Polls
(#191-200 June 2015-April 2016)
#200 - How many DX entities have you worked with CW QRP simple wire ants?
Date: 3/15/16-4/14/16 --- Voters: 32
How many Nr %
None 7 22
100-149 6 19
1-9 5 16
150-199 4 13
50-99 4 13
200-249 2 6
25-49 2 6
300-339 1 3
10-24 1 3
250-299 0 0
All 340 current 0 0
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I'm surprised at the low number of voters. I consider DXing the most fascinating and interesting of all ham radio activities, but I guess that opinion is not shared as widely as I thought. Anyway thanks to all for casting your vote, and congrats to all who have achieved DXCC with your simple setups. Oh, maybe that's it. Folks do love DXing, but do so with higher power and bigger antennas and thus didn't vote in the poll. I feel it is much more challenging and rewarding doing it with minimal QRP stations and a lot of skill. I'm proud to have worked around 220 entities that way, and you should be proud of your efforts as well.
#199 - What would you wish for if you had one wish?
Date: 2/15/16-3/14/16 --- Voters: 54
What Nr %
A better antenna system 13 24
Better CW ability 12 22
A better location 11 20
More on air time 7 13
A local CW club 5 9
Less local noise 4 7
A better rig 1 2
A bigger shack 1 2
A better key bug paddle 0 0
More time for hamfests 0 0
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A drop in voters, but still 54 is not bad. My three wishes finished in the top six in votes - Location, less noise, better antenna system. I'm glad that so many voted for better CW ability. We all need to keep CW not only active, but to keep it the great structured language it is. Also to make it readable by sending as close to perfect CW as possible. Those who voted for a local CW club can always form a local chapter under the auspices of the NAQCC.
#198 - When did you obtain your first ham license?
Date: 1/15/16-2/14/16 --- Voters: 81
When Nr %
1961-1970 19 23
After 2000 14 17
1981-1990 14 17
1971-1980 13 16
1951-1960 11 14
1991-2000 10 12
Before 1951 0 0
Not yet 0 0
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A nice increase in the number of voters this month. I found the results interesting in their uniformity from a low of 12% in the 1990s to a high of 23% in the 1960s. It does make some sense as ham radio was very popular among young folks in the 1960s and many of those are still alive and active today. Before that in the 1950s (and especially earlier) the percentage of hams from then still active (alive) is dwindling as the years pass. Then after a dip in the 1990s, there was somewhat of a growth when CW became a forbidden fruit, so to speak.
#197 - Which of the following NON ham stations do you "DX"?
Date: 12/15/15-1/14/16 --- Voters: 52
Which Nr %
AM BCB 20 38
SW BC 16 31
Aeronautical 10 19
LW 7 13
Ship To Shore 6 12
FM BC 5 10
Satellite 3 6
TV 3 6
Space 2 4
None of these 24 46
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As always, I find the results of my polls interesting and sometimes surprising. A couple surprises from this one. I expected more votes for FM and TV BC DXing. I found those forms of DX very interesting, especially when a good Sporadic E or Tropo opening would come along. Also surprising to get 24 votes for None of the above. Mostly in the past, I've delved pretty deeply into all the different ones here except Space and Satellite and found each to be fascinating and rewarding in its own way. Right now as I write this, I'm getting back into AM BCB DX again after many years.
#196 - About how often do you read my web site diary?
Date: 11/15/15-12/14/15 --- Voters: 45
How often Nr %
Daily 27 60
A few times a week 5 11
A few times a month 4 9
A few times a year 4 9
Today was my first time 2 4
Never 3 7
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It's nice to have so many devoted readers. That makes writing the diary worthwhile. Thank you.
#195 - Which contests are you looking forward to the next several months?
Date: 10/15/15-11/14/15 --- Voters: 45
Contest Nr %
ARRL International DX CW 19 42
CQWW DX CW 18 40
ARRL Sweepstakes CW 14 31
CQWW WPX 12 27
ARRL 10M 10 22
NAQP January CW 6 13
ARRL 160M 5 11
RAC Winter 3 7
All 2 4
None of these 15 33
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I voted for all because I love the bigger contests like those listed. Along with our monthly NAQCC sprints, the list above includes just about all the contests I enter. However, even though I am looking forward to all of them, I may not enter all due to other commitments. I will definitely do the CQ and ARRL DX contests and I very likely will do the 10M (conditions permitting) and WPX ones also. The rest it will be wait and see. Too bad 15% of voters appear not to like contesting. But then, everyone has different tastes. That's why ham radio is such a 'versatile' hobby.
#194 - Check all non-ham activites you like.
Date: 9/15/15-10/14/15 --- Voters: 59
Activity Nr %
Computers 39 66
listening to Music 34 58
Camping 26 44
Fishing 26 44
Reading 25 42
Walking and/or Jogging 24 41
Photography 22 37
Astronomy 21 36
Home repair 20 34
Wood working 20 34
Gardening 17 29
playing Music and/or Singing 17 29
Model trains 16 27
Cooking 14 24
following Sports 14 24
Meteorology 13 22
Pets 13 22
Cycling 12 20
Cars 9 15
Coins and/or Stamps 9 15
Hunting 9 15
Metal working 9 15
Art 8 14
Genealogy 8 14
Antiques 5 8
Crosswords 4 7
Jigsaws 4 7
playing Cards 3 5
participating in Sports 1 2
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A pickup in voters, perhaps because of the new urging to vote statement at the top of the diary page. I think this poll really shows that hams are balanced and not just totally devoted to ham radio. That is one of the reasons I like to talk about different subjects in the diary, and why it seems to be so popular and often read. As to the actual choices, no real shocking surprises. I didn't think that many would have voted for listening to music, but then I guess on second thought CW is a musical rhythmic mode and those who like listening to it would like music as well. I see some of the older forms of entertainment like playing cards, crosswords, and jigsaws don't seem very popular in this day and age. I still enjoy all three although part of my activity in those three things is done via computer now.
#193 - In what LOCAL time frame are you most active on CW?
Date: 8/15/15-9/14/15 --- Voters: 30
When Nr %
8 PM to 10 PM 14 47
6 PM to 8 PM 4 13
6 AM to 8 AM 3 10
8 AM to 10 AM 2 7
2 PM to 4 PM 2 7
10 PM to 12 Midnight 2 7
12 Midnight to 2 AM 1 3
2 AM to 4 AM 1 3
4 PM to 6 PM 1 3
4 AM to 6 AM 0 0
10 AM to Noon 0 0
Noon to 2 PM 0 0
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I found this particularly interesting despite the low number of voters. Except for the 6 to 8 AM hour, and I guess the 2 to 4 AM hour also, that's pretty much the way I operate. Definitely the 8 to 10 PM hours since I want to insure my streak continues as quickly as possible after 0000Z which is 8 PM (EDT) or 7 PM (EST) here. Thanks for casting your vote. I wish more of you would do so to make the polls even more meaningful.
#192 - About how many days a week do you use CW/QRP?
Date: 7/15/15-8/14/15 --- Voters: 28
How Many Nr %
Every day 16 57
5 4 14
Less than once a week 2 7
6 1 4
4 1 4
2 1 4
1 1 4
3 0 0
Never 2 7
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It's good to see such a high percentage are devoted enough to CW/QRP to use it at some time every day.
#191 - What is your favorite on-air activity?
Date: 6/15/15-7/14/15 --- Voters: 23
Activity Nr %
DXing 9 39
Contesting 5 22
Rag Chewing 5 22
Making a QSO each day 3 13
NAQCC Challenges 1 4
Antenna Testing 0 0
Award Hunting 0 0
County Hunting 0 0
Moonbounce 0 0
Satellites 0 0
Traffic Nets 0 0
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I wonder how this poll would have turned out had all hams taken it. I'm pretty sure DXing, contesting, and rag chewing would still be close to the top. I know those along with all our NAQCC activities are at the top of my personal list.
