Contesting, a simulator of harsh conditions.

What use is an F-call? As you might know, I'm a great fan of contesting. I know that you may think that this is not for you and I respect that, but I'd like to share why I think contesting is a fantastic way to learn about operating in difficult conditions. If you're an athlete, you try and expose yourself to different environments, you subject yourself to harsh weather, adverse conditions, strong competition, as much as you can, so when you actually compete, you'll be prepared. We like to think of Amateur Radio as a hobby, that in case of emergency is able to step in and help out. It's true, Amateurs have been helping in emergencies for a century, it's one of the conditions of your licence, it's a given that this is something that you need to know about. We do portable field days, we test our kit in field conditions with batteries, temporary antennas, weather and other non-standard environments. Sometimes we even do a contest and get extra points for portable operation. That's all well and good, but contesting in itself is also a test of adverse conditions. The bands are crowded with traffic, there is lots of noise around, interference is rife, the pace is high, adrenaline is rushing and it's a wonderful playground for education. I know that contesters are out to win their contest. I do that, because I've been bitten by the bug, but that's not the only aspect of a contest. If you're a pilot, you use simulators to learn about surprises. As an Amateur, you can use a contest as a simulator of the bands, so when you're in an emergency situation and every letter counts, you're equipped to deal with it. Contesting, it's a way to train yourself for free. I'm Onno VK6FLAB