>On 06-Mar-97 Stanley Wilson expounded:
>>WE HAVE ENOUGH DAMM CONTESTS ON THE BANDS NOW.
Ummm... He may have a point! I am no big gun,
but won a 1st US CQWW RTTY and 1st AZ June VHF
QSO Party in 1993 and have been somewhat "hooked"
since.
Recently, I have become interested in QRP entry.
A local QRPer (N7IR) quietly places in the Top Ten
QRPp in major contests. I hope I am as fortunate,
but lack the skill. Hopefully it will be fun learning
and adjusting. With sunspots on the rise, timing may be
on my side.
Anyway, QRP operation in the North American QSO
Party (NAQP) has received some attention and QRP
entries are flagged, but no there is not yet a
QRP class. The National Contest Journal (NCJ)
has mentioned that if activity and interest does
continue, serious consideration will be given to
an entry class.
RTTY is another of my interests and there have
been a proliferation of contests. Some folks
are asking for a few "off" weekends as there is
a "major" RTTY contest every month.
If you look internationally at a contest schedule
there are multiple contests every weekend. I ask
you to check the LA9HW contest page for the most
complete compilation of information that I have seen.
RTTY is a different mode and must have a seperate
contest (e.g. NAQP RTTY started last year). Maybe
rather than more contests, simply move "QRP Contesting"
into mainstream status. Afterall, it is CW and SSB and
compatible with the mainstream contests. It would seem
silly to propose a NAQP QRP since NOBODY can exceed 150w.
At one time, Field Day was permitted on WARC bands, but
recall that Field Day is an "Operating Event" and NOT a
"Contest." There are no plaques! It has been quite
interesting to watch the "self-policing" and peer pressure
with respect to the "contest-free" area on 20m recently.
IMHO, WARC bands should NOT be used for "contests" or
"operating events." QRP operation is quite welcome in most
major mainstream contests and perhaps the organizers should
be contacted in those other cases IF interest exists.
There are links to both NCJ and the LA9HW pages from my page:
http://www.qsl.net/ke7gh
My primary interest in QRP remains as operating on battery
power, making casual QSOs, from our remote ranch QTH when I
get the rare opportunity to get away and go there.
73, Brian
Brian ke7gh@qsl.net QRP-L #1031 NC38s APRS 30m QRP Test #1
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