Contest Conflict

After WPX ended last weekend, I called my father, N6SV, as I usually do after each contest I participate in to tell him how I did, what new DXCC I confirmed and general thoughts about it. While he is no longer involved in amateur radio, he is excited to hear my experiences. I then brought up (the age old) complaints about contests and contesters from those hams who do not participate. As expected he said this is how it was when he was involved.

With the advent of the Internet hams having the ability to verbalize their thoughts about contesters commandeering the bands (not WARC) on contest weekend. Not a contest weekend goes by where a few new threads don’t pop up on QRZ to complain about the contest or the manners of some involved, or better yet calling on a frequency that is a “net” frequency.

As many level headed hams know, contesting is not going anywhere. On those weekend where a major contest is involved, if you are not planning on participating, then you might consider your options. First, get involved. Why not give out a few points. A contest weekend “promotes interest in Amateur Radio communications and experimentation” (from the ARRL web site). Second work the WARC bands, which are always contest free. Third, find a portion of band that is not included in the contest. If CW is the operation mode, then work SSB contests and vice versa. Some hams who might not respect contesting will exclaim, “Leave some room on the bands for those who don’t!”

Ham radio is such a diverse hobby there is always something to do when in the shack even if there is a contest going on, regardless of mode. Find out what those are. Experiment, that is another point made by the ARRL, which is part of what makes ham radio unique. If you still cannot find anything to do during a contest weekend, there is always that “honey do list.”