I think the advent of the sound-card interface is probably responsible for
much of the perceived increase in CW participation, but it does raise- at
least in my mind- a question of legitimacy in contests.
It's a little bothersome to me to hear some self-proclaimed big Dxers talk
about all the stations they work on CW, when I know some can't copy enough
to pass the old Novice test.
It seems to me the op who copies for real should have a point advantage vs.
the op who is using "artificial cw". I don't work contests, only picking up
the occasional contact of particular DX interest, but I wonder if anyone
else shares this point of view.
Phil C. Sr.
k4dpk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richards" <jruing@ameritech.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] wither CW?
> Interesting, and apparently very good news for CWs.
>
> Not to rain on your parade, but I am not sure the data supports the
> stated conclusion ... While it suggests there are more CW operators out
> there, it is far from conclusive. This data only proves participation
> in CW contests has increased, as measured by the number of logs
> submitted, and by the increasing number of contacts.
>
> Thus, the total number of CW operators could have diminished, with more
> of those remaining participating each year in the contest. Moreover, a
> greater number of contacts each year could be attributed to other
> factors, such as the use of CW skimmer and other software applications,
> and other tools, such as memory keyers and techniques decreasing the
> time it takes to complete a contact.
>
> But ... it IS a good indication. I am one of three guys from our
> Friday lunch bunch (or maybe 20-23 guys total) who are learning code
> right now. Hopefully we exemplify the newer ham licensee who wants to
> learn code for the fun of it, not because we have to.
>
> Maybe the number of CW operators HAS been increasing, on the theory that
> kids don't take to the piano if you force them to take piano lessons,
> but will take up the instrument for life if they start voluntarily.
>
> Parenthetically, I suspect the reason more operators do CW then SSB in
> dual type contests, is because a CW contact generally counts for more
> points than and SSB contacts. It is that way, for example, in the
> Michigan QSO Party, which counts two points for a CW contacts, and one
> point for an SSB contact. I don't want to participate in the contest as
> a rookie or first-year contestant, until I know the code, because
> unless one does CW, he has no chance of winning.
>
> ========================== K8JHR ================================
>
>
>
> On 5/24/2010 1:47 AM, Jim Brown K9YC wrote:
>> Anyone who thinks CW is dying ought to turn on their radio during
>> a contest. Some easily available statistics:
>>
>> Contest Logs QSOs by Leader
>> ARRL SS CW 09 1553 1597
>> ARRL SS CW 08 1420 1529
>> ARRL 160M 09 1366 2046
>> ARRL 160M 08 1280 1753
>> ARRL DX CW 09 3131 5928
>> ARRL DX CW 08 2686 4797
>>
>> Note that these numbers all show increased participation year to
>> year. In ARRL SS and ARRL 160M, you can work a station only once,
>> so that means at least 1597 stations were on the air in SS09, and
>> 2046 in ARRL 160 09 (and thats a single band contest that many
>> hams cant work at all)! In ARRL DX, you can work each station on
>> multiple bands.
>
>> In most contests that run both CW and SSB simultaneously, theres
>> more activity on CW than SSB.
>>
>>
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