First, WA3FET told me that this popular annual subject had come up again and he
and I agreed it was best if we stayed out of it. He did note to me that most
of the comments were supportive of me/us, after K5NZ's original kickoff
message. Let me say on my/our behalf, it's nice to have friends and we do
appreciate your support! hihi. And, I must say, I'm impressed with the
discussion and repartee and you guys are doing just fine without me weighing
in. Some of you have made some very good and interesting philosophical points,
and I do think it comes down to the "philosophical," to wit, "Why do we do
this?" or "What does he do that?" or "Why do any of us get any enjoyment out of
these strange competitions within an unusual `hobby' (if you will)?"
When WA3FET and I first started down this road, I cautioned him that we could
expect criticism from some for "winning" (if you want to call it that -- see?
I can see both sides -- it's a philosophical concept anyway) even once or
twice, let alone multi-years, and people wanting to belittle the
"accomplishment" (if it is one). I guess it was after that first year I wrote
a couple "articles," for myself, to put my own thoughts in order, if for no one
else, and they're in my laptop that I use for logging, and I re-read them
before and/or after SS this year, just to remind myself of some things. I have
mentioned them over the years to the NCJ editor (can't remember which one for
sure), etc. and there's been interest in seeing them, at least, and possibly
printing them. I still don't know if it's the wisest thing for me or not, to
have them published, but I keep weighing the possibilities. But, one has to do
with the "meaning," if any, of winning SS from Puerto Rico, or for that matter
from anywhere. The other has to do with "Why do we do this?" (at all).
I won't reiterate those here right now, but in the spirit of trying to stay out
of the mud on this discussion and not get too deeply entangled in it, I will
just make a glancing comment on the subject. The point I try to make over and
over in what I wrote back in '98 is something I have heard attorneys say, "It
means what it means." Lawyers use this sort of "saying" to apply to
"evidence." In this instance we're talking about what meaning, if any, winning
SS from KP4 or somewhere else has or doesn't have. It's meaningless to one
person and meaningful to someone else. Then you can get deeply into how much
it means or doesn't mean, and why. That's all personal perspective and
interpretation of it. "Even" winning SS from VY1/VE8 would likely be very
meaningful to at least the operator who did it and would be noted widely
amongst contesters. But, there are other people to whom it would be
meaningless.
At this point I'm beginning to beat a dead horse on that, so I'll stop on that
tack.
A couple other comments: This year we did have a couple hotshot ops go to the
Caribbean to go against "me-n-WP3R" -- KH6ND from Hawaii, at WP2Z and KW8N
operating at KP2A. I'm not too unhappy with how that has worked out (and it's
still unofficial). This was SS phone.
And, K0RF, though multiop, actually had a higher score than me in SS CW. I was
only a handful of QSOs ahead and they had a sweep and I didn't. I think few of
us would deny that there are a few critical factors in SS success (we could
debate the order): Station (antennas more than anything else), geographical
location/QTH (implying by this that you want to be in a good location, e.g.
KP2/KP4 or Gulf Coast, but also want good local topography -- a hilltop is
better than a canyon), and operator. By "operator" I mean raw operating
ability but also experience. Clearly, W0UA at K0RF, is a very fast and superb
operator, and from what I understand the QTH is outstanding. I have little
doubt the antenna farm and inside station are topnotch and tweaked for SS
success. And, the midsection of the country (as well as the Gulf Coast) are an
excellent distance from the high-population East Coast, and good to the West
Coast too. All the "continental" U.S. stations generally have an advantage
over farther-away stations on the low bands. Operating from Maryland, K0RF is
one of the noteworthy perennial stations with blockbuster signals.
I have little doubt that if K0RF could beat WP3R, others can too. Do it just
like he did and there you are. Likewise with K1TO in SS CW in '98. As some
have said, he proved that Florida can win just like the rest of the Gulf Coast,
Southwest, and west. And it does vary to some extent from year to year, which
area has the best shot into the high population areas. I remember the year
N5RZ, WTX, had 10M openings that NTX and STX didn't. K6LL told me he thinks
Arizona has the best geographical advantage. N2IC said this year he thinks NM
may be the best SS QTH. Texas, in general, has long been the "place to be" in
SS, for the geographical advantage of being "far enough" (for skip into the
high pop. areas on high bands) but "close enough" (for a commanding signal on
the low bands), the best of all worlds and the ability to adapt to any
propagation "situations" on a given weekend. N6TR, operating at W5WMU, has
shown Louisiana, also Gulf Coast, has geographical advantages similar to Texas.
When you string the Florida-Louisiana-Texas, etc. results together you can see
there's a Gulf Coast band that is favorable. For whatever reason, and some of
the West Coaster should comment on this specific, for some reason in SS phone
the West Coast comes into its own more. But, Texas seems to get an advantage
on both weekends.
On the antenna aspect, there are some stations, typically in the preferable
geographic area, that build up their station to maximize their domestic
(Sweepstakes) contest advantages. This year we heard some mention their new
"secret weapon" or improvements this year really worked and they have one or
two things up their sleeve for next year too. Clearly "tweakage" to maximize
their advantages. We're talking multiple stacks at the right (relatively low)
heights to put a maximum signal into the east coast, north, and west coast all
at the same time, all phased together just right. And, for the record --
someone mentioned stacks or multiple stacks -- at WP3R we have a single antenna
for each band. Also, we have set aside automatic switching, etc. in favor of
greater reliability, etc.
While I may be more familiar than most with the "advantages" I/we have from WP3
(AKA KP4), I am also most familiar with the disadvantages. When KH7X (AKA
KH6ND) was 190 QSOs ahead Saturday night in SS CW, even though I had been
running good rates, I speculated it was because KH6 gets many hours more
daylight and propagation on 10/15 and even 20. WP3 is in the Atlantic time
zone, same as VO1/VO2 I guess -- VE1 also? -- and the sun goes down during the
first hour of SS -- 10 and 15M propagation doesn't stay much longer once the
sun goes down, though UA0, JA and VK call me! At that point I know I need to
change bands!
As others have noted in their score report comments, 10, 15 and 20 didn't last
long in SS phone this time. With 20 dying for me, I took my first 30-minute
off time just 5 hours into the contest, to think things over. I had to adjust
to the situation. Going to 40 and 80 is generally a brighter prospect from
somewhere else than it is in WP3. Well, it all worked out in the end.
So, we all put different things into our effort and get different things out of
it. We weigh our geographic location and then plan and implement our antennas
accordingly. Every station is different, every geographic location and QTH is
different, every operator is different, the propagation changes from one year
to another -- a complex mix of factors. Each of it gets whatever we get out of
it and "it means what it means."
If you've enjoyed reading this, I appreciate it. I have a smile on my face,
and that's important, at least to me.
73 - Rich, KE3Q
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