNA: T: 5/8 lambda not-so-vertical with muddy ground
R: 1200ft beverage beaming NA
1050ft beverage beaming EU
EXCUSE: - We missed the first EU window due to transportation problem.
- 5/8 lambda not-so-vertical was detuned by heavy storm.
HIGHLIGHTS:
+ called by R1FJL at around 1035 on the 1st day.
When we switched from NA to EU beam, his signal rose drastically.
+ called by VY1JA at around 1243 on the 1st day. (as predicted by VE8EV.)
+ called by W9UP (op. N0BSH) at around 1326 on the 1st day.
So far Wisconsin is the deepest east. The last time he called us
in ARRL 160m, we could not detect him. But this time, he was NOT weak
at all! So we expect further east in coming ARRL DX CW.
+ heard many EU stations, worked many, and missed many.
Our beverage for EU worked very fine. But we have to improve
our transmission antenna.
STORY: When the contest ended, the localtime was already 0100 Monday.
It was chilly Monday morning. Elder operators had left Mt.RF before
the last NA window and were now sleeping at home. JG3MRT and JG3WDN
who had enjoyed the contest to the last minute had a lot to do before
they left. They had to remove the last 300ft of NA beverage which was
crossing pathway and farms. They struggled in the steep forest in
darkness for hours and then drove home. JG3WDN took the first bullet
train for his Tokyo office and found himself reacted to Japanese
poisonous lacquer tree by coming out in a rash.
FUTURE: We found the NA beverage much noisier than the EU one. We
have already lowered its height and now it is as quiet as the EU one.
So, please call us in this weekend ARRL DX CW. Don't forget to listen
to 1910+-2.5kHz.
de masa JH3PRR / JA3ZOH Mt.RF
P.S. We are overwhelmed by exciting stories of ON4UN and Gs'.
>From John L. Rouse" <jrouse@CapAccess.org Fri Feb 17 13:43:04 1995
From: John L. Rouse" <jrouse@CapAccess.org (John L. Rouse)
Subject: TO SPRINT OR NOT TO SPRINT
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9502170801.B17765-9100000@cap1.capaccess.org>
How exceedingly enjoyable to read the rational, eminently sane comments of
Fred, K3ZO, and Bill, K5GA, regarding the Sprint contest. They prove that
all contesters aren't frenzied fruitloops! Well said, guys.
73, John KA3DBN
John L. Rouse FAX: (301) 464-7027
Capital-Gazette Communications PHONE: (301) 262-3700
jrouse@capaccess.org (410) 268-5000
KA3DBN@KA3RFE.md.usa jrouse@ix.netcom.com
>From KAY, LEONARD" <LKAY@pria.com Fri Feb 17 17:24:00 1995
From: KAY, LEONARD" <LKAY@pria.com (KAY, LEONARD)
Subject: Sprint bashing
Message-ID: <2F44DCE7@pria.com>
Enough! Is there so little to do at the bottom of the sunspot cycle that
we're starting to bash each other's contests? Come on, people, we're
all here 'cause we love contesting!
The Sprints, and the big DX tests, and Sweepstakes, etc. *all* have their
own
deserved niches and they all help to hone *different* contesting skills.
I feel that the Sprints' strong points (thanks in part to the great
post-mortem that K2MM provides) are in getting your busted call ratio down
and practicing your S&Ping. As far as DX contests, K3ZO has already pretty
much said it.
They're all fun. Lighten up, troops.
WOOF! Beat FRC!
73, Len KB2R
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonard Kay, KB2R | "But we are not dealing with the
PRI Automation, Inc. | normal world. We are chasing DX."
Billerica, MA 01821 | -- W9KNI, 'The Complete DXer'
Internet: lkay@pria.com |
PacketCluster: KB2R>K1EA | #include <disclaimer.h>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
>From Peter G. Smith" <n4zr@netcom.com Fri Feb 17 14:33:40 1995
From: Peter G. Smith" <n4zr@netcom.com (Peter G. Smith)
Subject: TO SPRINT OR NOT TO SPRINT
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9502170617.A5193-0100000@netcom>
I think Bill's over-generalizing off a few comments. There were a good
number of "NE guys" on in the sprint, having a good time, from what I
could tell.
To those who didn't work me (I gather I was the only WV), my apologies.
I was having a lot of computer problems (keyboard that was doubling some
letters, software glitches), and I only have an R5 for the moment. It
loads on 80 with the TS-930's internal tuner, but I know I was WEAK, and on
40, while it loads, signals are never above S7 and my transmitted signal
appears to be slightly below a dummy load. Finally, I must admit I had
forgotten about the contest and had a couple of glasses of wine with
dinner, which definitely takes the edge off the initial surge on 20!
Next time!
73, Pete
N4ZR@netcom.com
"Better, faster,cheaper -- choose any two"
"No no no -- it's WEST Virginia"
>From sellington" <sellington@mail.ssec.wisc.edu Fri Feb 17 08:39:19 1995
From: sellington" <sellington@mail.ssec.wisc.edu (sellington)
Subject: Embarrasingly low score for NA Sprint CW -- WB4iUX
>The good ops will then know you are the one who is staying and
>immediately drop their call in.
But please wait just a second, in case the other guy needs a fill! Conversely,
don't forget the "dit" when you've gotten everything.
Scott K9MA
>From rmarosko@bcm.tmc.edu (Ron Marosko) Fri Feb 17 15:29:05 1995
From: rmarosko@bcm.tmc.edu (Ron Marosko) (Ron Marosko)
Subject: Fwd: BETTER PUT ON UR SEATBELTS FER THIS ONE !!!
Message-ID: <199502171529.JAA26872@bcm.tmc.edu>
Blame N5RP for this one, folks. He made me send it to the
contest reflector. Far be it from me to argue with the
N5 Reverend President of TDXS. (glad I've got my boots on)
73,
Ron KK5DK
>From: perring@ICSI.Net
>Subject: BETTER PUT ON UR SEATBELTS FER THIS ONE !!!
>Content-Length: 1102
>
>Return-Path: <rmarosko@bcm.tmc.edu>
>Subject: TDXS has a WWW Homepage (sort-of)!
>
>Greetings!
>HERE IS WHAT THE TEXAS DX SOCIETY HAS UP ITS SLEEVE !!!
>
>TDXS now has a homepage available for access through World Wide Web
>browsers, such as Mosaic and Netscape. The resource link is:
>
>http://crick.bcm.tmc.edu/people/rmarosko/tdxs.html
>
>Enter the above line in the "Open URL" or "Open Location" option in your
>favorite Web browser.
>
>Please note the homepage is still under a great deal of construction. Your
>suggestions and comments are welcome. Please send same to me at
>rmarosko@bcm.tmc.edu. Flames should be routed to /dev/null. <g>
>
>Vy 73,
> Ron KK5DK (CONVEYED TO THE ARRL BY N5RP)
>---
>#include <std.disclaimer.h>
>+-------------------------------+--------------------------------+
>| Ron Marosko | Enterprise Services |
>| rmarosko@bcm.tmc.edu | Network Support |
>| kk5dk@amsat.org | Baylor College of Medicine |
>+-------------------------------+--------------------------------+
>N5RP, Bob
>Houston, Texas
>Email: perring@icsi.net
>
---
#include <std.disclaimer.h>
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Ron Marosko | Enterprise Services |
| rmarosko@bcm.tmc.edu | Network Support |
| kk5dk@amsat.org | Baylor College of Medicine |
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------+
|