I would like to wish all the great members of CTRI Contest Group a Happy New Year for 2012. As a club, we have many things to look forward to, and I trust we will have many enjoyable opportunities to get together and enjoy our fabulous hobby.
So, what goals are you going to set for yourself for this coming year? Personally, I want to continue persuing 5-Band DXCC. I have completed the first 100 in 2011, and am rapidly closing in on 40-meter DXCC. I have 96 confirmed on LoTW, and I have four cards that should put me right at the magic number!
One really good way, as you all know, to increase these numbers is to operate in the various DX contests! And, submit your scores so the club aggregate can take advantage of your progress toward your personal goals.
I believe a good topic for our first meeting in 2012 would be to establish some club goals. That way, we can keep an eye on our progress as the year passes beneath our feet as we trod along together.
Again, Happy New Year. See you in the pile-ups, and at a club meeting now and then. 73, Mike, K1DM
Thanks Mike…and Happy New Year to all the CTRI CG! I very much appreciate the help and support from many dedicated club members this past year.
2012 should be a great year to be ‘on-air’ as the solar cycle upswing continues! Very good HF conditions recently allowed me to work some of the most difficult-for-me Asian zones for the CQ WAZ award…with only *one* remaining — Zone 26 SE Asia. Well, I worked Thailand on 20m CW for my last zone of the 40 total yesterday morning! Now the hard work of checking confirmation via paper QSL begins!
All these contacts were made using just 100 watts; many via wire antennas. With the improving propagation on the upper bands this New Year I hope others may be inclined to find a new operating award that they enjoy working towards and thus, *operate in the contests* to help your totals. Being enrolled in ARRL’s Logbook of the World (LoTW) has given me the incentive to work towards 5-Band DXCC (current credits for 10m thru 40m held), DXCC Challenge Award and 5-Band Worked All States…and my contesting QSOs have helped **immensely** towards those totals.
Many may have as a goal antenna improvement or equipment upgrade projects for 2012. Many club members have great expertise and are very willing to help others with their plans.
I look forward to a few more members also trying out multi-op contesting within the CTRI CG. It’s a great way to learn new operating skills and have fun together. Many opportunities should be available for group contest efforts, small or large, in 2012.
Make your 2012 amateur radio ‘resolutions’ and let us know of your goals.
Good luck, good DX and good contesting to all for 2012,
73 – Bill W1WBB