Thursday, June 27, 2013

A nice surprise in the post from CQ editors!

Many of you will know that although I enjoy DXing and HF activities, I am not a huge fan of contesting. I rarely participate in contests, maybe three times a year. Most of the time I do that because I want to use the opportunity to work DX that might I not otherwise get the chance to. Last winter, with my DXCC confirmed tally on 80 metres sitting at 89, I decided to enter the CQWW CW contest on that band alone, to see if I could get my total up. I had a great weekend, making something like 560 QSOs with my lowly Butternut HF6V vertical antenna! As the Logbook of the World confirmations rolled in, I eventually made it to 100 confirmed - DXCC on 80m - thanks solely to that contest.

Yesterday, a nice certificate from the editors of CQ magazine arrived in the post, confirming that I won first place in Ireland for 80m high power assisted. Of course, I cannot boast about this too loudly, as I don't think there were any other entries in the section. However, I am still impressed at what can be done with a 26-foot vertical antenna, and am happy to have won the certificate in any case.

Hopefully many more of you will also have received certificates this week. For me, contesting is not about huge antennas and massive power, running for 48 hours non-stop. I could never do that. Money, space and time do not allow it. I have a young family and am unable to contest for long periods. But dipping in and out of contests for a few hours at a time, as I do, can bring its rewards.

4 comments:

  1. Well done Tony. I`ve got mine for CQ-WW-SSB 2012 as well. 73!Ark9KC

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  2. Good morning Anthony, for just on and off contesting that is a great result. I am not sure how some of the ham find the time to be at the rig for 48 hours or so. I don't have a young family anymore like you...but....time is still hard to find to be in the contest full time.
    Mike

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    Replies
    1. Mike, Time is precious as you know. Maybe when I'm older and the kids have flown the roost things might be different, but right now my contest participation is very limited. I don't mind. It's enjoyable dipping in and out every so often! Cheers.

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