Radio Sport Contesting Amateur Radios Swiss Army Knife

What do YOU enjoy about ham radio? • • Working DX/chasing awards Building a

Radio. Sport has all these! Cut through pileups Sharpen operating skills Build a station

But it’s also EXTREME ! ! • • Learn how to crack pileups even

The Best Thing About Radiosport • Anyone can play! • It doesn’t take a

Trivia Quiz Q: When was the first ham radio contest? A: When the third

Is this the station of a “Big Gun”? WN 1 ICD, 1967 WPE 1

Competition is a natural thing – otherwise there’d be no sports • Radio. Sport

But winning is really great! K 1 DG & K 1 AR win Gold

But winning (or anywhere on the medal stand) is great! K 1 DG &

Today’s Program • 1330 WA 1 Z Planning and Evaluating Station Improvements • 1345

Followed at 1530 (3: 30 PM) by: • General Meeting of the Yankee Clipper

Slides: 14

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Radio. Sport / Contesting: Amateur Radio’s Swiss Army Knife; or Extreme Ham Radio? Doug Grant, K 1 DG

What do YOU enjoy about ham radio? • • Working DX/chasing awards Building a station Hanging out with ham friends Traffic handling Emergency Comms Ragchewing Trying New Bands/Modes

Radio. Sport has all these! Cut through pileups Sharpen operating skills Build a station Hang out with ham friends Screw around on new bands/modes Be the Most Reliable In Emergency Comms Punch your messages through

But it’s also EXTREME ! ! • • Learn how to crack pileups even with QRP Work DXCC in a weekend Make 400 QSOs in one hour Learn how to make your signal loud, then louder • Meet and learn from the big guns, then become one of them! • And most importantly… have more fun!

The Best Thing About Radiosport • Anyone can play! • It doesn’t take a megabucks station • The big stations need QSOs from everyone! • Imagine being allowed to play in the Olympics even if you are a casual jogger!

Trivia Quiz Q: When was the first ham radio contest? A: When the third guy got on the air!

Is this the station of a “Big Gun”? WN 1 ICD, 1967 WPE 1 GZQ, 1966

Competition is a natural thing – otherwise there’d be no sports • Radio. Sport is a lot like car racing; to win either, it takes: – Equipment – Operating skill – Experience – Luck • And win or lose, you: – Learn – Make friends – Have fun

But winning is really great! K 1 DG & K 1 AR win Gold Medal at WRTC 1990 in Seattle

But winning (or anywhere on the medal stand) is great! K 1 DG & K 1 AR win Bronze Medals at WRTC 2000 in Slovenia

But winning (or anywhere on the medal stand) is great! K 1 DG & N 2 NT win Bronze Medals at WRTC 2006 in Brazil

Today’s Program • 1330 WA 1 Z Planning and Evaluating Station Improvements • 1345 K 1 NU Understanding Propagation • 1400 AD 1 C Chasing DX and Associated Awards • 1415 WA 1 Z Honing Your Operating Skills • 1430 K 1 TTT Resources/Tools Available for Radio. Sport • 1445 WA 1 Z Logging and Automation Software Overview • 1500 K 1 IR Competition - Setting Goals, Your First Contest • 1515 K 1 DG & K 1 RX Wrap Up and Invitation to Radio. Sport

Followed at 1530 (3: 30 PM) by: • General Meeting of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club New Contesters Welcome! • Highlights: – FS 5 DXpedition – Youth Scholarship Raffle Drawing • Membership applications will be available and new members are welcome