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| Contesting - Challenge Yourself. Challenge the World. |
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In 2008 I began participating in amateur radio contesting, also known as "radiosport." Like many other facets of the hobby, contesting is not for everyone, but any licensed ham operator can participate. While I don't enter contests to win, I do challenge myself with personal goals I want to achieve. My "lil pistol" station cannot compete with the likes of "big gun" stations running linear amplifiers, antenna arrays and towers. I recently became a member of the local contest club. Here in NoCal it is the Northern California Contest Club, which was founded in 1970 and is 200 members strong. Much like my approach to contesting, the club goals are in line with mine:
I feel fortunate to be located near a "big gun" station in Oakley, California, N6RO or "Radio Oakley" run by Ken Keeler. The operators who call this station home during contests are experienced and bring with them a wealth of knowledge with them. You can read about N6RO in the January, 2004 edition of the NCCC online newsletter, The Jug. Search my online logbook to see if I have verified a contact. CONTEST PARTICIPATION American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Contests ARRL 10-Meter Contest Mixed: 2009 ARRL Sweepstakes CW: 2010, 2009 SSB: ARRL International DX CW: 2010, 2009 SSB: 2010, 2009 ARRL RTTY Roundup RTTY: 2010, 2009 CQ Amateur Radio Contests CQ World Wide WPX CW: 2009 SSB: 2009 CQ World Wide RTTY RTTY: 2009 CQ World Wide RTTY WPX RTTY: 2009 CQ World Wide DX CW: 2009 SSB: 2009 NCJ Contests North American QSO Party CW: 2010, 2009 RTTY: 2010, 2009 SSB: 2010, 2009 Japan International DX Contest CW: 2010 State QSO Parties 7QP: 2010, 2009 CQP: Coming Oct 2010 INQP: 2010 MNQP: 2010 NEQP: 2010 Other Contests RAC Winter: 2008 RAC Canada Day: 2009 RDXC: 2010 |
