RadioSport Resources | Choosing An Event

CW Open Sponsored By The CW Operator's Club

Wondering where the signals are because my antenna system between two condominiums is waiting for radio frequency to illuminate the TS850S s-meter and my ears are pining for the sweet sound of Morse code.

Refresh
One must understand when an event begins and ends, its operating categories, any time limits within the operating category, the use of augmented technology for example telnets, clusters, or skimmers, and power classifications as a few examples.

Likewise, as entry level RadioSport enthusiasts, one can begin building an operational understanding of what minimum hardware requirements are in addition to the influence of propagation and why the game lends itself as an agent of technological innovation inside the shack. Perhaps, during the winter, I will further explore introductory web sites and post a page dedicated to those links.

Foundation Building
The corner stone of one's RadioSport foundation is now cemented given one can have fun with minimum hardware and antenna systems. The extreme wireless game doesn't demand a kilowatt, a high end transceiver, or heavy metal in the sky.

The game is what one makes of it.

RadioSport asks that everyone compete according to the rules of the sponsor and everyone at the end of the event had fun.

Choosing An Event
This weekend the CW Operator's Club is sponsoring the CW Open and the event is segmented into three operating sessions spread out across Saturday. It begins in the morning and ends late in the evening. One can choose to operate in one, two, or three sessions without consuming an entire day, if desired. Likewise, the callsign prefix (ie. KA3) is the multiplier and each Q in the log counts as one point.

One can experience a lot fun in a short period of time without burning up the social time budget.

I recommend the CW Open as an excellent opportunity at experiencing the game as a multiplier, there are three sessions allowing one to experience the influence of propagation, and there is plenty of time remaining in the weekend to make improvements around the shack.

CW Open Fundamentals:

1. Know session start and stop times.
2. Know event exchange (ie. consecutive serial number and name).
3. Understand class entry.
4. Understand the use of augmented technology in the shack and what it means when submitting the log. 
5. Understand and execute proper log submission (ie. one log per session).
6. Have fun.

The only thing RadioSport asks is everyone compete according to the rules and have a lot of ham radio fun.

Contest on!         

TK And Big Kahuna Annual DXer & Contester Barbecue

W6SL, Big Kahuna receives Best QSL award from Santa Barbara ARC

Dick Norton, N6AA briefing Newington News

Beach Boy, DR.R with Carrie, W6TAI and Wayne, N6NB both are South Cook Island, Echo 51 DXpedition veterans

Nothing less than lots of ham radio fun greeting, meeting, and eating our way through a stellar Saturday afternoon. The 'cue engineer was TK who served up delicious tri-tip for the occasion with local entrees brought in from all over the Five Cities, Nipomo, and Santa Maria. We want to thank Solo, KI6QDH's XYL Dorothy because she delivered three different types of salad ensuring our health for long stretches in the chair chasing DX and logging RadioSport Qs.

TK and Big Kahuna hospitality is well known across two counties as Carrie, W6TAI and Wayne, N6NB stopped in during their travels.

Visiting
Carrie, W6TAI operated as E51TAI in addition Wayne, N6NB as E51YNB during the 2012 IARU HF World Championship including the earlier ARRL International DX event. They collectively made over 2,800 Qs in the IARU Championship and, more than likely, counted as a Q+ multiplier, a double benefit for the RadioSport log.

Wayne, N6NB is an accomplished Amateur Radio operator with his own web page titled The N6NB Page. I recommend reading through NB's pages for additional insight into location and facing down the challenges of building a competitive station on a mountain top.

Conclusion
Our afternoon under the California Central Coast sun was lots of ham radio fun having met Carrie, W6TAI, Wayne, N6NB, and Dick, N6AA who briefed Newington news. The day was transfused with Aloha spirit and Mahalo goes out to TK and Big Kahuna for their hard work.

73 from the shackadelic near the beach.