From: "John W Gould" <g3wkl@btinternet.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Subject: LF: RE: Discussion of the Peter Bobek award, and TransAtlantic II
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 08:49:46 -0400
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As one of the prime movers to get the award in place I felt that I needed to
respond to Larry's comments.  Firstly, I must make it clear that I totally
agree with Larry's approach.  I also ought to say that my views here are my
own, rather than representing those of the RSGB HF Committee.  I also
haven't discussed this reply with the other sponsors of the award - the DARC
or AMRAD, though I suspect that they would agree with my line.

One of the purposes of the award was to remember a modest but determined
experimenter and excellent operator who amongst other significant amateur
achievements was one of the pioneers on 136kHz.  The basic idea came from
another determined and successful experimenter who participates in this
list.  The award was also put in place to act as a driver for those within
the hobby who use an award to sustain their interest in meeting a specific
goal.  Clearly, it will be difficult to meet the terms of the challenge.
Larry is right to remind us that before anyone is successful we may need to
achieve the 2-way QSO at higher ERP.  Maybe the guys in the Azores or
Iceland who, for the purposed of the award we decided to exclude, may be
able to add a valuable contribution by demonstrating a 1 watt ERP QSO over
part of the distance. Both steps will help calibrate what is needed to be
done in order to meet the challenge.

We have to remember that the challenge is optional.  I have some fun doing
DXCC on the HF Bands, but I don't do IOTA - that's my choice. My XYL can't
understand why I do amateur radio as the Internet or the 'phone is so much
easier and can be cheaper - but that's another debate!

Through simple things like lists of records and firsts, awards, some amongst
us have been encouraged to improve their technical and operating knowledge.
Not all - some have drive to do that without the lists, awards, etc.   Each
to his/her own.  Over the last few years aerial and receiving capability has
improved significantly.  Work on information coding and modulation,
developed for other reasons has been successfully applied, e.g. G3PLX, G4JNT
and VE2IQ.... to name but a few of the experimenters.

It doesn't matter what drives us, but don't let's open up a debate about the
rules for the Transatlantic Challenge.

I look forward to monitoring the TransAtlantic II activity - I hope that
others are inspired to set up other experiments, whether or not an award or
certificate follows the achievement.

I probably need an award to transmit LF outside the boundary of my garden!

73
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: majordom@post.thorcom.com [mailto:majordom@post.thorcom.com]On
> Behalf Of Larry Kayser
> Sent: Friday, April 14, 2000 10:54
> To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Mike Dennison
> Subject: LF: Discussion of the Peter Bobek award, and TransAtlantic II
>
>
> Greetings All.
>
> Gentlemen:
>
> I would sincerely appreciate if discussions about the Peter Bobek award in
> any terms of the activities of the TransAtlantic II project be avoided now
> and until after TransAtlantic II results are known at the end of next
> November.
>
> I am very sure that Peter Bobek was a person of honour, and some
> justly feel
> that the award was conceived and now promoted as a recognition of a great
> achievement in LF.
>
> The facts are, that the award requirements must and will have
> ZERO impact on
> how TransAtlantic II will be undertaken from this side of the Atlantic.  I
> have only read the award requirements in a most cursory manner
> and will not
> read them again until after we return from VO1 in November.  I
> have nothing
> against or for the award, but I do know my focus - have signals heard both
> ways and if possible get a two way QSO across the North Atlantic in
> November.
>
> The simple facts of the matter are, that what we have to do to
> get an LF QSO
> in the amateur LF band across the North Atlantic the FIRST time
> will be many
> dB in excess of what will be required to have the 200th or 2000th
> QSO across
> the North Atlantic on LF.
>
> We can test the results achieved by TransAtlantic II, and wouldn't it be
> wonderful if we could do it with 1W erp, after the test period is
> over.  If
> the award requirements have been met then well and good.  If the award
> requirements have not been meet this also is well and good.  My personal
> feelings are that I would really like to have a serious discussion later
> this year about the qualification for the award, that would mean that some
> signals were heard either way or a completed QSO was achieved
> over the North
> Atlantic.....
>
> Summary, the award does not drive the project, the award is a byproduct of
> the results of the project.
>
> Larry
> VA3LK
>
>
>
>
>