Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System

Chapter 151: Chapter 97: Hardcore Teletubbies

So when Li Younan took his seat at the judges’ table, everyone was momentarily stunned.

Especially Xiaoyashe, who couldn’t help but rub his eyes. Ah? What’s going on!

Li Younan is a judge?

Li Younan noticed Xiaoyashe and his partner in the crowd and smiled at them.

The two were even more stunned.

...

At this moment, Xiaoyashe looked at the glasses-wearing guy who had greeted him, wearing big headphones, sitting in a folding chair with a large sunshade overhead.

Unlike indoors, the background noise here was a faint generator sound, the wind, and the distant hum of people in the park, but the signals in the radio headphones seemed clearer.

Xiaoyashe leaned in for a closer look.

The computer screen had a simple corrugated paper shade, but in bright light, the operator still had to tilt his head to avoid the glare.

An older operator was staring at the propagation prediction chart, quickly pressing the buttons on the rotator control box: ”Europe is open now, let’s try the 20-meter band.”

The wind rustled the spare paper on the table, and someone quickly held it down with a rock.

Another operator took a big gulp of water and wiped his sweat: ”The sun is up, keep an eye on the machine’s cooling.”

They barely left their seats. During the golden period of propagation openings, their focus was such that no one dared to disturb them lightly.

Li Younan watched their operations with great interest, with related data and parameters being synchronized in real-time on a display on-site.

The judges seemed somewhat relaxed. The older man next to Li Younan asked curiously, ”Young man, when did you get your C certificate?”

Li Younan smiled, only saying that he hadn’t had it for long and had been pulled in as a judge because he had to renew his documents.

The older man was a bit taken aback, finding it somewhat amusing: ”I see, there are so few who can get a Category C.” He looked Li Younan up and down, clicking his tongue in wonderment, ”You’re really young, aren’t you under 30?”

Li Younan nodded.

The competition continued.

The operator’s fingers either quickly swept the dial, tapped the keyboard to input, or grabbed the microphone key for a call.

The ticking and rapid English chatter almost never stopped.

As the scheduled end time of four in the afternoon approached, the operators began wrapping up their final contacts.

When the last contact was finally recorded, an operator took off his headphones.

Teacher Zhang, who was leading the team, invited the attending judges to give their comments.

All eyes were on the judges.

The first few judges gave their comments in turn, and then it was Li Younan’s and the older man’s turn.

The older man smiled: ”Why don’t you go first, young man?”

Li Younan was well aware of his young age. Although the older man appeared amicable and warm, he might not trust his abilities.

Although Li Younan didn’t mind, in this setting, he certainly needed to say a few words. He simply nodded and agreed, ”Alright.”

When Li Younan started speaking, his voice wasn’t loud but it was very clear, and the surroundings immediately quieted down a lot.

After all, he looked so young among the judges present, standing out very much.

”Overall, not bad,” Li Younan first affirmed, then turned to the key point directly, ”but the efficiency can be improved in two main areas.”

He pointed at the main operation station: ”First, the timing of antenna rotation. Around two-thirty in the afternoon, there was a small North American window on the 15-meter band, with signal reports generally above +20, lasting about fifteen minutes. Although some were contacted, the strength was clearly weaker, and it took longer. When the North American window opened, the antenna only rotated over after ten minutes, missing the first half of the golden period, losing at least 5 to 8 prefixes. The propagation prediction software and real-time S meter changes were all indicators, requiring more sensitivity, quicker, and more decisive rotations.”

He spoke very specifically, remembering the time and signal strength clearly.

The operator nodded, a bit embarrassed: ”At that time, there were also quite a few European stations, I got a bit greedy...”

”I understand, everyone wants to make more contacts,” Li Younan said calmly, then continued, ”Secondly, the timing of band switching. After three in the afternoon on the 20-meter band, local noise starts rising significantly, and you only switched to the relatively quieter 40-meter at 3:20. When noise arises, you ought to switch bands decisively. Even though the 40-meter’s propagation distance is shorter, it’s clearer, and ensuring contact quality is more important...”

All this was hardcore knowledge, and many at the scene were newcomers to the field and found it hard to understand.

But it didn’t matter, everyone nodded earnestly, at least wanting those beside them to think they understood.

Xiaoyashe stared wide-eyed at Li Younan.

If he had any doubts before, he now clearly understood Li Younan’s level.

Not a single word was frivolous, all was solid operating detail, time points, efficiency comparison, specific issues.

The two points Li Younan mentioned were precisely things a novice like Xiaoyashe couldn’t see – he only saw the antenna turning and people busy, but didn’t understand the strategy and trade-offs behind it.

Especially Li Younan’s accurate recollection of propagation windows and operating details over several hours, a skill that couldn’t be achieved without countless real-life practice sessions.

Xiaoyashe looked down at the brand new B certificate card in his pocket, feeling it was light as a feather.

...

Today’s experience was just a small episode, not of much significance.

When Li Younan found Xu Liya and Lu Xiaolan, the two were also somewhat tired from playing, and it was just the right time to set off, the three of them walking towards the car.

Lu Xiaolan casually asked, ”Cousin, is that thing you played today really that fun?”

Li Younan responded casually, ”It’s okay, I wouldn’t call it fun or not fun, but it’s definitely quite interesting.”

”It’s too hardcore, completely don’t understand it.”

”It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand, just knowing my cousin is the best is enough, hehe... Hey! Cousin, why are you hitting my head again...”