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CW, of course
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My first contest from my home QTH was the 1981 November Sweepstakes. Operated about an hour and made around 13 QSOs, all in the novice band. The next month was the 10 meter contest, and I made a serious effort in that as KA0IFG/N. Also got to do the Novice Roundup as a novice, which was neat. It was great to be able to get on and contest on a weekday evening. Today I also do SSB, RTTY, and VHF/UHF contesting, but my favorite is still CW. It just seems easier on the ears and brain to listen to CW for a weekend than to shouting voices, and there is less QRM due to the narrower filters being used.
Posted by
ne0p
on December 12, 2002
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1st was FD 1998
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Field Day 1998 was my 1st contest. I was on the 40/15 SSB rig. 15m was in great shape, held a run freq for a couple of hours.
Also made the satellite contact on RS13, up on 15, down on 10.
The next month, I was the Louisiana section winner in the IARU HF contest, SSB.
Since, I've contested SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK. Have also done a 6m contest mixed mode.
--W5WZ
--Scott
Posted by
W5WZ
on November 22, 2002
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First Contest
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The ink was barely dry on my ticket, when a fellow new ham suggested we enter the CQWW DX CW contest. We set up a maypole antenna system (inverted vees) and this allowed us to operate 80-10 meters. Rigs used were a Yaesu FT401DX and a Yaesu FT101B, no c/w filters in either, and those old rigs were broad to say the least. We used a pair of really sofisticated keying devices, they came from Radio Shack, and I think that they cost a couple of bucks each. AHH, straight keys equals glass arms after awhile.
I don't remember the score, but the fun factor had to be in the millions. My fellow newbie never did any more contests, but I try and get into the CQWW every year.
I'll never forget my first contest.
73..de..Graham VE7ABC
Posted by
VE7ABC
on November 21, 2002
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And I won a plaque too!
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Nov CW sweepstakes - an FT-101 that was 700 hz off frequency (why isn't anyone answering me?). First Place, Single Op, Low Power, Tech Plus, SCV Section. My score: *18* !!!
Posted by
kf6iiu
on November 21, 2002
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And I won a plaque too!
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Nov CW sweepstakes - an FT-101 that was 700 hz off frequency (why isn't anyone answering me?). First Place, Single Op, Low Power, Tech Plus, SCV Section. My score: *18* !!!
Posted by
kf6iiu
on November 21, 2002
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First Contest
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It was a subregional VHF contest in 1987 with my first call ON1KVE. I ran a TR9130 with 25 W and a single 9 elts.... Perfect working conditions to obtain a high ranking Hi !
Posted by
on7vz
on November 19, 2002
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First Contest
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I *think* it was either SS or the ARRL DX Contest in 1956. I *know* it was CW because in those days my Globe Scout ran all of 10 watts on grid-modulated AM. Been hooked ever since.
Posted by
N4ZR
on November 19, 2002
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1982 November SS at the Ga. Tech Amateur Radio Club W4AQL. I learned a lot about HF operating from some fine ops.
Posted by
w4atl
on November 18, 2002
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UR5DEM
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my firs contes CQ-M
1989 year.
Posted by
UR5DEM
on November 17, 2002
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Novice Roundup
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Radio Shack practice key and a set of Drake twins. When I started the '94 NR, I was about 7 wpm. At contest's end, I passed 20 WPM and, shortly thereafter, my extra written. It was, without compare, the greatest single experience of my contesting life and most beneficial as an operator. I, too, miss this contest. I'm glad I got a chance to operate in it before it shut down.
Posted by
k5oy
on November 16, 2002
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All Asia DX 1981 CW
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I was 14 years old and had received my Novice Ticket (DH2FAW) only two days before. I switched on my dad's station both mornings and worked the few Asian stations that I could copy these early August days on 28 MHz CW - with a straight key at about 8-10 wpm... 73 Ben DL6FBL
Posted by
DL6FBL
on November 15, 2002
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FD 1973
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I dragged my DX60B and HR10B along on a family camping trip to Massachuesetts.
I operated FD as WN2OVE/1 and made 66 qsos. Afterwards, I found the NESN in the 80m Novice band which was the North East Slow Net. I was welcomed by some guys who I don't remember the callsigns of (WA1PHJ?), but I believe that net operations got me into CD Parties, SS, and the rest is history.
We stopped in Newington on the way home the following week, and I was awed by W1AW. I got to operate W1AW on their HW-16 and of course, had to hand write out QSL's for the stations I worked.
Posted by
N5NJ
on November 15, 2002
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Two Meter Termites
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Anybody remember that club, which existed from the '50s through the '70S? They had membership from VA to NJ and we had some fun contests. My first contest was their fall event in 1966, a few months after I got my Novice ticket. In those pre-grid-square days, zip codes were the multipliers. Ran two meters AM using a Gonset Communicator 3 (that I still have) and a Hy-Gain 8 element beam. Won my first plaque! The contest bug (maybe it was a termite) hasn't stopped biting since.
Posted by
N3ZR
on November 12, 2002
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1st Contest
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I am a new ham and I remember very well my first contest.... Field Day. I had just upgraded to Tech plus and had made about 3 skip contacts (total) before the contest. As a Tech Plus, I was thrown into the 10M SSB station as a freebie. 10M was open for FD 1999 and I made quite a few contacts. I also felt like I had been run over by a truck when I had to go home...
The first contest I won was actually on CW - Our club had a month long contest to get people on the air and one of the multipliers was Novice/Tech Plus stations worked. As a Tech Plus working to get my 13 wpm, I got on the air a fair amount and worked a lot of other Novices or Tech Plus's. After this, they changed the rules so that it would not happen again.
Posted by
kc8ltl
on November 12, 2002
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First Contest
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My first contest was on CW in the OKDX contest in 1978 with my original call WB2KQO on 40 meters.
I still remember the excitement and pride I felt when I received a cardboard tube in the mail plastered with Czech stamps two years later. Enclosed was a certificate for 1st place W2 call area in the USA. I thought I had won the lottery! 73, Ken N4UK
Posted by
n4uk
on November 12, 2002
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NOVICE = NR = CW
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Enough said.
Posted by
N2MG
on November 11, 2002
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1st Contest
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NR, of course! Damn, I miss that contest. I really enjoyed working the "new talent" each year.
Posted by
k3yd
on November 11, 2002
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First Contest
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RTTY is my favorite, but involved in almost every CW and RTTY contest.
Began heavy contesting in the late 70's within the NCCC, and now the SCCC.
73, John...aka...Bob...WA6BOB
Posted by
wa6bob
on November 10, 2002
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I don't think you could operate phone in the Novice Roundup!
Posted by
K1XM
on November 10, 2002
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First Contest
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It was November SS, SSB. Around 1983? Worked very hard with just a low dipole in a tree to get to 200, never made it.
73, Craig - N7OR
Posted by
N7OR
on November 10, 2002
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