Fists Coast to Coast contest

[NG7Z]

I would like to take this opportunity to invite all radio amateurs to participate in the 4th annual Fists Coast to Coast contest. This is a CW only event. The object is to contact as many Fist affiliated clubs on as many bands as you can. Last year we had over 50 clubs participating. The contest runs from 0000Z to 2400Z on October 24th.

Due to the number of logs received showing low power last year, this year we have a QRP category. The contest is sponsored by Northwest Fists club K7FFF. Full rules and certificate infomation may be found at http://www.tomochka.com/k7fff/fnw_c2c04.html . Please join in the fun in this year. You don't have to be a Fists member to participate. Our motto is "When you've worked a FIST, you've worked a friend". If you haven't done a CW contest because of speed issues, this is the one to try.

73 Paul Beringer NG7Z
C2C coordinator

[N8CPA]

Sounds like fun. And the timing is impeccable. I'm declaring Saturday, Oct 23 this year's Oktennafest. Two weeks before the CWSS, it's about time I perform my antenna maintenance. I'll use the FISTS event to see if I need any further tweaking before the main event. Thanks for the announcement.

Steve FISTS 2904 [Inactive at present.]

[n4wo]

I plan on entering this weekend. I am not a high speed op so I am hoping the speeds of the contest are comfortable for me. On a great day I can copy about 13 wpm. It also depends if I am working this weekend and also propagation.
73 and hope to do good in the contest...if not great.
De Greg McCraw N1BO

[KG4IMI]

Blount County Alabama Amateur Radio Club in Alabama is having a special event Saturday Oct. 23 called "COVERED BRIDGE FEST" so I'll be warmed up. I just hope I can Keep Up. See you there.
FISTS NR 9377 # CUL 73 DE KG4IMI

[KB5WX]

Lets see .... J-38 is on the desk all cleaned up and adjusted ..ready to go . And a Vibroplex Champion all adjusted and ready as well . Looks like I'm all set . I hope to work a lot of FISTS #'s . Hope to hear ya on the air !!!

[wa4dou]

The semiannual QRP ARCI QSO Party is also this weekend comming up. Lets try to stay out of each others hair! Thanks.

[WW9R]

This looks like it will be a lot of fun. #To the ops that worry about their speed, remember - accuracy transends speed. #Send cq at a speed you can copy and you will be met with the same speed in return. #FISTS are about improving your own cw talents and enjoying this unique part of amateur radio.

I am proud to be a know code ham.

BCNU

Pat
WW9R
FISTS # 11062

[KU2US]

Ill be there. I need 95 more points (HiHi) for the FISTS Century award, Nye Viking Straight Key and one deaf ear. Be a "know" code not a "No" code-Try it! its fun..Bravo FISTS..Ken-#11107 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[M5ABN]

Hi all brass pouders,
Hope condx allow us Fist members here in the UK to have a go in the Coast to Coast contest. Fist members are for sure the best operators around.
Good Luck & 73 de Peter M5 ABN 6423

[KU2US]

Hey Peter in the UK.. I will be looking for you..Im near the east coast in Western, NY. so maybe we can have a go of it-OK..If needed, (& ONLY if needed) I will fire up my antique-Amp supply LA-1000..Oh-Pse keep it slow-HiHi..Hope to hear you.My call is KU2US..73's Ken http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[WA2SI]

Sounds like great fun, count me in. Ah, a NorCal 40 A, a straight key, a Windom and..."viola!" Amateur radio at it's best.

BCNU

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI
FISTS #9384
QRP ARCI #11782

[k5co]

Maybe you can tell me. Last year I had a "fists" guy get mad at me for coming back to his CQ as I am not a member of the club; he wanted a guy with some number. That was not the first time that I have run into this. So, ever since that experience, if someone sends a "CQ fists", I keep tuning. Isn't the number of CW users small enough that we don't need to splinter into little clubs? Or would "fists" guys prefer just to talk with each other?

KD5PSH

[WA2SI]

Quote[/b] (KD5PSH @ Oct. 20 2004,07:33)]Maybe you can tell me. Last year I had a "fists" guy get mad at me for coming back to his CQ as I am not a member of the club; he wanted a guy with some number. That was not the first time that I have run into this. So, ever since that experience, if someone sends a "CQ fists", I keep tuning. Isn't the number of CW users small enough that we don't need to splinter into little clubs? Or would "fists" guys prefer just to talk with each other?

KD5PSH
Robert,

There are good and bad apples everywhere and AR is but a microcosm of society...with any given club a microcosm of AR. I have found fellow FISTS members who are normally comfortable at 40+-wpm QRS for me and stick it thru as long as it took to make me feel comfortable and take a good feeling away from the QSO.

I'd be glad to QSO with you anytime and show you the same courtesy and respect that I was shown...and I'm sure I speak for the majority. You can usually find me around 7040 kHz +/-.

Take care, GL es...

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI
FISTS #9384
QRP ARCI #11782

[k0ru]

Quote[/b] (KD5PSH @ Oct. 19 2004,08:33)]Maybe you can tell me. Last year I had a "fists" guy get mad at me for coming back to his CQ as I am not a member of the club; he wanted a guy with some number. That was not the first time that I have run into this. So, ever since that experience, if someone sends a "CQ fists", I keep tuning. Isn't the number of CW users small enough that we don't need to splinter into little clubs? Or would "fists" guys prefer just to talk with each other?

KD5PSH
KD5PSH,

I'm sorry to here you had this experience. #As a long standing FISTS member I've always tried to be helpful and friendly to anyone that has responded to my FISTS CQ.

Yes collecting the FISTS numbers is only but one aspect of the FISTS membership which allows them to achieve points towards awards. #

However, being a ham for over 34 yrs, I've found the greatest reward was working a new friend on the bands, even if they weren't a FISTS member.

Most if not all FISTS member are striving to meet new people and promote the continued use of Morse Code. #Those that you speak of may have been new to the FISTS club, or new to amateur radio in general. #Collecting FISTS numbers is not a contest, its a friendly way to strike up communication, and an oppurtunity to meet new people with a common interest.

Please give it another try, I'm sure you find people just as interesting as yourself, and just a friendly.

73 - W8YRB - Rob
Fists #7436 FOG #7

[kc5sdy]

I tend to keep tuning too when I hear "cq fists." My first, and last contact, was over very quickly. When it was realized that I do not have a number, I was told that my signal was not "good enough" and he went back to calling CQ.

[G3TXK]

Hi every one tnx fer the info hpe to c sum of u on the air in the coast to coast.
Best 73 gud dx chris G3TXK:D http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[WR2E]

[2nd edit, please read my second post below, I apparently didn't make my point properly with this one]

OK, maybe you guys with bad experiences have some justified gripes, but...

When you hear someone calling

CQ OSHKOSH CQ OSHKOSH etc...

and you are in Timbuktu, #do you answer him ?

The answer should be NO, of course, because that fella is obviously looking for someone in OSHKOSH.

Same goes if someone is calling #CQ FISTS ...
He is looking for a contact with another club member, you aren't a member of the club, why would you call him ? #

[edit: #Now, if the club IS indeed interested in promoting the friendly use of CW, maybe we should STOP calling CQ FISTS ???? #Why don't we just call CQ on the FISTS freq and accept any/all callers, and when the QSO is in progress, ASK if they are a member and then trade numbers ?]

Personally, I have had fellas reply to my CQ when I'm calling #FISTS, and I am always polite, figuring they are just ignorant of proper procedure. #Who knows, maybe they want to know about the club and I can bring a new member into the fold. #But some guys are just rotten old apples and DO get p.o.ed at stuff like this. #Hey, it takes all kinds ya know. #If there were no BAD, there would be no GOOD either. #You need a balance.

So, next time you hear someone calling CQ WHATEVER, keep in mind that if you ain't WHATEVER, then don't bother to call, cuz he ain't lookin' for you!

73 de Jeff
FISTS 11052

[W5HTW]

Quote[/b] (WR2E @ Oct. 21 2004,14:19)]OK, maybe you guys with bad experiences have some justified gripes, but...

When you hear someone calling

CQ OSHKOSH CQ OSHKOSH etc...

and you are in Timbuktu, do you answer him ?

The answer should be NO, of course, because that fella is obviously looking for someone in OSHKOSH.

Same goes if someone is calling CQ FISTS ...
He is looking for a contact with another club member, you aren't a member of the club, why would you call him ?

[edit: Now, if the club IS indeed interested in promoting the friendly use of CW, maybe we should STOP calling CQ FISTS ???? Why don't we just call CQ on the FISTS freq and accept any/all callers, and when the QSO is in progress, ASK if they are a member and then trade numbers ?]

Personally, I have had fellas reply to my CQ when I'm calling FISTS, and I am always polite, figuring they are just ignorant of proper procedure. Who knows, maybe they want to know about the club and I can bring a new member into the fold. But some guys are just rotten old apples and DO get p.o.ed at stuff like this. Hey, it takes all kinds ya know. If there were no BAD, there would be no GOOD either. You need a balance.

So, next time you hear someone calling CQ WHATEVER, keep in mind that if you ain't WHATEVER, then don't bother to call, cuz he ain't lookin' for you!

73 de Jeff
FISTS 11052
Ah, Understood, finally!

Yeah, that has left ME wondering, too. Not being a member of FISTS, I have long wondered if it was an exclusive 'members only' club. From what I read here, it is indeed. You must join by some other means, rather than making contact on the air. If the goal is for a FISTS member to only contact another FISTS member, then, yes, that leaves out those of us who tune across the frequencies in use.

Actually I had wondered if "CQ FISTS" meant (a) I'm seeking other FISTS members, or (b) I'm seeking those who would like to make contact with a FISTS member. Now I have the answer.

I, too, shall tune past the frequency and respect their privacy. Thanks for keeping the FISTS contest in a narrow range of the CW spectrum, as you do, for it leaves the rest of us CW guys someplace else to roam. And thanks for clarifying.

73

(easier to send 73 on CW than it is 73s)

Ed

[WR2E]

No Ed, that's not what I meant...

Let me clarify.

Generally speaking, when someone calls CQ with a qualifier after it, what does that mean ?

How many of you (US readers) would reply to a US station calling CQ DX ? Not many I suspect, as it is understood that the caller is actually looking for DX contacts, right ? Is this a bad thing ?

I edited my post [in brackets] with a suggestion that we NOT call CQ FISTS, since by definition and procedural practice that means that we are trying to contact ONLY FISTS stations. What I'm saying is that FISTS members may actually be doing themselves a DIS-service by using that procedure.

A better use IMHO would be for FISTS members to call a regular old generic CQ ... then, at the very end of the call, before sending K , perhaps a /FISTS would be appropriate to indicate that the caller was a FISTS member, but still willing to QSO anyone.

Proper procedure does indicate that when someone calls CQ with a qualifier appended, that the callers intent is to contact someone meeting those qualifications, right?

I've come to realize that if a FISTS member IS willing to chat with anyone who answers, then he should NOT be calling CQ FISTS ! As of today, I realize the past error of my ways and will be changing my procedure.

I urge all FISTS members to do the same. It can be seen from the above posts, that it is not helping the club one bit.

If you do hear someone calling CQ FISTS, that should indicate to you that he/she is not willing to have a general QSO. After all, that's what it means! And, is that a bad thing ? Aren't we all free to chat with whomever we choose ? If a member chooses to only chat with other members, then let him be, it's his choice. It may not be a productive choice, but he is free to make it.

Any FISTS member who wishes to promote good will among other operators will pay attention, and take my advice.

CQ CQ CQ DE WR2E WR2E WR2E / FISTS K

73 de Jeff

[ky7f]

W5HTW and KD5PSH,

The FISTS website is: www.fists.org

This site tells what FISTS is and how to join. We'd love to have you guys on board!! You don't have to be a FISTS member to be in the Coast-To-Coast event this weekend, either!

Hope to hear both of you! 73's

doug KY7F
FISTS #7311

[wa4dou]

I have nothing against FISTS members. However, I don't need to hemorrhage money to join every group that I may share a common interest in, within amateur radio. Since I am about a 95-98% cw user, I cannot possibly see where my being a member or not promotes the use of cw anymore than my on the air activity does. When I hear someone calling " CQ FISTS" I know they're looking for members. However, in a contest, where its open to everyone, the same call is to denote calling folks in the contest, member or not.

[k1lwi]

got my old j-38 ready to go not member of fists yet will join soon cw is only #way to go my first love hi i am a member of hsc-tops- ex foc cw cw best of ham radio.

f.wendell boyden jr.
hull,ma. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[k2shn]

Having once been a FISTS member, I was saddened to see the number of ops who were outright rude! No number, no Qso seemed to be the norm here. While previous posts are correct in suggesting there are bad apples , this rubbed the wrong way too often. A letter was sent to a FISTS contact suggesting these folks be booted from a otherwise good group. They, however, seemed content to ignore the situation and continue as before. I did not feel comfortable supporting a club that turned a blind eye to that which was undoing all their efforts.

This is only one mans opinion of FISTS and should not sway any ops from wanting to contact their event. Simply, beware of the fist, for it may not be held out in friendship.

[M5ABN]

I'm saddened to read of the bad experiences some ops have had with Fist members. I for one am always more than happy to chat with any cw op, Fist or not. I joined soon after passing the 5wpm test here in the UK, and it was the patience of all the Fist club members around the world that gave me the confidence to go on HF with my limited cw ability. Since reading all the comments here, l will be leaving out the "Fists" in my CQ calls, and hope to make many more friends on what is the finest mode (Fist member or not)
Vy 73 to ALL de Pete M5 ABN 6423

[W6KY]

FOC - FISTS Forget Both!
That's why I joined SOC - Second-Class Operators Club
http://www.qsl.net/soc/
No dues to pay to have a number...
No private frequencies printed on your license...
No paper to chase...
No egos to stroke...
Because so few are really First Class, SOC might be for You!
CU all over the bands,
73, Art W6KY
SOC #610
Competence is tolerated, but not encouraged... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[k1lwi]

Quote[/b] (W6KY @ Oct. 22 2004,15:25)]FOC - FISTS # #Forget Both!
That's why I joined SOC - Second-Class Operators Club
http://www.qsl.net/soc/
No dues to pay to have a number...
No private frequencies printed on your license...
No paper to chase...
No egos to stroke...
Because so few are really First Class, SOC might be for You!
CU all over the bands, # #
73, Art # W6KY
SOC #610 #
Competence is tolerated, but not encouraged... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
i think w6ky art is right about firsts i dont need a number for cw i am a cw man that is why i am not a member of foc any longer nr- nr that all foc member do i will qso any one on cw with number or no number 73 wendell lic since 1959 ar http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[wq5p]

The point of the original post was the announcement of the contest. By the time anyone reads my post, they will have read enough bad imput to make them not want to give it a try. This is a shame. I have only been a Ham for 3 years. I was one of the first in a group of my friends to become Ham. Out of the group, I am the only one that is practicing CW. The point I am trying to make here is this, I have worked FISTS, not on their call frequency, who once found out that I was not a fists, was ready to move on. I have also had rage chews, where they did not ask if I was a fists until we were ready to sign. If they are working CW for the love of the ART, then they will not care if you are a fists or not. With very few of the new Hams having any interest in CW, we all need to promote what a joy CW can be even at slow speeds. 73's to All
Your next Qso maybe the start of a life long friendship so make the best of it.