Why Do You Contest?

I think that you are missing the point, which is: Many people may, in fact agree with you, but many many more like contesting, as evidenced by increasing participation.

Can your "I'm still alive" check in nets say the same?

Probably not.

When I was just beginning, I hung out on one of the worked all states net that was pretty popular. I got tired of the same old same old and moved on to other things. This net still exists, but just barely. I tried some other nets too. Same story.

All the while, contests were picking up in participation while the nets were winding down. I started into contests when I was in my beginning DX'er phase. One fine day during a CQ WW contest as I was filling page after page in my log with DX, I began to realize that there was another purpose to contesting. I began to participate for the DX and stayed in for the fun.

Of course this is only my story, yours probably is different and equally important.

Again the point for today is that after every phone contest, at least one rant like yours is posted, and the poster is roasted to a golden brown.

Apparently, folks on this site like to contest, or at least they are tolerant of it. Maybe your message would be received better somewhere else? I only hang out on a couple of ham sites and for some reason they have the same reception for rants like yours.

Self selection of environments I suppose. Just for the record, I enjoy the occasional contest, but I'm certainly not fanatical about it. I also get on the air for real conversations when time allows. Right now, my biggest obstacle to enjoying our shared service is the simple fact that my employment takes a larger and larger share of my time. I cannot wait until I too, have large amounts of time for the hobby.

73 Gary

 

Dale to me contesting is just noise. It's like the person who talks super loud on their cell phone while you're at a restaurant. I know its mostly me because others enjoy it. It just annoys me so I need to make some decisions. Maybe I'll stick with VHF and UHF where I know contests happen there but not as much.

 

I agree with you on the cell phone thing. I hate that too. But on the other hand, I think most rap music or hip-hop is just noise. That being said, I don't expect somebody who likes listening to it to stop. They like what they like and so do I.

Lately, I have found VHF & UHF to be too quiet for me. And the frequencies that do have activity are busy with people just talking about mindless stuff. I have become less interested in local communications for anything other than an emergency preparedness outlet.

I think that's what makes this hobby great. There's so much too it that there is really room for everybody. In my opinion, contesting makes the bands be used more and there is evidence that we will lose our bands if we don't use them. We lost a portion of 220 Mhz some time ago to commercial interests because it's just not used.

 

What about the WARC bands?? There was lots of non-contest activity on them this past weekend.

 

Wrecking nets. Lets see, there's a net for...

The sun comes up on an odd minute of the day
The sun comes up on an even minute of the day
The high temperature is over 60F above the 45th parallel after November first
You lived west of the Mississippi river before 1985
Icom
Kenwood
Yaesu
Ford
Chevy
Dodge
You like cafe coffee
You like coffee before bedtime
You have black hair
You have blonde hair
You have no hair
You live above 3000 feet elevation
You live below 3000 feet elevation

 

You forgot the aches and pains net. Those pop up on the local repeater too though. I've learned more about medical ailments from local repeaters than I have from any other source, for sure.

Never know when its going to start either. Usually someone starts talking about their latest ills and suddenly the net is on.

 

The organ recital net.

 

RV Net
Colonoscopy Net
Goiter Net
Hemorrhoids Net
Knee Net
Arm Net
Glaucoma Net
Propecia Net

 

Ironically, there is no Viagra net....

 

Why do I contest? Because I enjoy it. I'll never win any of the big contest, but I have taken first place here and there for things like the Colorado QSO Party (where I live) for high power, in state - but it was pretty easy, only one other submission. Who came in last place, or 2nd, depending on the way you look at it.

We humans compete over everything. What redeeming value does NASCAR, have? Or the NFL, MLB, etc.? Dahlia shows, dog shows, car shows, on an on. Billions of dollars spent. All for the fun of it.

Chasing DX can be a competition if you're working on DXCC or honor roll, and contest (particularly the DX ones) are a great time to pick up some new, rare DX. Even if you don't contest, but enjoy DXing, working the right contest be a smart move.

It's not for everyone. You don't' have to like it. As others have pointed out, the endless nets seem pointless to me, but hey - the hobby is lot's of things to lot's of people. And contesting has been part of the hobby from just about day one.

Steve
KV6O

 

Sorry you feel that way, but there is lot's of space and time when there are no contests. Even this weekend, the CW/digital were largely free, and the WARC bands were busy.

Just curious, what do you like to do on HF?

Steve
KV6O

 

Here's why I contest:

1) Contesting is fun. It really is.

2) Contesting helps improve and maintain my operating skills.

3) Contesting tests my station, revealing the strong and weak points.

4) Contesting helps increase the QSO count for awards. (Worked All States in a weekend!)

5) Contesting satisfies the competitive drive.

6) Contesting lets me do things with a modest station that are truly amazing.

 

you should go write a book, then you wouldnt be QRMing the forums.

 

Yes there is, I think it's part of the aches and pains nets!

 

The NCS is a guy named "Thor".