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<x-tab> </x-tab>I did not
write the following and am posting it as it was forwarded to me. This
appears to be a back and forth discussion between a couple of
individuals. Lest anything be taken out of context, I have not edited
what was said, and only added color to help differentiate the speakers. I
certainly appreciate Hank's comments, which are in
</font>black<font color="#0000FF">, in which he makes some very valid
points on why we are not necessarily the "bad guys". If you
agree, consider dropping Hank a note and let him know you appreciate his
support of contesting.<br><br>
73,<br>
Mark, K5ER<br><br>
<br>
</font><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2 color="#008000">This
came from the NTS"Officials" email reflector. Thought you
would like to know what at least one NTS Official has to say about
contesters! </font><br>
<br>
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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font color="#008080"> <br>
3. There is also a power and control political dynamic at work at
the ARRL Board of Directors level. Over the decades, the Board
membership has shifted from a field services perspective to a contesting
perspective. Many of these individuals recall the days when those
active in nets and field services activities were the core political
influence in Amateur Radio. Many of them resented it. As
such, as their influence grew within the ARRL, some sought to promote
their negative conception of NTS.<br>
... </font></blockquote><br>
Awhile back I posted an email about contesting which is reproduced
below.<br><br>
The email engendered lots of comments, most bemoaning the fact that
contests sometimes clobber lots of spectrum. No one grabbed onto the
points I hoped to make.<br><br>
Which are:<br><br>
1. Contesting is the most robust segment of ham radio, contesters have
the best stations, and contesters are the best operators. Some will
disagree with me, but they apparently haven't listened to a supposedly
upper-echelon NTS net like PAN, CAN, or EAN recently. They probably also
haven't listened to a good contester working stations at 150+ per hour.
It's easy enough to poopaw contesting, but it takes stations and basic
skills that many NTSers lack. <br><br>
2. Contesting is doing something right and growing. NTS is dying. <b>We
should look at contesting and figure out what they are doing
right.</b><br><br>
My flak jacket is on. Fire away. If you disagree, suggest alternatives.
<br><br>
It's time to stop bemoaning the state of traffic handling and NTS. It's
time to do something. Before it's too late. <br><br>
73,<br><br>
Hank, W6SX<br><br>
<br>
Re: [radiograms] Re: Traffic Handler's Code <br><br>
Here I go again. <br><br>
We have met out enemy, and he is us.<br><br>
<font color="#008080">JW wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><i>So what am I getting at?</i> NTS
is the only widespread program I have encountered, which teaches the
basic skills of communications and network management.
</font></blockquote>Perhaps. If teaching is happening at local and
section nets, it somehow is not making its way to region and area nets.
The skill set of many NTS operators is, to put it bluntly, pitiful. I'm
more inclined to speculate that "teaching" at local and section
nets is simply reinforcing poor habits. There are of course exceptions,
both individual and net, but overall we're not making the grade. <br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font color="#008080"><i>So what's
my point?</i> <b>We are the training</b>. As much as some ECOM people who
oppose NTS hate to admit it, traffic nets are the only regular activity
that actually <i>drills</i> the individual Amateur Radio operator on
proper communications procedures and techniques that can be applied
dynamically to any ECOM situation.</font></blockquote><b>There is another
activity which produces what I consider the best operators in the world:
Contests. <br><br>
The best contest operators put a lot of time, energy, and money into
improving their stations. You can actually hear their signals which is a
lot better than some traffic signals up to and including area and TCC
levels. <br><br>
The best contest operators are fanatics about accuracy. If they mislog a
contact, they lose the contact, perhaps lose a multiplier, and sometimes
lose two more contacts as a penalty.<br><br>
The best contest operators are into training. There are various Contest
Academies and Contest Universities around the world. There are email
reflectors that discuss operating technique and station improvement ad
nauseam. <br><br>
The best contest operators are propagation experts. <br><br>
The best contest operators know how to pull signals out of QRM and
QRN.<br><br>
The best contest operators know how to manage pileups (all on one
frequency--not spread out like DX). Listen to some of the best working a
pileup at 250 contacts an hour and your head will spin. A feat equally
worthy to clearing 120 per hour on an NTS area net (which by the way used
to happen back in the days). <br><br>
The best contest operators are dynamically adaptable in real time. If
rate slows, they change something(s) to bring it back up instead of doing
the same thing forever (sound familiar?).<br><br>
A case in point. K6XX is one of the best contesters in the world. He is
also the best emergency NCS I have ever heard. As far as I know, he only
gets on during emergencies, but when he does, everyone readily defers to
him, and he runs the net. No monkey business. <br><br>
It used to be that traffic handlers were the best operators in the world.
No more.<br><br>
My point. We could learn a lot from contest operators. More of us could
even get on for contests--it would improve our skill sets. More
importantly, we should try to observe what contesting is doing right--it
is the most-robust and fastest-growing ham-radio activity.</b><br><br>
Disclaimer. I started our as a traffic handler. I started contesting with
an ORS appointment in the CD Parties. Over the years, I've transitioned
from a dyed-in-the-wool traffic handler to a dyed-in-the-wool contester.
I still NCS PAN and do a TCC function once a week, despite low traffic
counts, low participation, and sometimes low skill sets. I do it because
it's still fun--but not as fun as it used to be and not as fun as it
could be again. I do it out of a sense of obligation and in the hope of
what could be again. <br><br>
We have met the enemy and he is us.<br><br>
73,<br><br>
Hank, W6SX<br>
Mammoth Lakes, California<br>
Elevation 8083 feet in John Muir's Range of Light</blockquote></body>
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