Operating time is definitely a factor in achieving a score!
For the WPX Contest, the online results list the hours of operation for
every entrant as well as their band breakdowns. This provides a way for
people to compare their efforts with others.
There are other properties that may be interesting for comparing scores.
All we need is more meta data provided with the logs and we can include that
in the online score database. Then participants could run queries to
compare their score against various properties. The technology to do this
is easy. The hard part is getting agreement on the property names and
definitions!
Creating new (overlay) categories based on operating time is an interesting
concept. My concern is that it may actually motivate people to be less
active. For example, I have about 15 hours to operate during a weekend. Do
I spend my time to maximize a score for the 12 hour category, or just play
around and work my 15 hours available? The contest sponsors want to
motivate people to get on as much as they can. I think that is one reason
contesting has always been kind of open ended when it comes to operating
time. You want a bigger score -- you spend more time in the chair.
Perhaps a limited time category would end up with a net gain by converting
ops who normally do 4-6 hour efforts into 12 hours. That is the great
unknown.
Once you start making limited time categories, you also have to define them.
Is it 12 hours consecutive? Any 12 hours? If so, then what is an off time?
It is not as simple as it may first seem.
But, time-based catergories are an idea worthy or more discussion.
Randy, K5ZD
_____
From: Stan Stockton [mailto:k5go@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:17 PM
To: CQ-Contest@contesting.com
Cc: Randy Thompson
Subject: Categories, Participation and Competition
Attempts have been made in some contests to create new categories where ones
with wires or tribanders can compete on a more level basis. Most contests
have categories for different power levels.
The one item that I think is most important and currently ignored is the
time of operation. In a world of children, grandchildren, other family
obligations, honey do's to keep the YF happy, and an aging group of
contesters, many cannot compete because they cannot work the contest the
entire period, which in many cases is 48 hours.
I would only have categories that encourage enhancement of station
performance and instead include categories in a 48 hour contest for perhaps
12 hour, 24 hour and 48 hour operating time - 24 and 48 hour for sure.
There are a lot of people out there who would do really well if they could
stay up for 48 hours but cannot ever win anything with a 24 hour effort.
Off times should be longer than what most are used to having in Sweepstakes
and other contests with time limits Perhaps a maximum of four off-times
with a minimum of 6 hours for each would be appropriate for a 24 hour entry.
I can see a lot of people getting excited about competing in a contest if
they had a way of doing it without having to commit to the entire 48 hour
period.
Stan, K5GO
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