"Back when the signal report was a real part of the exchange and contesters tended to exchange honest reports, a major contest could be an opportunity to determine how well your station got out"
The days of "honest reports" in a contest? I am 63 years old, operated my first contest when I was 18 and I don't remember those days. You found out how well your station "got out" by how long you waited in the pileups and how much of the time you could call CQ. "...the minimal value of contests sink to zero." As opposed to all the valuable weather reports, in ane chatter, QRM on DX stations, character assassination and kvetching about "Obama" in the rest of ham radio... "They have become nothing more than a vehicle to keep the ham radio economy running and the "play" part, after consumer hams have done the plugging." In my experience, the average contester is more operationally and technically savvy than the average ham, especially the average ham that complains about them. 73, Kevin K3OX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob Atkinson" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, January 8, 2016 9:12:31 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Stew Beef I completely agree with Don on this. the incessant and utterly meaningless "599" or "59" because it is programmed in and the operator too lazy to think about a real signal report makes the minimal value of contests sink to zero. They have become nothing more than a vehicle to keep the ham radio economy running and the "play" part, after consumer hams have done the plugging. 73 Rob K5UJ <<<But that brings up a problem with most contesters these days, the fact that your RST is likely to be "599" regardless, even when the other op can just barely dig you out of the noise. Same with contests on other bands, both phone and CW. That nonsensical practice has eliminated what was erstwhile perhaps the most useful function of contesting, and IMHO, diminishes the worthiness of contests altogether. Back when the signal report was a real part of the exchange and contesters tended to exchange honest reports, a major contest could be an opportunity to determine how well your station got out, and into what localities you put the best and worst signal strength, providing some insight to improvements you might wish make to your transmitter and antenna system. >>> _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
