I am not a big contester… I do work some “digital” contests as that seems to even things out more than one would think. If you check my log, there is mostly PSK31 contacts. I really like it , it only take a few watts of power and simple equipment can make the distance. the drawback… is the computer attachment but that has gotten so cheap now that almost every ham has one computer for something… I also use my for the logging now as it is so easy for tracking… but no matter what you think you should try a few contests.. if not for you that is ok… the hobby is so wide open with different things to do, surely you can find that niche.
Everybody knows that the so called “BIG GUNS” will win the contest, but you
will have fun even if you come in the 9999th . When “Hams” (Amateur Radio
Operators) talk about the Big Guns, they are talking about the radio station
that another Ham is operating. These stations are built usually just for
contesting. On the outside is a few acres (could be stretching it a bit)
of antennas that are of special types (beams, dipoles, and verticals) for
different frequencies at legal heights (up to 250 feet). These antennas are
on towers with guide wires to hold them straight in the wind, and the
antennas are mounted on rotors so the operator can turn them to the desired
direction.
The inside of the “SHACK” has at least two of everything. Am not going to
get into all the equipment that is in here or the lines/coaxes that run to
the antennas as that would take too long and not part of this article.
There of course is (HF, VHF, and UHF) radio(s) with antenna tuners and the
different amplifiers (will put out up to 1500 volts on HF, less on higher
frequencies). These stations are set up by individuals or clubs that are
interested in contesting and cost thousands of dollars (since they are all
over the world it could be rubles or the currency of that country!).
Of course then there are the “LITTLE LITTLE LITTLE GUYS” that don’t have
money to put thousands into radio equipment, all they have is an antenna
and a radio to transmit on! As you can see, contesting is made of Hams with
different amounts of equipment, and they all are in the same contest and
communicate with each other as the object of a contest is to see how many
contacts you can make!
In contesting there are several different modes, and for a contest that has
different modes involved, they are on separate week-ends. Modes are a
method of communicating, and it can be voice (AM or FM), set of frequencies
(HF, VHF, UHF), or digital (RTTY, CW, and others). The reason that I have
said ‘and others’ for digital is that there are always new modes that Hams
are using for communicating. Some contests can run for several week-ends
and have various types of communication between the operators, each week-end
has a different mode of operation for the same contest such as voice and
morse code.
Which ever mode of operation, an operator still trades the same information
with the other operator. That is location of station (i.e.: country, state),
call letters, RST (receiving strength of signal), and power of transmitting
station. The exchange can include more information, but it depends on the
contest and the mode that is used for that contest.
HF or High Frequency is known for its bounce capabilities. It can/will
bounce off of the earth or the atmosphere, but some frequencies are affected
by the daylight (heating) or nighttime (cooling) time of day capabilities of
this type of acrobatics! These frequencies also will penetrate to a certain
depth in most objects. When an operator has daylight conditions they will
operate on the upper part of the spectrum, as night approaches the operators
will migrate to the lower part of the spectrum. As can be expected the
middle part of the spectrum (around 20 meters) has both daylight and
nighttime abilities.
VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) are mainly line of
sight frequencies with short distance communication. Occasionally under
certain weather conditions a oddity called tunnel ducting will transport a
signal back and forth for several hundred miles from locality to locality,
this is an exception and not the rule!
Signals in this area are Microwave frequencies and the power sent to the
final for transmitting is regulated by the FCC (Federal Communication
Commission) and part of the test to achieve an Amateur License. Some
radios in these frequencies are set to a stationary frequency are called
repeaters, all repeaters are limited by some contests as to the type of
contacts they can make, straight contact without the use of a repeater is
legal and not regulated in contests. In contests for higher frequencies
the radios and antennas are either mounted on something mobile or are very
portable and can be set up and taken down very easily.
The world is divided up into grid squares each one measuring approximately
70 miles by 100 miles (more like a rectangle). These grid squares are then
designated by two letters and two numbers (LLNN), These grid squares are
than broken down into smaller squares (3 miles by 4 miles Rectangles again))
and is designated by two letters at the end of a larger grid square (LLNNLL)
to give a better location. The ham operator(s) that is involved in this
kind of contesting will try and find the highest point with-in that square
for their contacts and move to another square! The same contact is legal as
long as it is from or to another grid.
Contesting on the Ham Radio can be fun no matter what mode it is in! It is
my belief that
every Ham Operator should be involved in at least one contest no matter
which mode it is in! You do have to turn in the contact sheets within a
certain time frame for recognition. There usually is either a certificate
or pin stating which contest they were in, as well as the year that it took
place. Guess if you win, that would be another feather in your hat as I
never have, but I look at all the contacts that I have made and how far away
they were and that is all the feather I need!
Dave did not change his call sign from KD4YFL to his current call of KS4LI until he was licensed as Amateur Advanced in 1995. After receiving his Amateur Extra License in 1996 he served with several teams that gave licensing exams from Amateur Novice to Amateur Extra including the Morse code exams that were part of the licensing structure at that time. Daves current project is [http://www.amateurradiogifts.com] “Amateur Radio Gifts”
Author: Dave Glass
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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