8. Quelles contributions fait la communauté participante à des concours dans le public?

• Keeps the station in prime operating order. Station problems are uncovered in lengthy contest operation. When disaster strikes contest stations may be better equipped to handle traffic.
• Increase abilities and improvement of our stations will make the amateurs more qualified and better performance in emergency situations, that will happen more often in the future.
• We are a proven resource of skilled operators that are available in the event of an emergency.
• Possibly some local news coverage, and ability to communicate under emergencey conditions...
• It keeps some people off the street at night.
• Contesters are fabulous traffic handlers. They are the best personel for emergency and civil communications needs.
• I do not think a contest is very popular with the general population specially if they became unwilling SWL's on their cordless phones
• Community awareness of presence and publicity of emergency capability.
• Little if any.
• None that i can think of...
• Not really a community thing. Contesters really don't take the time out sell our hobby to the public, they a have a goal/milestone to meet or break during a contest, be it a rare DX station etc. Contesters operate different compared to a rag chewer, make as many contacts as possible, rag chewer's on the other hand, are more like someone talking on the telephone just passing the time talking about the weather, their new equipment etc or just staying in touch.
• Contesting helps to locate stations which are active in other countries and thereby identify stations which could be called upon to help with disaster and welfare communications.
• Quite a great deal, by keeping radio-amateurs busy and entertained, away from the streets and from getting involved in many other forms of activities that could spell trouble for the public.
• Contesting hones the overall communication skills of the Amateur, thus allowing for better ARES participation when required.
• As above familiarity with equipment and usage result in an overall increase in performance if called upon.
• In some cases, the public awareness of amateur radio is enhanced (Field Day for example). Otherwise, radio contesting in general is a non event in the public eye.
• Application of technology to ensure robust communications during times of emergency. Current development of Winlink is an example.
• I think only Field Day is high enough profile for the public to notice. From my persoanl viewpoint, I have become a much better operator through contesting and could contribute more skill to an emergency.
• Not sure.
• I have found over and over again that radio contesting captures peoples' imaginations. It's easy to talk about, to show people what it is and how it works. It showcases a practical, often innovative and very enjoyable use of accessible technology. In today's video-game society, contesting can inspire young people and even introduce them to education and career pathways they may not otherwise have considered.
• Been able to pick out callsigns in the midst of a pileup is a art. Been able to record formal traffic accurately and pass it on is also a similar art. Both take discipline and a trained ear.
• spends money on rigs and equipment
• By actively contesting Radio Amateurs continuously hone their operating skills which in the case of an emergency would certainly be most useful and would benefit the public at large.
• Improvement of the breeds (equipment, antennas, operating techniques)--like auto racing.
• Good operators and copiers are extremely useful in emergency situations, such as civil disaster where amateurs are called into service.
• Much of the operating experience gained in contesting becomes very valuable when amateurs are required to assist in emergency situations, providing radio services to community events etc. Their organizational abilities derived from contesting is another thing that community organizations can benefit from.
• a sporting activity promotes interst in other areas, such as emergency response,
• Contest community operators are experienced and have modern, well equipped stations capable of responding to emergency situations.
• My personal experience with contests operated at unusual sites (e.g., lighthouses; on islands during IOTA) is that they attract the interest of locals members of any community and invariably present a positive i8mage of amateur radio and its operators.
• I am not sure what you mean here I can't see that the contest has anything to do with the public. I see it helping amateur radio operators by getting them involved more with radio and contesting,But I don't see it helping the public.
• More active and more efficient, and more ready to serve the public in emergencies, with better and always ready-to-be-used equipment.
• Indirectly perhaps but it sharpens our communication skills which could be an asset in emergency situations
• Above skills, as proven in the past, may be of unique assistance in major potential disasters.
• Provides radio operators with capabilities to work under difficult conditions in an emergency
• Contesters have the best radio installation. Often equipment in double. They are the best group to help the emergency group to help the public.
• Staying out of roads, less pollution !
• Greater operator efficiency Increased international collaboration
• It shows them how we can communicate all over very rapidly.
• What contributions do you feel the competition in any sport makes to the public ? Same for contest.
• Divercity of the activities
• A pool of well equipped stations and well trained operators A tongue in cheek benefit would be the support of the various postal organizations throughout the world.
• For the boy scouts and girl guides it is a look for them at Ham Radio
• The contest community demonstrates to the public that the hobby has so much potential for those who welcome challenges that cannot be found in repeater operations or in alternate known communications modes such as CB. It also shows the value of retaining morse code. Those operating from portable/mobile sites show the public the breadth of the hobby and how this can be also applied in emergencies too by being so versatile.
• Contesters make great traffic handlers. Best candidates for emergency and civil communications needs.
• Increasing efficiency in operating skills for times of disaster
• They provide a training ground for ARES members learning to deal with poor conditions
• None of than having working stations functional in case of emergencies
• This might encourage others to discover the joys of contesting and help build the amateur radio community across Canada. Okay a bit optimistic but change is good and healthy. We want to be offering new ideas and opportunities to the ham radio community in Canada.
• Seriously? It keeps us off the street and out of trouble. It makes us spend more money and support the economy. Other than that, I can't think of a single way the general public benefits from us contesting. I hope you get some better answers.
• Highly trained operators, maintenance of bands, modes and equipment that is available for use in the event of emergencies. In the past, contesting and DXing helped attract young persons to the hobby, which contributed to the pool of technically-qualified persons in electronics. I suspect that is much less the case today, however.
• Keeps skills up and equipment tuned and ready to go in an emergency.
• None
• The improved operating skills and equipment would be useful in an emergency. Money would be spent and improve technology.
• Same as above - ask K1ZZ. There must be a good reason why he is contesting.
• none
• Keeps skills honed for the sending and receiving of information.
• Contest stations, both HF and VHF, can provide public service at higher levels than average in times of emergency.
• Stations and operating skills are maintained at optimum levels and are therefor potentially more effective when required for emergency / public service communications
• A well maintained contest station and the skilled contest operator can be very valuable for the public in emergency situation. Contesters have their "network" both locally and world wide. It is proven, that these contest operators world wide, who actually know each other can cooperate very efficiently in emergency situations, when regular telephone or cell phone communications failed.
• A contest operator has usually extensive knowledge and skills about traffic handling, procedures and routines how to communicate, how to listen and how to operate his equipment efficiently, and generally how to behave in situation where it's necessary to keep cool and collected.
• Amateur radio is a hobby that lives beyond national borders, it makes the world a smaller place. Radio contesting makes Amateur Radio a bigger hobby.
• Improved operating skills and equipment are useful in an emergency. Money is spent in the local economy to improve equipment especially antennae.
• Pool of trained operators who can assemble, man and operate HF communication systems in times of crisis
• Amateur radio contesting helps build both the technological and operating skills of amateur radio operators both of which are important for emergency communications. The "high stress" and rapid fire nature of contesting can often resemble the kind of stress that amateurs would undergo during an emergency. As well, wireless technologies are continuing to develop and the skills developed through contesting can aid in the development of Canada's high tech industries.
• Being prepared to offer emergency communications when needed by the local community as well as participating as relay stations when emergencies occur elsewhere - which is good for Canada's reputation.
• The activity of amateur radio contesting and the skill it requires promotes an interest in amateur radio in general and as a sport as well.
• Probably not much. I'm sure the Short Way Listeners like it. I get cards once in a while from SWLs from contesting.
• Not sure
• The contest community is able to advertise a particular location and to share experiences with the general public following an event.
• Exactly the same as any sport in Canada does
• Basically the same answer at in #7 above but the learned skills from contesting can and usually are applied to the local community's emergency networks, ARES groups and regularly at the "Field Day" events where the public is encouraged to come out and see what we do with all of our "unusual" antennas and radios.
• Contesters are like Olympic athletes competing against themselves, fellow countrymen, and the world. The general public recognizes and likes "winners"...It is my opinion that our national organization should notify local newspapers and media outlets of outstanding contest work and wins.
• our equipment and antennae are usually in tip top shape so we also tend to be there for civil events and emergencies as part of our club activities.
• Exactly the same contribution that any leisure activity makes to the public good. This is not a facetious comment - every community activity from chess, to marathons, to amateur dramatics, to cross-country skiing is good for the overall wellbeing of the community.
• More operators that can handle a large amount of information in an efficient manner. This ability helps greatly in ARES type operation
• N/A
• Nothing other than a DXpedition's expenses to a foreign country.
• Sharpening operating skills in contesting can only be a benefit in the case of an emergency situation. Also, it keeps our equipment in top operating condition for such emergencies. Contesters are very aware of the varying propagation and know what frequencies (also Modes & methods of communication ie. IRLP HF VHF etc.) can be used most effectively during emergencies
• Some of the most active ambassadors between the public and amateur radio come from the ranks of the contest community. My experiences lead me to believe a large percentage of the people supporting public service activities come from the active contester ranks. They maintain a broad spectrum of communications capabilities that are well positioned to support emergency services in times of disasters. As well, they tend to have the skill & equipment required to support emergency circumstances.
• Same as (7) in that contesters are probably far more efficient and effective at emergency traffic handling than are non-contesters.
• Contesters need to be aware of other non-contesters on the band and not clobber their communications. Contesters should limit their power to what is required.
• Prepares operators for when emergency communications might be needed.
• Contest operations maintain function stations and therefore can provide support in the event of a local emergency. In my location contest operators also support public service events and the local ARES operations which are important to public activites during events and times of need.
• Nil
• Probably negative if one decides to run high power - with the resulting interference.
• Helps with communications in public and charity events (parades, races, etc)
• The contest community as a unit contributes little to the public. Like any other interest, it all depends on the individual. I do believe that contesters are very skilled individuals and if offered an opportunity to serve the public, that their skills could be a valuable asset if placed in an area where these skills would be recognized.
• Contests like Field Day help to promote awareness of readiness and preparedness in case of emergency.
• Field day (a contest) is the most publicly visible amateur radio event. The public sees it as a ham radio/emergency preparedness display and we in the contest world see it as a competition/ contest. Take away the contesters from ARRL FD and the event would suffer. In the ARRL, field day is the biggest activity of the events year
• The technical efforts put into efficient contest operation and computer logging keeps the Amateur up to date with new technologies and equipment so that their station is operating at peak efficiency and effectiveness. So when emergencies arise we are ready!
• I do invite neighbor people over when contesting so they see what this guy does!
• a well trained and competent resource of individuals and equipment to help in any emergency involving a need for a wide variety of communication services, from around the corner to around the world.
• Public is made more aware of the competitive spirit that we instill in daily activities due to being able to multitask and also instill a understanding that it can be a fun weekend activity for people to pass the time.
• none
• Not really sure it makes anything significant.
• The contest community speaks of one of the ultimate speed and precise communication which may be required as transferable skills. It may be used in emergency situations for obtaining quick, yet precise information. The ease of operation in a timely manner may save lives when required.
• Improvement of operator competency; it provides an attraction into the ham community for young people who will ultimately enter the communications industry
• Contest stations are generally modern and well equipped and available for emergency use. Additionally, the contesters are well trained and experienced operators that know how to communicate under adverse conditions and when signals are not optimal. This pool of equipment and operators is a valuable resource available when emergency communication is needed.
• No comment
• Waves the flag.
• Hams improve their operating skills as well as learn to work together as many contesters also are part of club contest stations which is very beneficial to the public in an emergency situation where ham radio operators are often called upon to provide emergency communication.
• With better equipment as per #7 they are better able to handle emergency communications. Skills digging stations out of the noise and exchanging of contest data helps develop the skills required for emergency communications where the conditions are usually less than ideal.
• As per #7 above, the improvements can help in emergency traffic handling on behalf of the public.
• In any contests that I have participated in, members of the public are most interested the show of communications capability in disaster times.
• Identifies the Various Operators that can Operate under a more intense conditions.
• My station is also a backup PEP communications site and, considering the resources the station has, would probably be a primary in the event of a real emergency. A number of other contest stations also serve that purpose. We tend to have the best fixed and portable antennas and equipment.
• The contesting community initially doesn't seem to have a direct contribution to the public, however, in the case of an emergency where the amateur community can provide aditional communication resources, the contesters would be able to adapt to handling traffic more readily then the average non-contester, mainly because the traffic nets no longer pass much traffic if any at all.
• Accuracy in contesting plus overall station performance is important. Similary, accuracy and station performance are paramount in an emergency or disaster. Public Service is still a central theme to Amateur radio.
• With their unique skills contesters have been formidable supporters of government agencies in times of emergencies including natural disasters.
• Contesting provides more powerful & effective amateur radio stations. Contesting also provides improved operating skills.
• Contesters are typically very capable communicators and their expertise can be used in times of emergency.
• If we have good operators in the contest community, they should be able to use their skills appropriately in a public emergency.
• Contesters are generally better prepared in the event of emergencies. They have the ability and equipment to pass traffic quickly and more accurately. IN fact all operators that think they are going to be effective in an emergency should try contesting and find out just how bad they are without the practice. I look at contesting as a skill and something you have to practice very hard at. And that transfers over to emergency skills and accuracy...
• Not much.
• better operator and better station will be a asset for all ham radio as it will be more experience operator in case of emergency or if the need to help others ham occur, antenna advice, station set up so the more experience ham the better for all in case of emergency
• Contesters are self-trained as highly-efficient, highly-accurate operators, with well-developed knowledge of operating practices, station construction, propagation and antennas. This self-training can be very useful in times of emergency.
• Good contesters, operating top-notch gear that is well maintained, provide the country (and the world) as a whole with a network of emergency communications and have the ability to pass traffic swiftly with minimal error compared to the casual rag-chewer.
• The contest community can contribute to the public in time of emergency by deploying experienced radio operators who are knowledgeable in technology and efficient operating techniques. Contesting may also be a good way to introduce ham radio to young people because they may be intrigued by the fact that computers are required for success......especially on the digital modes including CW!
• I had previously submitted
• Contesters are highly-skilled, self-trained, high-efficiency operators. Those skills can be transferred to emergency communications situations very easily.
• Improved operating skills.
• With more skillful operators, as indicated in #7, they are better equipped to operate and to have a better signal to get through under difficult conditions.