As one who has complained about contesting many times, I can't believe I'm
actually defending it but it does promote activity. If we're going to keep
the spectrum space we now have, we must use it. Lou WA3MIX
Lou Kolb
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:55 PM
Subject: Re: My response to the new ham creed post
> Ron:
>
> As a developing contester of sorts, I feel the need to respond to your
> arguments here.
>
> Although there certainly are a number of contesters who do exactly what
> you
> say (operate with the highest possible power and severely-splattering
> signal) with little regard for others, I have actually found most
> contesters to be quite polite. If polite is an overstatement, let me just
> say that the majority of contesters I have run into have been quite
> considerate, and have been very willing to step aside from a pile-up while
> others like myself with lower power and rather modest antennas make our
> contacts.
>
> If this was not the case, I don't think I'd be making the scores I'm
> making
> when I do engage in the various contests that I'm interested in.
>
> In addition, I think it would be an absolute shame if contesting was
> abolished. It has been a key mechanism in increasing the activity on the
> ham bands, and promoting interest in at least the HF aspects of the hobby
> as
> well. Just think, for example, what Field Day has done for us over the
> years!
>
> All of this brings me to my ultimate point: Don't eliminate contesting;
> it's akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater! If we want to make
> things better during contest periods, let's do the self-policing and
> internal enforcing of best practices and band plans that we hams are
> supposed to be able to do among ourselves.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Canazzi" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:16 PM
> Subject: Re: My response to the new ham creed post
>
>
>> Hi List,
>>
>> I thought I would chime in and really stir the pot. I have always had a
>> problem with contests. Let me explain my position.
>>
>> [I can't quote the exact portions of part 97 for these items, but they
>> are
>> quite evident. I have never heard them disputed at all.]
>> 1. The FCC rules plainly state that you should not ever make
>> communications
>> where you knowingly interfere with other stations.
>> 2. The rules also state that you should always use the minimum amount of
>> power necessary for clear communications.
>> 3. Yet, week after week, year after year, thousand (maybe tens of
>> thousands) of hams violate these rules during contests.
>> A. Many of them run near the maximum amount of power necessary for any
>> type
>> of communication: large amplifiers with high ERP antennas.
>> B. Although some may argue that the operators are not deliberately
>> interfering with other contesters, this is at best a naive argument.
>> Anyone
>> who has listened to contests even a few times will hear the pile-ups that
>> occur with distant or important DX/point stations. Simply saying that
>> you
>> don't intend to interfere is in my mind like the drunk saying he didn't
>> mean
>> to kill your 2 year old child when he ran over the curb smashed on booze;
>> it's the same rationale. Using large amplifiers, high ERP antennas and
>> so
>> on is absolute proof that the people are trying to 'cover up/drown out'
>> others and score as many points as they can regardless of who they 'step
>> on.'
>> C. Why this tradition has become so well excepted in the light of the
>> obvious and is supported by the 'ham radio establishment' never ceases to
>> amaze me--since people like myself, while operating low power, simplex on
>> 2
>> meters, are often castigated for joking and satirical humor by 'the old
>> guard' who say it's in violation of the 'spirit' of ham radio.
>>
>> As I see it contesting in and of itself promotes some of the worst
>> practices
>> of ham radio so when new comers join the hobby, if they want to be 'cool'
>> they receive the message from 'the ham radio establishment' that at least
>> when it comes to contesting: bigger is always better; the more power the
>> better; outscore the other guy/club at any and all costs; and devil take
>> the
>> hind most if it comes to it. But all in all, the tradition of contesting
>> will probably not die any time soon--despite its obvious plethora of
>> contradictions.
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