Contesting: Love it or hate it

[AgentCOPP1]

I just recently got my first HF radio, and I got a vertical antenna with sufficient length of RG-8 given (yes, given) to me by a fellow ham who happens to be my neighbor. So I've been fiddling around on HF for the first time and I've come across many contestors, some just regulars and some calling CQ Canada day. Since I don't really know too much about HF operations, I tried calling back to one of the regular contestors, but they kept asking me for their numbers (not the RS number), and I didn't really know what they were talking about but I eventually figured it out. They wanted the 001 kind of number (# of contacts I've made), so I had to make them up because I didn't know what I was doing lol. But then I figured that if I have to give them this number, I probably should be a contestor as well. So just a little question: Can only contestors reply to other contestors?

Also, what's your opinion on contestors? I've seen a lot of hams on YouTube complain about them, since the only information they give is their call and your RS number (which most of the time is a phony number anyway. They always give a 59). They complain that you can't really talk to them, and the only point of contesting is for self-interest. At least at this point, I'm not too bothered by them because I like to know that my rig is actually working haha, because I seem to struggle getting any contacts whatsoever. That's probably more due to the fact that I'm using a vertical, but that's besides the point.

 

[902]

Can only contestors reply to other contestors?

Also, what's your opinion on contestors? I've seen a lot of hams on YouTube complain about them, since the only information they give is their call and your RS number (which most of the time is a phony number anyway. They always give a 59). They complain that you can't really talk to them, and the only point of contesting is for self-interest. At least at this point, I'm not too bothered by them because I like to know that my rig is actually working haha, because I seem to struggle getting any contacts whatsoever. That's probably more due to the fact that I'm using a vertical, but that's besides the point.

No, non-contesters can reply to contesters. You just have to do a little research and know what the right exchange is, otherwise the point or multiplier you give to the other station can be thrown out when his log is verified. A lot of people come up and try to help give contacts, grid squares, sections, or whatever, without being in contest mode themselves. Every once in a while I do that, too.

My opinion is that contesting is "OK" but for me, it's not much more than that. I used to do "certificate hunting." You could look in QST or CQ and find a certificate being offered by some club anywhere in the world, then follow the rules, send in your listing and maybe an International Reply Coupon or two, and get a nice certificate that looks slick on your wall. I've only won one contest - my favorite - the June VHF Contest. I took my section in 1998 on 6 meters, mostly because very few stations from there were on and conditions were good. I probably could have done it again in 1999, but forgot to send in my log. Other than that, I've never done well enough to get much. I have a decent older radio that works and two antennas - a 6BTV and a B&W broadband folded dipole. Neither are stellar performers, but it's all I can afford.

I'm not into Field Day, but you could be. My older two (an Extra and a General) got into it with the local club this year. I tried to load up a fence, but it didn't work as well as I wanted. Oh well. Anyway, look at the list of contests, they're online in a few places, look at the rules, and find one you think you'd do well in, then have fun with it.

I don't gripe about them, although sometimes it's like opening your front door and wanting to go visit someone volunteered your street for a two-day long bicycle race and when you can pull out of your driveway, you're stuck behind a pack of people who take up the entire lane (I *DO* gripe about bicycle races through my neighborhood). The managers could do a better job of creating a bandplan, and it would be a lot more sporting if high power levels and big antennas were weighted lower in points than a guy running 100 W into a simple dipole or vertical. It would also be helpful if there would be blocks of frequencies in each subband that would be off-limits to contesters, so non-contesters could work unaccosted by "CQ contest, CQ contest..." Then they'd have no excuse to complain.

 

[AK9R]

The big contests, such as Field Day or Sweepstakes, can be a bit overwhelming. The contest operators seem to dominate the bands during contests. The ragchewers and net check-in guys feel that the contesters are trying to push them out of the way, so there is sometimes a bit of animosity. On the other hand, contesting is all about the competition, so if you want to turn your radio hobby into a competitive pursuit, contesting is where it's at. Contesting will make you a better operator because it will teach you how to pull out weak signals and how to deliver your information in a concise manner. Contesting will also drive you to improve your station so that you can get the most out of your equipment.

My suggestion is to try small contests first. Check out your state QSO party as a means of dabbling a toe in the waters. State QSO parties are a little more laid back and you are more apt to run into people on the air that you know.

But, no matter what you do, check out the rules for the particular contest. The rules will tell you when you can make contests contacts using what frequencies and what information needs to be in the exchange.

Here's a link to a very good contest calendar: WA7BNM Contest Calendar: Home

 

[DaveNF2G]

The ARRL insists that Field Day is not a contest. Every participating club treats it as a major competition.

Maybe they should stop counting points...

 

[aaron315]

The ARRL insists that Field Day is not a contest. Every participating club treats it as a major competition.

Maybe they should stop counting points...

IMHO: If it weren't a contest they wouldn't keep score...

 

[mancow]

I'm so sick of contests. There seems to be one every weekend. You try to have a normal conversation and some tool is on there thinking he's entitled to the freq every 1 khz across the band. There should be a contest sub band and leave the rest for normal use.

 

[mtindor]

I'm so sick of contests. There seems to be one every weekend. You try to have a normal conversation and some tool is on there thinking he's entitled to the freq every 1 khz across the band. There should be a contest sub band and leave the rest for normal use.

Perhaps you and other non-contesters need to make a bigger showing on the weekends then. As it stands now, if it weren't for contesters you could easily tune from one end to the other on same bands and only hear a couple of signals. Somebody has to make some noise.

Mike

 

[n9mxq]

Love em or hate em, at least the frequencies are being used. Unlike some of our bands.

I dabble in them once in a while to hand out a point or two.


No bits were harmed in the posting of this message.

 

[KR4BD]

I enjoy some contests. It's a way to work new countries, states or grid squares. If you HATE contests, be aware that they are not allowed on 12 or 17 meters (maybe 30 meters, too). Ham radio means different things to different people. Generally, there's plenty of spectrum for everyone to enjoy the hobby.

As for making an exchange in a contest, just listen for a while before getting involved to see what they want in the QSO exchange. Some might just require a signal report and the number of that QSO for you. Others might want a signal report plus your grid square or signal report plus your CQ (or ITU) Zone (or your state). The number of variations here is extensive. Major contests are announced ahead of time in CQ and QST magazines.

Once you work a few contests, you might find you like them !

 

[Jimru]

The ARRL insists that Field Day is not a contest. Every participating club treats it as a major competition.

Maybe they should stop counting points...

I was going to say that this past Field Day was my first taste of "contesting" and now I'm learning it's not!

It sure felt like one to me!

 

[RESlusher]

I've got a couple big-time contestors in my club. They tried driving everybody to treat Field Day as a big contest. There were couple times I thought people were gonna come to blows over it.

To me it's an exercise, a chance to take up primitive conditions for 24 hours and see how we'll your set-up would work if you ever had to do a "real-world" comms mission.

 

[902]

The ARRL insists that Field Day is not a contest. Every participating club treats it as a major competition.

Maybe they should stop counting points...

Amen to that! People can get on the air, then just work each other for QSLs, grid squares, counties, states, DX, or whatever. Anymore it seems that these events are the times that activity is stirred up on the VHF/UHF/microwave bands.

 

[gewecke]

I've got a couple big-time contestors in my club. They tried driving everybody to treat Field Day as a big contest. There were couple times I thought people were gonna come to blows over it.

To me it's an exercise, a chance to take up primitive conditions for 24 hours and see how we'll your set-up would work if you ever had to do a "real-world" comms mission.

Exactly right. Contesting should only be a secondary activity when operating a field day station, but then that's just my opinion...

which is why I stopped having any interest in going to field day several years ago, unless I do my own event.

73,
n9zas

 

[peterwo2e]

The great thing about contest is that HF bands come to life. New islands and country’s become active these are major contest by the way. Looking for certificates? A contest is where you rack up those points.
Love CW well get your fist ready the CQ CW contest is were the top CW dogs are pounding brass at high speed. After 30 years or so, ham radio is becoming somewhat boring for me the contest is what keeps me coming back.

 

[N0IU]

Contesting should only be a secondary activity when operating a field day station, but then that's just my opinion...

The what should be the primary activity when operating a Field Day station?

The objective is, "To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. "

That is not my opinion. It is the very first line of the Field Day rules directly from the ARRL. And even though it is not a contest, it does appear on their Contest Calendar!

If they took out the part that says "as many stations as possible", I might be willing to buy into this notion that it is not a contest.

Call it whatever you want, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....

 

[N0IU]

I'm so sick of contests. There seems to be one every weekend. You try to have a normal conversation and some tool is on there thinking he's entitled to the freq every 1 khz across the band. There should be a contest sub band and leave the rest for normal use.

Really? Every weekend?

I am going to make a leap here and guess that you are referring to phone contests since this notion of "too many contests" rarely, if ever, comes after CW or digital contests.

So let's see just how many multi-band 48 hour phone contests there are from the two major contest sponsors...

ARRL:

1) International Phone Contest - March 2-3, 2013
2) IARU HF World Championship - July 13-14. Well this one isn't an ARRL sponsored contest, but they are our IARU representative.
3) November Sweepstakes - Phone - November 16-18

CQ Magazine:

1) CQ WW WPX / SSB - March 30-31
2) CQ WW DX / SSB - October 26-27

That's it - FIVE MULTI-BAND 48 HOUR PHONE CONTESTS! With 52 weekends in a year, that leaves 47 weekends where there are no major multi-band phone contests! That is less than 10% of the available weekends where there is a major multi-band 48 hour contest which leaves you over 90% of the remaining available weekends and this isn't enough for you?

We are over halfway through the year and with the exception of Field Day, there have only been TWO multi-band 48 hour phone contests this year.

And this comment about contesters thinking they are "entitled" to the frequencies... You make it sound like you are entitled to the frequency, but they aren't. NEWSFLASH: You have no more right to the bands then they do. Sometimes you don't get to use any mode on any band any time you want to. That's the way amateur radio works.

And I won't even beat that dead horse called the WARC bands.

Yes, there are other major multi-band 48 hour contests, but they are on other modes.Yes, there is some sort of organized on-air activity every weekend, but nothing comes close to those 5 biggies.

 

[gewecke]

The what should be the primary activity when operating a Field Day station?

The objective is, "To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. "

That is not my opinion. It is the very first line of the Field Day rules directly from the ARRL. And even though it is not a contest, it does appear on their Contest Calendar!

If they took out the part that says "as many stations as possible", I might be willing to buy into this notion that it is not a contest.

Call it whatever you want, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....

Tweaking your skills as a operator, trying new power source/ antenna options, exploring the use of ropes, jute cord and other materials to erect antennas as well as safe generator practice, and even how to operate a field station if inclement weather occurs.
Then after you cover some of those aspects, you can play radio and rack up your contacts.
It's disturbing to me that too many amateur radio ops have forgotten what a real field station teaches, and it has little to do with contests....

73,
n9zas

 

[W2IBC]

I'm so sick of contests. There seems to be one every weekend. You try to have a normal conversation and some tool is on there thinking he's entitled to the freq every 1 khz across the band. There should be a contest sub band and leave the rest for normal use.

uh, have you not heard of 12,17 and 30m? contests dont use them and are open to ragchewers.

but what i see on contest weekends every band will be packed cept for 12,17 and 30.

guess just ain't that many ragchewers.

 

[elk2370bruce]

For me and a bunch of friends, we do participate in field day each year. The "contest" is secondary to the more social aspects. Yes, we do spend time setting up several antennas (including satellite), roll out the generator or two, set up a couple of big tents, and three operating positions.We then relax, fire up the gril and chill out. Saturday we operate, have a big family gathering and also to a GOTA for local scouts. Our scores are nothing to brag about. The occasional new dx or a new operating mode (PSK et al) is just icing on the cake. No participating in pile-ups or cut-throat methods.

 

[Jimru]

I always thought that the food is THE most important aspect of FD!

At least for some groups. It was really tasty at ours!