I don't understand the knock on SSB. (I'm a few away from Honor Roll on CW so I
do that mode too). I haven't operated FD for years, since I've outlived the guys
I used to mountain top with and it's to damn hot here in the valley to be in the
field. (107F as I write). But looking back some years I operated either 1E or
1D and single-handedly worked 1040 Qs in 2001, 1357 in 2004, 1532 in 2005, 1093
in 2007 and slowed down to 1075 in 2009. All on SSB and 100W. With a regular
logging program and no voice recording.
You simply have to be nice to the inexperience operators and coach them along. I
never have understood the contestor types who get so wound up, frantic and rude.
My 2 cents.
Wes N7WS
On 6/26/2023 7:29 AM, Wilson Lamb via Elecraft wrote:
I know it's OT, but want to comment on FD operation here in NC.
I wouldn't even consider going on SSB for FD!But our SSB station on 40/15 made
over 700 QSO, with several ops of modest experience but sensible people. K3
and double bazooka. They were pleased.
I made almost 400 CW QSOs, K3 and 80m dipole/window line/MFJ tuner.
I had a 98% success when calling and many replies, often multiples, when
running.
There were MANY strong signals on 40 and 20 at all hours I was on, so I didn't
do 80.
Almost all CW was good, partly thanks to computer keying, and I encountered
maybe three poor ops, not rude, just inexperienced/unpracticed. I like SK and
used it about 30% of the time. I prefer SK for FD, because one can taylor
speed/weight style to conditions and other op's experience. There's no reason
to expect everyone to deal with 25 WPM from the computer. They all did fine
with 15 WPM from the SK, sometimes with the dahs stretched a little.
The little rudeness seen was obviously competent ops who couldn't muster the
manners to wait their turn.
A couple times I had to ignore them several times to ever get my weaker
station's exchange! I expect they are the same people who call DX stations
when the DX is trying to reply to someone else. Owning a big station and
expensive gear IS NOT empowerment to trounce everyone in your way!
All in all, one could hardly ask for better conditions and operation. Most,
NOT ALL, people who go to the trouble to learn CW seem to pick up some manners
along the way! Of course, there are many fine SSB ops, including a couple of
our XYLs, but the low bar to entry does cause problems!
Perhaps we need a new mode designator, CBSSB?
One problem I see is that people have the feeling that a slipshod antenna, or a
commercial whizbang/wonderthingy, will get them by. It does, but with many
fewer QSOs and more frustration than they could have with a little more work!
After 66 years of hamming, I'm becoming fonder of ladder line and window line. The
commercial window line has saved my bacon many times and tolerates more poor practice
than expected. After some outdoor tuner problems, I gave up "proper" practice
and ran my window line under our van and up through the port in the floor, past many
other cables, to my little MFJ tuner. It worked very well, as reported above. Yes, I
may have lost a dB or two, but the flat top at 65 feet got them back! Besides, there's
no connector problem and I can make fine splices in one minute, using a pocket knife and
a pair of pliers! I expect a better BALUN would get me a dB back, but the tiny one in
the MFJ seems to be fine at 100W.
We also had successful K3 digi which were successful, as was our HB BBQ/potluck
dinner for 35 ops!
End of OT report. Did YOU work W4EZ?
Wilson
W4BOH
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