Let me set the record straight: I 'NEVER' used the word conspiracy or implied
or suggested conspiracy. I am merely suggesting there is more to the decision
than the general membership is aware of.
Very preliminary numbers indicate, casual and/or serious, contesters make up
7.5%. Interestingly DX'ers make up 15% and of that 15% 75% are active
contesters. Once again these numbers are preliminary and I'm actively gathering
data to refine them.
I can 100% guarantee you if 7000 members of the contest community wrote the 5
big advertisers the line scores would reappear as if by magic.
MAL N7MAL
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
http://www.ctaz.com/~suzyq/N7mal.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: Rick Stoneking
To: CQ-Contest Reflector
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
There is no doubt about it - contestors are not only not THE big group, they
are not even A big group. I downloaded the scores from the 2002 ARRL DX SSB
and CW contests (back before line scores were removed). There were
basically 2300 scores submitted. I think it is safe to argue that everybody
who cared about seeing their score in print submitted a log. So if we take
that AND say another 25% care about line scores but were unable to operate
then you get ~3600 contestors. The current "average paid circulation" for
QST according to the ARRL web site is 141,861. So 2.54% of the people who
receive QST are what N7MAL is calling "the largest group of QST
subscribers". Clearly 2.5% can not be the largest group. At double the
contest log submission rate it is only 5%, and at 10x it is only 25%.
I HATED seeing the loss of the line scores in QST. It was a great feeling
when you got on the 2m repeater in the morning for the commute to work and
somebody comes on and congratulates you on your score in the contest - which
they saw in QST. And there is 'just something special' about seeing your
callsign in print - regardless of the score. But Ward (and N7MAL) were both
correct it pointing out that the ARRL is a business, QST is a business, and
as Ward said, it is simply not financially possible to publish pages of line
scores. People will argue - "CQ still does it", which is true - but I ask
you to look at how many pages per year does CQ have to commit to cover its
contests, vs. the number of pages QST committed each year to list all of its
sponsored contests? As Ward said, the ARRL is the largest sponsor of
contests. There are 15 ARRL contests for 2004 (exlcuding Straight Key
Night). CQ magazine has about 6 or 7. The ARRL has also put together the
database which is a great tool, and they have .pdf files with the complete
writeup and lines scores available for download. CQ has system of results
files available on the web for the last couple of years - with the 2003
scores not yet available on line, even though the 2004 contests are already
over!
N7MAL - What exactly is it that you think IS behind removal of the contest
line scores? Pray tell what great conspiracy has been wrought upon us, and
kept so skillfully secret! Instead of festering over some half baked plan
to boycott the ARRL and/or its advertisers, why don't you "Suck it up!" and
spend the energy in making a better score - the top 10 is still printed in
QST...
Rick
W2RDS
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Harlem W1EBI" <w1ebi@lightband.com>
To: "N7MAL" <N7MAL@CITLINK.NET>; "Ward Silver" <hwardsil@centurytel.net>;
"CQ-Contest Reflector" <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
Statistically I seriously doubt that contesters could possibly be the
largest QST subscriber group. And before "taking action", you might keep in
mind that ARRL also publishes a separate periodical aimed directly at the
contesting community--NCJ. Do a sprint, see your call in print...
George W1EBI
---------- Original Message -----------
From: "N7MAL" <N7MAL@CITLINK.NET>
To: "Ward Silver" <hwardsil@centurytel.net>, "CQ-Contest Reflector" <cq-
contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 19:03:31 -0000
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
> Congratulations Ward any politician would be proud of you for being
> able to speak out of both sides of your mouth at the same time
> without blinking your eyes. I, still, believe there is more to the
> contest line scores being removed than we are led to believe.
> Contesters, as a demographic group, I suspect make up the largest
> group of QST subscribers. If the contest community seriously wants
> line scores back in print then there a very simple solution.
> Organize a petition saying we will take some action against QST. and
> in particular the advertisers. Then make sure AES, HRO, Kenwood,
> Icom, and Yaesu all get copies of the petition. Remember first and
> foremost QST/ARRL is a business controlled by the 'bottom-line'. If
> we really want those line scores back, and I for one do, then hit
> QST/ARRL right where they live, in their pocketbook.
>
> MAL N7MAL
> BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
> http://www.ctaz.com/~suzyq/N7mal.htm
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ward Silver
> To: CQ-Contest Reflector
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 5:32 PM
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
>
> > I concur totally-- I used to wait eagerly to see "k5ucv" even
> with very few Qs. It was exciting-- recognition that I belonged.
> I hate it that they do not publish > the scores any more.
>
> Not picking on Rusty in particular...
>
> Lets be clear - the ARRL *also* hates that they can't publish line
> scores in QST any more. Those pages were lost because there aren't
> enough members and advertising dollars to support them, the reasons
> for which are well beyond the scope of this discussion. Despite the
> modern tendency to find a conspiracy behind every grassy knoll,
> this was not an anti-contester act. The ARRL has been and remains
> the world's largest sponsor of contests by a large factor. They
> get an imperial ton of complaints about it, too...
>
> While many of us greybeards - some with entirely more salt than
> pepper - may cherish the printed page, for technically savvy
> individuals under the age of 40 (i.e. - the new blood we all claim
> to seek) the printed page is a lot less important. They have a
> different set of expectations and waiting for months and months to
> see lines of 6-point type is a lot lower on their totem pole. We
> grew up with it and it is our standard. They did not and it is not.
>
> At the time of the original announcement, a group of folks got
> together and took a look at contest-related information. We wrote
> a paper about where we thought the information should go.
> (http://www.designet.com/k1ir/Downloads/ContestProposal_071702.pdf)
> This tried to take into account the reality of publishing media
> today. Some things are good in print. Stuff that is really data -
> like line scores - costs too much for physical distribution in the
> publishing environment of today. If you think you know so ding-
> dong much about it, go start your own magazine and show us :-)
>
> Bud's comment about "feeder activities" and other's observations about
> referencing their performance to local/regional standards point
> the way. The information is out there and public. We are all known
> presences in our communities. All we have to do is apply ourselves
> by combining the data with the crucial personal touch that made the
> difference to us when we were starting out. Soon, you'll see those
> new calls in the pileups. I've seen it happen right here in our
> local club.
>
> It's not up to "somebody else" - it's up to YOU AND ME.
>
> 73, Ward N0AX
>
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------- End of Original Message -------
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