It has been interesting to watch how the debate has progressed on this
issue. In any 48 hour DX contest, there are may be 20 people world wide who
operate more than 44 hours. I had no idea there were so many others who
feel that unlimited operating time is such an important part of contesting.
I am a guy who can do 48 hours in a weekend. It is hard, but in some cases
it is the only way to play if you want to win. I.e., I personally never
want to finish second in a contest only because I didn't operate the extra
hour or two!
Let's attack the problem from a different direction...
Contests are funny things. Competitors (the hard core contesters) think the
contest is run for them so they can test and prove their skill. However,
contest sponsors provide contests to create as much fun for as many people
as possible (the masses).
I think we all can agree that 48 hours is in the best interest of the
masses. It is fun to get on the air at various times over the weekend and
find activity. It is also nice for the guys who travel to DX locations to
have 48 hours of fun for their investment.
The problem for me is that the current approach only offers one level of
competition. You are either trying to win the whole thing or you are "just
playing around." If you are a competitive person (and most contesters are),
you want to compete. But, if your life on a given weekend is crowded with
other priorities, you are designated into the playing around group.
Why not create some sub classes that provide more fun for more people.
These classes should not change any of the existing classes. They should
just be there to give people more races to run (kind of like having a
quarter or half marathon run on the same course as a full marathon). They
should also not incent people to operate less (the goal should always be to
increase overall activity!).
My suggestion:
- Create 12 hour and 24 hour races
- The 12 or 24 hours consist of a continuous period beginning with your
first QSO (i.e., the clock starts with your first QSO)
- There are no off times
- You can operate the contest as much as you want. Your score is calculated
by the log checker based on the first 12 and 24 hour marks
- No preregistration or special marking of your log. ALL LOGS are included
in the scoring/results
Advantages:
- Easy to administer
- Everyone can play
- A guy trying for a 12/24 hour win still has to compete with the full time
competitors
- Entrants may chose to stop operating when they reach their time limit, but
they are not required to do so
Disadvantages
- Extra log checker burden
- Extra page or two of results
- Requires change of thinking (apparently difficult for many of us!)
This would also make a simple contest within a contest to run if the main
contest sponsor was not interested.
Look forward to discussion on a "new" idea.
Randy, K5ZD
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Eric Hilding
> Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 8:46 PM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Cc: nccc@contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Annual Suggestion
>
> <annual suggestion>
>
> After reading many "I couldn't operate more than 30, 35 or 40
> hours" type comments in 3830 posts, it's that time again for
> my Annual Suggestion to add a "36 out of 48 Hours" category
> (or something like that) to the ARRL DX Contest for those of
> us in the Geriatric Generation.
>
> I appreciated the past supportive comments of AL, D4B/4L5A,
> and others who also believe that such a Category might
> actually increase activity. OF's who aren't willing to make
> a serious effort or sacrifice their health knowing they can't
> (or won't) be able to do the entire 48 hours are more likely
> to go like proverbial bats-out-of-h*ll for 36 hours in the
> chance to competitively win something.
>
> </annual suggestion>
>
> 73...
>
> Rick, K6VVA
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
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