I have operated as a Single-Op Portable in past years and continue to do
so. In the January contest I have set up, torn down and operated in
blizzards, ferocious winds, ice storms, very cold temperatures and 45
degree sunny days. I've seen everything.
Maybe I'm just getting older. I wasn't excited about setting up in an ice
storm this year. So I skipped this one. I hope the June contest weekend is
better.
73, Zack W9SZ
On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 8:10 AM Ron Klimas WZ1V <wz1v@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Hi Chet: Spot on -
> anyone's who's still VHF contesting as long as we have
> are gluttons for punishment - bring on the pain we love it !
> Lot's of good contacts made despite challenging condx.
> -73 Ron WZ1V
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chet S" <chetsubaccount@snet.net>
> To: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
> Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 08:59:41 -0500
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Did anyone else have fun in the January
> VHF/UHF contest?
>
> > Hi John,
> >
> > I believe you are misinterpreting the reports from the contest. These
> may be bragging reports, not disgusted tirades. The January contest
> presents challenges and problems for many, but hams like to persevere,
> engineers like to solve problems, and all like to talk about it afterward.
> >
> > Think of it like sailors or fishermen having a few beers in the cozy pub
> after a big storm. Do they talk about how beautiful the storm clouds and
> sky were, or do they tell tales of how tough a time it was getting through
> it. Still had a kind of fun, maybe a man thing.
> >
> > 73,
> > Chet, N8RA
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+chetsubaccount=
> snet.net@contesting.com> On Behalf Of John Young via VHFcontesting
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 10:58 PM
> > To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
> > Subject: [VHFcontesting] Did anyone else have fun in the January VHF/UHF
> contest?
> >
> > So I have been reading the 3830 and ARRL Soapbox posts. The vast
> majority of posts include a lot of commentary on poor turnout, poor
> conditions, dead bands and weather difficulties. Some even question if its
> worth taking part in these contests. My experience and those of several
> others who worked FM in Northern VA or MD was very much the opposite. There
> was great activity from 2pm until 10pm Saturday and it wasn't what I would
> call slow (no 30 minute breaks between Q's) all the way up to 1 am. Even
> when I got back on the air at 0330 Sunday there was activity to be had. I
> didn't work through to the bitter end (or should I say bitterly cold end)
> but from the private emails it appears it never got boring. Its not like
> we had great weather here by any stretch.
> > What made it so much fun?
> > Turn out and constant activity. Working hard to get a weak contact.Rag
> chewing with truckers all night to add points as they cross grids.Making
> scheds with FM and multi-band rovers along with big fixed stations at "long
> range".Passing contacts between stations to build each others scores.Making
> a Q with people who never imagined a 100 mile Q was possible on FM
> simplexHaving a paraplegic 15yr old build a tape measure yagi so he can
> make a QSO with you (2017).People dusting off rigs they have not used in
> years or going mobile to a nearby hill top to give you another contact or
> multi.
> > A big part of what generated the activity was a coupe guys sending out a
> lot of emails to get people up on the air in our area. That has over time
> generated a lot of turn out, both casual operators, new fixed site
> contesters as well as regional FM or FM/SSB rovers.
> >
> > Was having fun this January just an FM thing? All our contacts are
> regional, propagation is not a big factor. There are no digital modes,
> clickety Q, clickety Q.Its just you, a microphone, a radio, a cable and an
> antenna. Pretty basic stuff.
> >
> > Did anyone else have a good time?Post something if you did. All that
> reading is pretty depressing right now.
> > 73JohnKM4KMU
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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