It has been a few years since I joined CWT last time. I am the least and last foundation member of CWops. I knew why they have founded this club. And I wanted to activate it by own way. But CWT has become only a contest, which I am least interested in. I won't do that again.
My concern is that there are very few CWT participants heard in the other occasions than that event. I wonder if they are content only with that event and won't operate radio any more. Before it started, quite some of them could be heard for plain QSOs. It might not be my business but just curious to know how they are doing.
If someone takes statistics as for how the participants of CWT are spending time on the air in a week, it must be an interesting one and suggests something about the relationship in contesting and the other type of activities.
Honestly, I feel contesters won't make any conversational QSOs and could be very inactive before and after any contest. I won't blame that. It is up to them. But if the new comers are getting into this contester's way of operation, it may lead to vanishing this hobby as communication.
Hi Shin,
ReplyDeleteI used to participate in CWT when it first started, but it seems only a contest for NA. At the evening time of the contest the only possibility for QSO from 9V is USA West Coast on 40m. This is very limiting for me. I worked K6RB and a few others then gave up. I think it is easier from your QTH to penetrate further east into the states.
In any case do we really need another contest mid week? There are already too many at weekends.
John
John,
DeleteDefinitely no, we don't need any contest in mid week. I think this inflated contests throughout a year must be a symptom that overall ham radio activities are declining. More contests will aggravate that problem since the activities around any contests are suppressed. There are only 200 participants in CWT mainly in the US. It is not fair for them to occupy the bands even for limited hours in a week day. If it accelerates the inactivity of CW, it is even more guilty.
I understand it is pretty difficult for the stations in SE Asia to work states on 40m. As you know, I have operated from XU in '91. It was tough for us to work the states on 40m.
Let me know of your detailed schedule of the trip to JA when it is fixed. See you then.
Shin
Recent correspondence on FOC Reflector would indicate that CWops management is defensive of CWT. A sign of their feelings of guilt for overdoing an event. I find it interesting that you can ask almost any cw operator and they all say that there are too many contests, that consuming a day mid week for a small group of CW operators to exchange phony signal reports and names is not a productive use of the bands. There is a weak justification for such an event in that it supposedly fosters activity and grows new operators. Unfortunately, contest operation is merely an exercise in reading call signs. The balance of the exchange is likely computerized. I find it odd that more don't embrace conversational CW. To talk with someone on CW, as if you were sharing coffee with them in the mornings, is significantly more likely to enhance both friendships and competency than a canned exchange from a computer. I wonder the effect of a mass filing of requests to reduce CWT back to monthly.
ReplyDeleteDon,
DeleteI completely agree with you. I have read your correspondence about CWT with Rob etc. CWT seems to be the mainstay of CWops. I don't think they would downsize it. Before downsizing it, they may see the inflation of contests will devalue each contest, so that there will be less hams interested in it. This possibility is more likely to me. Anyway, the prospect is not very favorable to anyone, I am afraid.
Shin
Hi Shin, Tnx for the short QSO on 20 from my 20w hihi. I don't think CWT is so bad, they only use a small part of the spectrum for a limited time span. I only ran across them once or twice at random, so its not a big deal, right? Well ever since FCC eliminated code requirement for all hams, even Extra class is now zero WPM, haha, I worry if cw will survive in the future? But I do see new hams take up cw, slow speed, but still, there is some enduring interest in the mode. When internet became big in 1990's I thought it would be the end of ham radio, but it did not die!
ReplyDeleteAre you AH6L? I have worked many Mike sans. And it is difficult for me to recognize you only with your name.
DeleteI question about the general trend in CW. I share your question if CW will survive in the near future or not. My observation on CW activity for the past half a century is not very optimistic.
In that context, I wonder how the contests, especially newly founded ones including CWT, would work for the future of CW. Negative or positive?
See you again soon. If you are Mike-san in Volcano City, keep up your small set up, mostly hand made.
Shin