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1983 10-meter test
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I had to wake up early that Saturday to take the ACT college entrance test. Flipped on the HW-101 while getting ready, heard the activity, dropped in my call in response to a WP4 calling CQ TEST (CW of course...I didn't even operate phone back then), and worked him. After the ACT, came home and made 59 more QSOs, thus setting the contesting hook in my jaw.
A few calls from that log who are still active today: W1WEF, AA5B, K1VUT, N6NF, KC7V, K7QQ.
...de WQ5L ex-KA5KWX
Posted by
WQ5L
on May 7, 2001
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It was FD!
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Like the majority, for me it was FD (1972). That was June. In July I operated my first CD party and never looked back. At the first FD my code speed (at the Novice position) went from the 11 WPM plateau to 20 WPM in one day and I was forced to learn to use the bug to keep up with the frenzy. Changed my life.
Mark, N5OT
Posted by
Anonymous
on May 7, 2001
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CD Parties
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Like more than a few of us guys of a certain age,
I started out in the mid-'60s handling traffic. I got my first taste
of contesting when I took part in the old CD parties. I'd bet that
quite a few of the present-day contesters got their start
that way.
Posted by
W8FN
on May 7, 2001
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First contest
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In years past, the ARRL would give DXCC credit for DX stations that turned in a log for ARRL DX contests. Thus an ARRL DX contest was a great way to confirm new countries for DXCC. TOO BAD the ARRL will no longer give such credit. If you want to create more interest in contesting, petition the ARRL DXCC bunch to restart this feature.
AA4Z
Posted by
Anonymous
on May 7, 2001
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Novice Round-up
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Operated the 1975 NR soon after obtaining my license (WN7CFL). Made a lot of QSOs and when QST came out with the results I was listed as a checklog!! What a bummer! I called ARRL HQ to see what the deal was and they said I didn't log the time of every QSO. I had logged the time of my first and last QSO only for each operating period. Boy was I bummed, but it was my fault. The next year in NR I came in 6th in the nation for Novices and 9th overall (counting techs). I was further intrigued by Rick Niswander's contest writeups (10m tests?) in QST. Been lovin' it ever since. What fun!
73, Matt--K7BG
Posted by
k7bg
on May 7, 2001
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First Contest
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Went to the 1955 Field Day operation by the Ithaca (NY) Mike and Key Club. The setup was one transmitter. It was a Meissner Signal Shifter driving an 829B final with multiband grid and plate tanks. The receiver was an HRO-60. We were at a farmhouse in Richford, NY. I was a newly minted Novice, so just watched and marveled!
Posted by
k4jsi
on May 6, 2001
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Novice Roundup started it all!
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In 1983 at age 13, I was waiting for my ticket & read all about this "contest" & decided to do it. 2 days before it began, the paper arrived. I was a solid 5wpm at the beginning, at the end was 10+wpm. That did it. (Not only working tons of stations - but my first DX! How cool is that?) Just missed 200 QSOs - the next year was 8th place nationally. What a HOOT.
-Mark, K2AXX
Posted by
K2AXX
on May 5, 2001
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Field Day to contesting
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First licensed in 1960 (age 15) Lafayette (Louisiana) Amateur Radio Club was in full swing at that time. The club set up in the local city park and left us novices (high school kids) as overnight guards - wow what a great time - then we watched the operators come out 2nd in Field Day that year - hooked ever since.
Art K5FNQ
[email protected]
Posted by
K5FNQ
on May 5, 2001
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First Contest
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The ink was barely dry on my license when the Burnaby Amateur Radio Club held their Field Day. When I got my first license, we could only operate CW on the HF bands, so the fact that I could actually operate on voice at the Club setup was a real thrill. That introduction hooked me. In November of that year, VE7AUB and myself set up a small station at his house ( May Pole with inverted VEE antennas for all bands, a Yaesu FTDX401 and a Yaesu FT101B - NEITHER WITH ANY FILTERS IN THEM) and we were off for 48 hours of fun. We didn't score high, but 48 odd hours of operating with straight keys was an experience never forgotten. Since then, I've particpated in most of the CQWW phone contests, placed well in a few, opereated from J6R in 1999 and if not for the fact I will be in P40 land this year would participate in this years CQWW.
By the way, since being licensed in 1978, I've only missed 2 Field Days.
Graham...ex VE7AVU & J68ED
currently VE7ABC & VA7TT
Posted by
VA7TT
on May 5, 2001
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Summer 1980
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A June afternoon, 1980. The Orchard City Amateur Radio Club (Kelowna BC) had a contest station set up on a paddlewheeler moored near the city park. I was 15 -- my mother took me to see the ham setup. She left rather quickly, but I ended up staying all night, helping the ops (i.e. getting coffee, hi). By the following April I was licensed (as VE7EIE) and have loved ham radio, DXing and contesting (almost all CW) ever since. This is more than a hobby. It's a lifelong pursuit.
Posted by
Anonymous
on May 5, 2001
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First Contest
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It was about four Field Days ago. Some other fellas set up the station then went off to weddings or whatever and I was 1-A MI on my own. I had a few problems in the beginning. But I had so much fun I came back on Sunday morning for more.
I even stuck around and helped them take it all down.
Paul K8AAX
Posted by
K8AAX
on May 3, 2001
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Contest Discovery
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Although I made QSOs in contests, I never considered myself a participant until I first sent in a log in 1987, more than 25 years after first getting licensed! It was other contesters that got me involved. I had discovered some serious hams in Illinois like K9CT and WB9HAD(WB9Z) and when I moved to Colorado in 1985, I ended up at Field Day and club events with the likes of W0UO, K0EU, KC0D(SK), W1XE, N2IC, W0CP, K0RF, W0UA, W0UN and others. If these guys can't get you pumped about contesting, no one can! ...K9AY
Posted by
K9AY
on May 3, 2001
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Novice Roundup
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Don't know how many years ago, don't have enough fingers and toe's to count that far!Use to cuss and fuss all weekend because of these stupid contest taking up my band width, would have to figure what to do with my leisure time for the whole weekend! Finally decided to try Novice Roundup and see what it was like....WOW haven't been right since...the bug bit hard, tried many years to be first in NC, don't remember if I ever did, do have a lot of fond memories and this is what launched me into the contesting state I'm in now. Primarily compete against myself..still fun going against the young, who have the dexterity and quickness needed to be world class...I'm over the hill but I ain't quitin'........Tom N4RS
Posted by
Anonymous
on May 3, 2001
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My first contest
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Pete, KZ5PW(SK) told me I should enter the first ARRL 10 meter contest. I did and years later began MS entries from the Canal Zone.
Jim, K4SQR
x:KZ5JM-KZODX(Canal Zone Contest Call)-HP1XRK
Posted by
Anonymous
on May 3, 2001
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First Contest
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In December, after being licensed in February, I was encouraged by N4TY and NO4R to enter the 1981 ARRL 10 meter contest and make sure that I submitted my log. They were doing m/o and I did solp (didn't have an amplifier) and was fortunate to win KY section. I was so naive that in the column for "frequency",(paper logs had columns) I listed the "exact" frequency of each contact! I have been hooked ever since, although my interests have changed, the "fun of the competetion" still exists!
Shelby, K4WW
Posted by
K4WW
on May 1, 2001
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Field Day...
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It was Field Day, shortly after getting licensed. My elmer took me to it, and I was hooked from then on. 73 Clinton AB7RG/9
Posted by
AB7RG
on May 1, 2001
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First Contest
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I was already interested in shortwave listening and had recently upgraded my receiver to one with a BFO so I could listen to all that "noise" I heard on the amateur bands.
I wanted to be able to put in my 2-cents worth to some of those conversations, so I started studying to get my Novice license.
I read a newspaper ad about a group holding something they called "Field Day" at a local park and decided to go see what it was all about.
I got there Saturday afternoon and I was impressed with all the radio gear and antennas and walked around in a daze watching all the activity.
One of the operators said he needed a break and asked if I wanted to operate. After about 2 minutes to show me how it was done, including the paper logging, I got on 40m SSB and had at it for about an hour!!
Someone came by and asked who I was and if I was a membr of the club. When I told him I wasn't even licensed yet, but was studying for my ticket, he relieved me from my post!! As I remember it, I logged about 100 or more QSOs that afternoon and I was hooked!!
Been contesting and enjoying Field Days for almost 25 years now!!
Posted by
KB1LN
on May 1, 2001
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Field Day
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ARRL Field Day was the first "contest" that I was involved in. While barely a contest, it was really fun to hear the bands full and to work guys quickly. QST announcements of Novice Roundup and Sweepstakes finished me off.
Posted by
N2MG
on April 30, 2001
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2001 Florida QSO
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This was my frst contest, and I am hooked. Thanks to the great contest team here in Winston Salem, W4WS, I was able to help out and get a feel for the excitement....I can't wait till I get another chance to do this again!
Tim, KG4MQD
Posted by
KG4MQD
on April 30, 2001
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contest
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my first VHF contest was at the local clubstation I think.. first shortwave contest was "Hamburg-contest" on 80m, which i found randomly by tuning over the band. i was very happy that i could work 10 stations in 3 hours back then. second contest was WPX 98 where i worked 50 stations and i totally couldn't believe how these big guns could do several thousand QSO's ;) dj1yfk
Posted by
Anonymous
on April 30, 2001
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First Contest
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Way back in my Novice days as WV2ZPK in 1962, I heard all these stations calling CQFD on CW one June weekend. As some of you remember, CW was the only mode we were allowed to operate as novices. Anyway, back then FD was the prefix for some French Equitorial provice in Africa. I was totally dumbfounded why the band was totally filled up with guys all trying to reach this tiny little country in Africa...Duh! This was my first introduction to contesting and I didn't know it for quite some time.
Posted by
k4xs
on April 30, 2001
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WPX CW, 1982
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I remember it well--I came home around midnight from my restaurant job as a 16-year-old and heard the fray on my Drake TR-4. It was awesome--and I was hooked!--K2UA
Posted by
Anonymous
on April 30, 2001
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