I've been an Amateur since 1975, And an on and off again contester all
this time also. I have gone through several sunspot minimums so I know
what the bands are like during the low times like we are now
experiencing. But this time things to me seem very different than many
others.
Reason for this message is that I think these nets yes serve a good
purpose. But I think they have become spoiled with the bands as I see
them for the past several years.They have practically empty bands now.
It's almost like operating 2 meters on 20 meters now days. When there is
no contest or rare DX on the band there is very little interference now.
The level of activity is so low everyone that wants to talk has more
than enough room to do so without coming close to anyone.
As i have said above I have been a active ham since 1975 and in doing so
have gone through many sunspot peaks as well as minimums. But it seems
to me that the only times that any of the bands even come close to what
the bands sounded like throughout most of my Amateur Career is during
contests.
Any other day even evenings and weekends the bands just seem dead. I
know the average is supposedly getting older, but I don't think we are
all dead yet! But the level of activity just doesn't seem to be there
anymore. People tell me that it's because of the sunspots, And while
i will agree with that some, but actually very little really for two
reasons.
1- all the other minimums I have gone through never ever seemed this
barren of activity.
2-If it was all due to sunspots then explain why the bands explode with
wall to wall activity when like SS or CQWW or any other major contest
starts. the band is dead then BOOM! it sounds like what I remember
every day the bands sounded like when I first got licensed. So obviously
propagation is there, it's just hardly anyone is using it anymore.
I think the nets just have become spoiled having an totally
interference free freq to use 99% of the time, and when anyone is even
heard now it's horrible! for most of MY amateur career until the last
decade or so I remember being on 20 ans you had a squeaky Donald duck
above ya and a grumpy grumbler below you on every qso. rarely if ever
when you were talking to anyone was the freq only the station you want
being heard.
Just my thoughts.
Joe WB9SBD
*The Original Rolling Ball Clock
http://www.idle-tyme.com*
Guy Molinari wrote:
> I read the petition and I agree with it 100%. We need contest free zones.
>
>
>
> Maybe there is an elmer out there that can show them the button that says 18
> mHz.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Guy N7ZG
>
>
>> From: shore1@xplornet.com
>> To: nn3w@cox.net; cq-contest@contesting.com; vr2bg@harts.org.hk
>> Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 08:31:50 -0800
>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] IARU R1 proposals
>>
>> I suggest if they cannot share a shared resource, then they should all go
>> take their shovels and pails, go back to their own sandboxes and find
>> another HOBBY. They cannot seem to understand that this is a HOBBY, not a
>> profession. Where in the rules does it say one is to be paid for using
>> amateur radio frequencies, I cannot seem to find it, can someone help? Next
>> thing we know, the bands will be channelized..... Hey buddy, goto channel 67
>> for the MMSN........ they should be good to go in a few minutes.... 10-4??
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Richard DiDonna NN3W" <nn3w@cox.net>
>> To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>; "VR2BrettGraham" <vr2bg@harts.org.hk>
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 5:49 AM
>> Subject: [CQ-Contest] IARU R1 proposals
>>
>>
>>
>>> An interesting set of proposals. As a radiosport enthusiast, I'd be
>>> concerned about this one:
>>>
>>> ===Contest-free sections in all HF contests===
>>>
>>> The Emcomm folks are being quite vocal about this issue, and are being
>>> rather unreasonable.
>>>
>>> Add to that, the MMSN folks are all bent out of shape....
>>>
>>> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/mmsncontest/
>>>
>>> 73 Rich NN3W
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "VR2BrettGraham" <vr2bg@harts.org.hk>
>>> To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 6:07 AM
>>> Subject: [CQ-Contest] IARU R1 DQ paper
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> IARU Region 1 HF committee is having an interim meeting in OE land
>>>> next February. Papers to be discussed can be found at:
>>>>
>>>> http://iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=173&func=download&id=294&chk=21d786e3ee7686357f4e705dec541e6b&no_html=1
>>>>
>>>> This one from DARC might be of interest to radiosport enthusiasts.
>>>>
>>>> Introduction
>>>>
>>>> It is proposed to discuss disqualification practices within IARU Region
>>>> 1.
>>>>
>>>> Background
>>>>
>>>> The CQ WW Contest Committee wrote following to the DARC:
>>>>
>>>> Begin of quote:
>>>>
>>>> Each of the major international contests operates under its own set of
>>>> guidelines and rules. The CQ WW Contest Committee respects and
>>>> supports your hard work. Each major contest has its own set of rules.
>>>> A violation of those rules can lead to disqualification of an entrant.
>>>> The
>>>> recent increase in technological advances has made certification of top
>>>> scoring entrants very difficult to adjudicate. Those entrants who choose
>>>> to violate the rules are becoming more sophisticated. In order to bring
>>>> pressure on the small number of entrants who seek to violate the rules,
>>>> the CQ WW Contest Committee brings before you the following proposal.
>>>> Disqualification of an entrant in any of the participating contests will
>>>> lead
>>>> to check-log status in all the other contests for a period of one year.
>>>> One
>>>> year ineligibility will commence with the public announcement publication
>>>> of the entrants call sign by the contests organizers. The call sign and
>>>> the
>>>> reason for disqualification will be shared with all participating
>>>> contests.
>>>>
>>>> End of quote.
>>>>
>>>> DARC would like to know more about the disqualification practice of other
>>>> contest organizers within the IARU Region 1 and therefore ask for any
>>>> contributions concerning this topic.
>>>>
>>>> Recommendation
>>>>
>>>> That the HF Committee should analyze the current situation.
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. Learn more.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/videos-tours.aspx?h=7sec&slideid=1&media=aero-shake-7second&listid=1&stop=1&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_7secdemo:122009
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.91/2542 - Release Date: 12/03/09
> 01:32:00
>
>
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|