My 10,000 Hour RadioSport Challenge | 9,325 - 4 = 9,321 To Go

2013 North American Sprint CW Results

Good late afternoon as I'm loading up the weekend inside #hamr shackadelic and it actually hailed for a few minutes. The current weather system brought scattered showers, cloudy skies, and a cold front.

The latest running of North American Sprint CW is in the lesson learned archive and my result was a personal best. What made the difference? I went after the one kilo hertz QSY rule with a vengeance unlike previous events. And, this technique added a new dimension that is, pay attention to 'where' the frequency dial is before launching my callsign into the swarm.

It was easy to forget due to the dense packing of signals and lack of operator concentration.

Perhaps, this explains why there aren't as many CQs within the first 45 minutes because stations are logging participants. It seemed my dupe warning appeared more times than not at the tail end of the hour. Subsequently, I called CQ much later in comparison to previous events with improved results.

On another note, potentially, my exchange confused an operator waiting to pounce on the next Q because tail ending made for lost information. I felt "dit dit" or "dah" at the end was a definitive signal to unleash a 1,000 watts into six elements or three elements.

My exchange examples --

1. KL8DX 01 Scot CA KA3DRR
2. KA3DRR KL8DX 01 Phil AK (I respond either with "dit dit" or "dah") then station X pounces
3. Or KA3DRR 01 Phil AK KL8DX

The chief frustration was tail ending while information was sent. I'm positive a few Qs will be removed from my log because I didn't complete the exchange with confidence. I really appreciated those operators who used the "dit dit" or "dah" method to signal completion before releasing the dawgs of RadioSport.

My take away from this event is pay attention to the frequency dial, feverishly practice the one kilo hertz QSY rule, and improve my exchange configuration.

Contest on!   

Change ARRL Sweepstakes Rules?

Good morning from #hamr shackadelic zone where, oh yes, it is a bright sunny day at the beach, and a magnificent ground swell of perfectly aligned sets satisfied surfers until the next Bering Sea storm generates another epic day. I have read with keen interest the recent conversation about the second half of the ARRL Sweepstakes event that is Sunday afternoon.

When Adrenaline Fails
Typically, the rate rush falls off dramatically after most kilowatt driven stations have logged a greater percentage of available participants. Sunday is pain day in the chair in comparison to Saturday's exhilaration, exuberance, and this year it is going to be different. And, sadly, it's not.

I like to consider myself an advocate of change in this case I do not support changing the rules to mitigate the pain in the chair. I like the challenge of the exchange, logging a station only once, and the glory of a clean multiplier sweep. In other words, Sweepstakes is personal, the goals that drive my participation, are personal as well.

There is lots of distilled data in terms of who won when, from where Sweepstakes was won, and comments about the friendly yet fierce competition between the West and East coast. That's RadioSport and I love it!

Pink Pig
The conversation, at least from my perspective, hasn't engaged the proverbial pink pig in the room.

Potentially, ARRL Sweepstakes is the first symptom of a bigger picture that is developing and most likely will impact future RadioSport activity this side of the Atlantic, despite Amateur Radio's North American growth, the reality is, we are not converting the numbers into real high frequency participation.

I believe, if participation was up then questioning the rules wouldn't even be questioned, because the rate rush would sustain itself through most of the event.

The Challenge
Instead, at least for me, why are we not asking the central question about where are those newly minted operators and why are they not operating on high frequency? The backbone and the future of RadioSport hinges on the long tail of those who are being licensed, right now. Instead, we are conversing about adding complexity to an event with a rich tradition.

I would advocate that this is a matter best placed on the agenda of RadioSport organizations, clubs, and individual participants. Who better to recruit new participants and share the ultimate ham radio experience?

No, Sweepstakes doesn't need additional complexity, what RadioSport needs is a new cohort of North American operators who will carry the torch forward into our future.

Contest on!       

ARRL: Does The ARRL Need A Strategic Plan?

Why are organizations failing to develop a strategic plan?

I'd like to cite an example of a common question asked during a job interview, "Where do you see yourself in 3, 5, or 10 years?"

That question requires personal strategic planning. It means developing measurable goals and objectives leading me to a particular place. I would also mention that my strategic plan is an evolving document subject to continuous change while acting like a point on a compass.

I'm fast approaching this conclusion that Amateur Radio is a niche hobby. Wait a second? I have reached that conclusion. The glory days are in the rear view mirror and, now is the time, to begin charting a new course. I'm also fast approaching this conclusion as well--Amateur Radio is niche within niche and needs to be treated as such.

Certainly, I'm one of those embracing the brave new world of the Internet of Everything (IoE) and the sensor revolution like social media is like a new born infant. Likewise, I'm embracing information channels, I won't need to search anymore because feeds like Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ are delivering information specific to my choosing.

My perspective is fluid social dynamics replacing repetitive top down directed atrophy. The most recent example of organizational decision making success was Oreo's deployment of the dunk in the dark advertisement on Twitter.

It was a split second decision of great risk with it followed great reward. Likewise, Google+ is growing niche Amateur Radio Communities dedicated to DIY, satellite, digital, as examples in addition to #hamr Twitter lists tailored to Amateur Radio operators and their specific interests. And, there is Facebook, too.

Then the question becomes, "Why do I need an organization like the ARRL?"   

Disruptive technology has unhinged 20th Century institutions and a strategic plan is a vision for what follows because I can't walk into an interview and say, "I really don't know where I see myself in 3, 5, or 10 years."

http://frrl.wordpress.com: If there is no new challenge and no new opportunity and you are satisfied with the organizations current performance then there is no need of any strategic plan.  One simply operates in a state of sustainability by repetition - for as long as you can maintain it within a budget, or for as long as you continue to not recognize a challenge or opportunity in the external environment,  or for as long as you can get away with it until stakeholders commission a “comprehensive assessment” (as in the case of Congress and NASA above) to find out why you don’t have a compelling vision of the future that can engage a national interest.

73 from the shackadelic near the beach.